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Hard Rock Officials Keep Their Fingers Crossed

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A Tribune staff report

Published: December 25, 2007

At the beginning of 2007, the Seminole Tribe hoped it could strike a deal to expand gambling features at its seven casinos in Florida, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Interstate 4 and Orient Road. (A 2004 statewide vote to allow high-grade slot machines in South Florida parimutuels sparked the bid to pursue expanded gambling.)

Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminoles announced a deal in November allowing the tribe to offer the expanded gaming, giving the state a cut of the proceeds in return. The tribe said it would invest $1 billion to $2 billion at its casinos across the state and add as many as 10,000 jobs.

In 2008, the Hard Rock is gearing up for Las Vegas-style gaming, including the upgraded slots and blackjack.

However, House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, has challenged the governor's authority to negotiate the deal without the Legislature's involvement. The state Supreme Court is expected to rule on the matter soon.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Bill McCollum has sued to keep the feds from implementing Crist's deal until the high court rules.

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