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Gambling Compact Gets Federal Approval

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The Associated Press

Published: January 3, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Federal authorities approved an agreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe that allows expanded gambling at the tribe's casinos in exchange for payments to the state, officials said Wednesday.
Attorney General Bill McCollum and the governor's office said the U.S. Department of the Interior on Monday approved the compact Crist signed with the tribe.

It now has to be published in the Federal Register to take effect. It was not immediately clear when that would happen, and a spokeswoman for the department's Bureau of Indian Affairs didn't return a call seeking comment.

McCollum said he is asking a federal judge to hold a hearing quickly on a lawsuit he filed last month to keep the agreement from going into effect until the Florida Supreme Court decides whether Crist was authorized to sign the compact without legislative approval.

The agreement allows Las Vegas-style slots and card games such as blackjack and baccarat at the Seminole's seven casinos.

Without the compact, the tribe would have at least been able to install Las Vegas-style slots without paying any money to the state because Florida approved slots at Broward County jai-alai frontons and horse and dog tracks.

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