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McCollum Tries Again To Stop Blackjack At Hard Rock

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2008

TAMPA - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum for the third time has sought a temporary closure of the new blackjack and baccarat tables at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Tampa.

"Only swift enforcement action by the [National Indian Gaming Commission] will stop the illegal gaming activities and force the Tribe to negotiate with the State of Florida for a valid compact," McCollum wrote in a letter today to commission Chairman Philip N. Hogen.

The federal agency in Washington was reviewing the letter this afternoon. Gary Bitner, a spokesman for the Seminole Tribe, said he did not expect the tribe would comment immediately.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist last year approved a compact in which the tribe pays millions of dollars to the state while operating advanced card games at Seminole casinos, including in Tampa.

After a challenge by conservative South Florida legislators, the state challenged the compact, and the Florida Supreme Court declared it invalid in July.

However, federal law precedes Florida law on the issue. The compact was read into the Federal Register in January and became federal law, the tribe contends.

The tribe has operated advanced card games at its Hollywood, Fla., location for several months and on Nov. 13, in a surprise move, opened 104 blackjack and baccarat tables to Tampa.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovics@tampatrib.com.

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