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Fla. attorney general wants Seminole gambling shut down

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- As reported by the Palm Beach Post: "Gov. Charlie Crist is pushing lawmakers to quickly approve an invalidated gambling deal with the Seminoles while Attorney General Bill McCollum is asking federal authorities to shut them down.

"Neither of the impatient Republicans are likely to get their way, however, meaning that the Seminoles will likely continue to run banked card games including blackjack and baccarat as well as slot machines.

"GOP legislative leaders have all but outright rejected Crist's request made today asking them to add the Seminole compact to the special budget-cutting session that begins Jan. 5. And McCollum's repeated requests to federal authorities overseeing Indian gambling to shut down the games have been ignored.

"McCollum today asked a federal prosecutor to go after the Seminole Tribe of Florida for continuing to operate banked card games and slots at three of its casinos despite a Florida Supreme Court ruling that a compact struck by Crist and the tribe permitting the card games is not valid.

"...The high court ruled that Crist overstepped his authority with the compact by allowing the tribe to hold the table games which are illegal elsewhere in Florida.

"...The Seminoles contend the approval of the slots gives them the ability to operate the card games as long as the state signs off on it. But McCollum, representatives of the racetracks and some GOP lawmakers argue that the tribe can only operate the slots and only if they have an agreement with the state..."

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