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U.S. to Review Florida Tribal Gambling Rules26 July 2001TAMPA, Florida –– As reported by the St. Petersburg Times: "Under pressure from the Jeb Bush administration, the U.S. Department of Interior has withdrawn federal rules aimed at expanding gambling on reservations of the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes of Florida. "Released Jan. 19, the final day of the Clinton presidency, the Interior rules allowed high-stakes poker, off-track parimutuel betting and certain electronic gambling machines that make millions of dollars for Florida Indians. "Now, new Interior Secretary Gale Norton wants additional input from the state and the tribes before rewriting those rules. "…`This ruling of the Clinton administration opened the door, gave a greater potential for gambling to occur. We asked for a review,' Bush said. `We are opposed to any expansion of gaming.' "…The Seminoles, with casinos in Tampa, Hollywood, Coconut Creek, Brighton and Immokalee, as well as a $400-million plan to build two Hard Rock Cafe hotel-casinos, will continue to seek the right to offer full Las Vegas-style games, including roulette, blackjack and craps. "…Assistant Attorney General John Glogau said he hoped Interior officials would discard the January rules or come back with guidelines that adhere to the state stance that the electronic gambling machines in tribal casinos are illegal…" |