Billions of tax dollars at stake in gambling fight

Tampa, Florida --The stakes are high, and that's why the Seminole Indians are gambling despite a Florida Supreme Court ruling against the Tribe.

It started when voters approved expanded gambling in the form of Las Vegas Style slot machines in South Florida. Under the Department of Indian Affairs, the law states that the Seminole Indians can run any type of gambling game that is authorized by the state.

Clearly the Indians were going to be able to expand gambling with the new slot machines, but they made a deal with Governor Charlie Crist. The Tribe said if the Governor signed a compact that allowed them to run Las Vegas style card games, they would give the state a portion of the take.

Although Crist is anti gambling, he said he thought it was the right thing for Florida. The Governor concluded, the federal government was going to allow it anyway and Florida taxpayers would have ended up with zero.

That's why Crist, a gambling opponent, signed a compact that allowed the Seminoles to expand gambling.

Seminole spokesman, Gary Bitner, says the Tribe didn't have to do it. The Federal law allows them to offer gambling, that is legal in the state, without having to share any of the take.

Due to the compact, the state will receive $100 Million a year. This year a minimum of $125 million, next year $150 million and in 2010 it could receive as much as $1 billion a year if the Indians are extremely successful. The more the tribe makes, the more the state makes.

Those opposed to the compact have two objections:

• First they don't like gambling in the state. This despite the state sanctioned gambling through the lottery.
  
• Second, opponents say the compact the Governor signed is illegal. The Florida Supreme Court said Crist exceeded his authority and if opponents are successful in blocking expanded gambling the Indians will still be able to do it and the taxpayers will get zippo.

Leonard Coolidge, tax payer, says it is crazy to turn down the money, especially in these economic times.

Norman Dunn, of the Family Action Committee, says it doesn't make sense to use gambling to balance the budget. Dunn says it is wrong and something the state shouldn't do.

But surveys show Floridians favor the compact, because they like what the Seminoles are doing and they like the money the state is getting.

State Senator Mike Bennett says it is a no brainer. Bennett says people could argue the constitutionality, the separation of powers and all that other crap, but if he had done nothing the taxpayers would have ended up with zero.

But if the opponents to the compact are successful, taxpayers will end up with nothing and the Seminoles will get to keep all the money from the expanded gambling.

If you would like to read the entire compact and see the deal the governor signed , click here for the compact.