Seminoles Start Slots on Monday

Seminoles got the deal they wanted from the governor, and are now looking to start their new year off on the right foot. The Seminole Hard Rock casino will have their new slots up and running come this Monday. Not only are they excited that they finally have a deal with the state, but their slots came much faster than expected.

The casino brings in 1,000 Class III slots starting Monday, which is way ahead of schedule. The new slots will range from a penny to $1,000 in bets that it will accept, and payouts will come out on tickets that are redeemable for cash.

The governor had signed a deal with the tribe allowing them to have the slots and some table games, and the legislature has been fighting it as they felt the governor went over their heads with the compact. They have filed suit trying to hold back the Seminoles from bringing in the slots.

However, state lawmakers did not expect the Seminoles to be able to work so fast. The state’s Supreme Court had not even heard the case yet and the tribe was already preparing to install the slots as they have already gotten permission and approval from the Department of the Interior.

The fact remains however, that no matter what the court decides, both Broward County and now Miami-Dade county allow the slots to be legal, which means that the tribe has the right to operate them per federal law. By entering into an agreement with the state, the tribe is allowed the table games and more slots than they would have been allowed otherwise.


 

Back to February 2008 Archive.