Seminoles say they can’t support either Florida gaming bill

Florida’s Seminole Tribe says it can’t support either one of the state’s two pieces of gambling legislation because each bill appears to violate federal law.

Florida has two gaming bills up for discussion in this year’s legislative session. A state Senate committee approved the sweeping SB 8 legislation last week, while the same day saw a House subcommittee okay the rival PCB TGC 17-01.

The principal difference between the bills is the Senate’s desire to authorize slot machines in eight counties outside South Florida while also allowing cardrooms to offer so-called ‘designated-player’ (aka house-banked) card games. By contrast, the House bill would essentially freeze the state’s gambling market in its current form.

Both bills would approve the new gaming compact Gov. Rick Scott negotiated with the Seminoles in December 2015, which extended the tribe’s exclusive right to offer blackjack and other house-banked games at its six casinos in exchange for the tribe paying the state $3b over seven years.