Florida Senate supports renewed gaming compact with Seminoles

Florida legislators have tweaked their plans to revamp the state’s gambling market, although it remains to be seen whether the changes will fly with the Seminole Tribe.

On Friday, Florida state senators filed a major amendment to the gambling bill they filed late last month. Among the most significant changes is a willingness to accept a new 20-year gaming compact with the Seminoles, which was part of the rival bill introduced by the state House of Representatives last month.

However, the amended Senate bill retains the clause allowing the state’s pari-mutuel cardrooms to continue to offer so-called ‘designated player’ games, which the Seminoles insist violate their exclusivity on house-banked card games.

To placate the tribe, the new Senate bill would allow the Seminoles to add exclusive rights to roulette and craps games at their six gaming venues. The Senate is also now on board with the House plan to prohibit bars from offering so-called ‘pre-reveal’ machines, which a Tallahassee court has already declared to be illegal slot machines.