[CybrPunk]

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This is probably the wrong thread, but at Hard Rock Tampa last night, one of the dealers seemed confident the no-cap NL games would be back on or before 11 September. Not sure that means anything, though.

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He's talking about the new Sept 11 deadline that was given to the State to negotiate a compact with the Seminole tribe.

In my opinion, a lot of people are just assuming that the governor will be able to reach an agreement without the intervention of the legislature. The Florida constitution does not grant the governor specific rights to negotiate like this on behalf of the state, so it's likely this will either go to legislature or be help up by the state supreme court.

I think the Sept 11 date is a bit optimistic. I'm not saying that an agreement won't be reached, but also consider that other tribes in other states have fought back and forth for years trying to negotiate Class III gaming compacts. It won't be as quick and painless as a lot of people are expecting. Florida has a large conservative base who will definitely put up a strong opposition.

There was also a recent precedent in which it was ruled by the US Supreme Court that the Federal Dept of the Interior can not merely assign a mediator who determines terms of the compact. It puts many tribes in sticky situations where their representatives and liasons in government are left with their hands tied when the tribe and state can not reach a viable working compact.

This could be an issue left in 'limbo' for some time still.