[ QUOTE ]
I would also like to point out that class 3 gaming allows blackjack and bacarat which are house games why in the world would there be any limits inposed on class 2 gaming of which poker is regulated under. The only revenue that the casino has is the rake and that is capped at $5.00 by the state. I believe that the only reason there were restrictions in the first place (ie $100 max buy in) was because casinos were not equiped to handle the logistics of a higher buy in and not worth the agravation for only a $5 rake per hand.
[/ QUOTE ]
The reason they have restrictions on the buy-in is because under
Federal Law, as overseen by the
National Indian Gaming Commision, they are only entitled to the same games and stakes
as allowed by the State which their sovereign land is located in. The Indians are inherently allowed fair competition with any surrounding casinos, and are automatically entitled to the same games and stakes as allowed by State law. If you really want to get technical, they're also supposed to keep the same hours which means their 24-hour poker room is in violation of this law as well.
They could get access to these games (which will absolutely 100% be revised to include the newly approved Vegas style slots) from the Dept. of the Interior without having to give any revenue cut to the state. That has been their bargaining chip and is the reason that other games are even being considered. The Seminoles know that they'll get slots anyway and not have to give the State a dime so... why not hold out and demand OTHER games in addition before giving the State any consideration.
The main reason I can see for keeping poker stakes the same as their surrounding competitors is because Legislators cannot willfully sign the pink slips of every 'Racino' employee in Florida. If the Seminoles get exclusive high stakes poker, a number of Florida based businesses and employers will tank which means lost jobs and income for hundreds, possibly thousands, of Florida families. By offering them only other card games, this isn't creating as much of a conflict within the poker market. I guarantee you the Racino industry is lobbying heavily against a deal that includes poker right now. If the deal were to include poker, any room not more than 50 miles from a Seminole casino would be out of business within a year.
If you ask me, this is the real problem with raising poker stakes and giving the Seminoles free reign on the poker business in Florida.