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Governor to announce Seminole gaming deal
By Linda Kleindienst and John Holland
Sun-Sentinel.com

Gov. Charlie Crist today will unveil a gambling compact agreement with the Seminoles that lets the tribe dramatically expand its casino operations in exchange for giving the state a share of the proceeds, said a source close to the negotiations.

Crist's office announced a 2:15 p.m. news conference in Tallahassee, promising a "major" announcement. His staff on Tuesday was mum about what the topic would be, but Communications Director Erin Isaac said "stay tuned" when asked if it might be the compact.

This morning, the governor's office began notifying those close to the months-long negotiations that a compact would be signed.

The sealing of the long-sought deal on Seminole gambling comes one day before the deadline set by the U.S. government for the state and tribe to reach accord and the same day state economists are likely to reveal that tax revenues may fall up to $2 billion short of what's needed to fund the current state budget.

While final details of what the Seminoles and state have agreed to have not yet been revealed, earlier drafts released by both sides provided that Florida could be paid up to $100 million a year from the tribe. In return, the Seminoles would be allowed to operate table games like blackjack and baccarat, as well as Las Vegas-style slot machines, at their casinos in South Florida and across the state.

Last week the U.S. Department of Interior gave the state until this Thursday to complete the deal with the tribe or the federal government would impose "procedures", a process where the Indian casinos would get expanded gambling without a guarantee of any financial benefit for the state.

Federal officials have cautioned the state that the Tribe was left an "unfair playing field" after voters approved Class III, or Las Vegas-style, slots in Broward County. The Indian casinos now are allowed to offer only Class II slot machines that offer bingo odds and are not as lucrative for the player or the casino.

Both sides have said for months that they were close to agreement, but Crist has been on a trade mission to Brazil for the past week, only returning on Monday and apparently signing off on the deal Tuesday.