Poker Forum

if they do rule against it hopefully in the end theyl'll change it for the better and not the worse or throw it away completely. In order for us to grow as a state we need more tourism opportunities in fla... the norhtern part as well as down south. Its bad when the closeset casino is almost a days ride in another state.. Not everyone has the money to travel that far consistently and itwould helps us alot if they brought the riverboats and other gaming opportunities back to Fla.

Have you actually read the compact?
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/files/11.14.07%20Final%20Compact%20and%20Exhibit%20A.pdf

or the response by Mark Rubio Speake of the House in Florida?
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/files/House-petition-for-quo-warranto.pdf

The people of the state were screwed over. The seminoles have limited liability (avoiding torts), can hire/fire anyone for any reason, do not have to follow labor laws (basically letting them do anything they want), get exclusive rights to gaming that others should have (this will destroy the pari-mutuals), do not have to show their records to the public (we have sunshine laws) and a lot more. This is very bad for the state. As much as I want blackjack, baccarat, 3 card poker, let it ride, carribean stud, I would rather see a better deal for the people. Craps and roulette stay illegal, however they can use video screens or computers to simulate these games. Basically, all of these things that Flridians have to follow are being giving up. The gov does not have this power. Florida is much stricker on sepeation of powers than other states.

The supreme court of florida will rule this has to be approved by the Florida house and senate no doubt. Then it will not pass. Rubio and others have said no more gambling in Florida without voter consent. It will then go back to the drawing table. The federal congress allows gaming on indian reservations if it's legal in the state but has also said that states have independent rights and can outlaw it. The federal government does not have the authority to allow gambling in Florida. I know all indian reservations are owned by the federal government and held in 'trust' but each state has different ways of handling tribes within their boarders.

On July 1st when the limit poker games went to $5 and NL games were introduced, the gambling boats were devistated. Sun Cruze out of Port Canaveral would have 7 tables full, not they are lucky to have enough players for 2 games. Instead of wasting 3 hours of travel time going out to sea and back, players go to the dog tracks or jai-lai. If the Seminoles get this compact, the same will be true of the pari-mutuals. They will be devistated. BTW: this is dog tracks, horse tracks and jai-lai.

Also, the 100 million dollars that the state will get from the indians basically is money taken away from the pari-mutuals. In broward county (and maybe in miami dade soon as they will re-vote in Feb i think), slot machines are taxed 53%. The indians are only taxed 10%. Why would you want to go to the dog track to play poker when you could go across the street to a fancy casino with hot waitresses and play 24 hours a day?

The Seminoles say that anything the pari-mutuals can have, so can they. I say anything the indians can have, so can the pari-mutials. If they get blackjack, then everyone else should as well. Also, the indian casinos are all in South Florida or tampa. there are none in orlando, jaxsonville or the panhandle. this does nothing for 1/2 of the state. if anything, it will take tourism away from orlando and to Miami or even Tampa.