Florida and Seminole Tribe Settle Blackjack Dispute
July 6th, 2017 by Site Admin
Today the state of Florida and the Seminole Indian tribe announced that they’ve settled their long dispute over the game of blackjack, allowing the tribe to continue having exclusive rights to the game at land casinos in the state.
The announcement comes after the Sunshine State was dealt multiple defeats in federal court, as a judge ruled that Florida had violated an earlier compact with the tribe. That deal gave the Seminoles exclusive rights to shoe games at brick and mortar casinos but was violated when the state agreed to allow properties from other groups to offer electronic versions of the game. The tribe called shenanigans and refused to sign a new deal with the state. As a result, Florida lost millions of dollars in revenues that the Seminoles would have paid in fees, while the Native Americans continued to offer the games.
The new agreement will see the Seminoles retaining the rights to their games, while Florida will get $340 million in payments from the tribe. The deal is good for the next 13 years.
Speaking about the deal Seminole attorney Barry Richard said, “There’s no loser to this. It gives the tribe finality and the security of knowing the games will continue. The state will continue to get a few hundred million.”
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