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Seminoles Fight Back Against High Court Ruling

POSTED: Friday, July 18, 2008
UPDATED: 7:35 am EDT July 18, 2008

The Seminole tribe of Florida wants the state’s high court to reconsider its decision to wipe out a deal that brought blackjack and other Vegas-style games to the tribe’s casinos.

The ruling was made on July 3 and called the gambling compact unfair.

The court said Gov. Charlie Crist cannot legalize certain games in tribal casinos when they are illegal everywhere else.

State Sen. Steve Gellar told Local 10 that the Seminoles have every right to operate Class III slots, blackjack and baccarat, but only if the state compact is valid.

The tribe argued that the deal, signed in November in a media blitz, has approval from the federal government.

In a statement released Thursday night, The Seminole Tribe of Florida said, “The tribe continues to offer the games based on their approval by the U.S. Department of the Interior which regulates Indian gaming.

Senator Gellar added that it is not the feds that matter, but rather, the state supreme court.

He said, “If the governor lacks the authority to sign a compact, then there is no valid compact.”

The initial ruling by the state Supreme Court was unanimous.

At this point it seems unlikely that the court will change its mind.

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