Florida tribes differ on sovereignty at casinos

Wednesday, March 25, 2009  

Florida's two federally recognized tribes take different approaches to protecting their sovereignty at their gaming facilities.

The Seminole Tribe allows local law prosecutors to handle cases at its Hard Rock casinos. Even tribal members must go to state court.

Under a disputed Class III compact, the Seminoles allow people with casino-related disputes to go to state court. But the parties must first try to settle out-of-court.

The situation differs for the Miccosukee Tribe, whose law enforcement deals with all casino arrests. Tribal members go to tribal court and the tribe won't waive its sovereign immunity for casino-related disputes.

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