Blog: Seminole Tribe seeks changes to compact

Friday, July 31, 2009  

"With an Aug. 31 deadline looming, the Seminole tribe is seeking key concessions before it will sign a big-dollar gambling deal with the state, casting uncertainty over the late-hour negotiations.

Atop the tribe's priority list: lowering annual payments to the state, from $150 million to $125 million, limiting future competition from other gambling spots and preserving blackjack tables at its Naples-area casino.

The issues in contention are "always the same," said George Lemieux, Gov. Charlie Crist's former chief of staff who is helping broker the gambling talks. "It's exclusivity, both where and what kind of games the tribe gets. It's money. And regulation. Those are always the big issues.""

Get the Story:
Central Florida Political Pulse: As the Seminole compact turns (The Orlando Sentinel 7/29)