Editorial: Extend Class III gaming compact with Seminole Tribe

With Florida lawmakers facing a big gap in the state budget as they prepare to reconvene Monday for a special session, it would be irresponsible for them to walk away from the table games compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which last year netted the state $132 million.

Unless something is done soon, the agreement that gives the tribe the exclusive right to deal blackjack at five of its casinos in return for sharing revenue with the state will expire July 31. A 90-day wind-down means the tribe would have until Oct. 31 to pack up its house-banked blackjack and baccarat tables.

The tribe deserves some certainty, not a cliffhanger. The Seminoles recently put state leaders on notice that litigation could loom — the last thing taxpayers want or need — unless negotiations begin in good faith.

Gov. Rick Scott is the state's official negotiator, but he couldn't secure legislative buy-in for a re-do of the compact last year. So this year, the governor told the tribe to try its luck with lawmakers. That didn't work so well, either.