Galvano: Crist gambling deal 'not acceptable'

By Jeremy Wallace
© 2009 Sarasota Herald-Tribune
September 19, 2009

A deal that would expand casino gambling in Florida and generate billions in revenue for state schools is in jeopardy.

State Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said Friday he will recommend the Legislature kill the plan worked out between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Indian tribe last month.

"It is not acceptable," said Galvano, who was the lead House negotiator in setting up guidelines for Crist to negotiate.

Galvano's opposition is the latest blow to the compact signed between Crist and the Seminoles that officials say will pay the state $6.8 billion over 20 years.

Crist hoped the Legislature would approve the compact in a special session next month. But Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-West Palm Beach, said the special session won't happen in October and maybe not at all because of concerns about the deal.

If the state is unable to work out a deal, the Seminoles would have the right to negotiate a deal with the U.S. Department of Interior, which would mean no revenue sharing for Florida. But it would also likely force the Seminoles to give up Blackjack and other banked card games that are big revenue producers.

The proposed 20-year compact signed by Crist would allow blackjack and other banked card games at all seven of the tribe's Florida casinos - not just four as the Legislature had said it would allow.

In return for blackjack, the Seminoles would give the state 12 to 25 percent of net gambling profits from the casinos, but less if the state allows for more gambling options at pari-mutuel facilities such as dog tracks and horse racing tracks.

Galvano said the deal ignores key parameters established by the Legislature and will give the Seminoles a competitive advantage over the state-regulated pari-mutuels, who have been lobbying against the new compact.

Galvano said the state could net more money from gambling if Florida instead allowed pari-mutuels to operate slot machines to compete head-on with the seven Seminole casinos.

"We don't have to give them anything," Galvano said of the Seminoles.

But politically, Galvano would face a tough sell in trying to convince the Legislature, which has mostly opposed expanded gambling, to allow pari-mutuels to expand their offerings.

But Crist may have an ever tougher sell trying to convince the Legislature to approve the compact.

"I haven't found the first legislator who is going to vote for the compact," said Marc Dunbar, a Tallahassee attorney and lobbyist representing the pari-mutuel industry.

The Florida Supreme Court last year nullified an earlier compact Crist had signed with the tribe because it did not have the Legislature's approval.

Lawmakers then directed the governor to try again but set limits on how far the expansion could go and demanded more money for the state.

Crist and the Seminoles struck a new deal at the end of August.