Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that authorizes Seminole-operated casinos to maintain blackjack tables.

Highlights:

• Establishes a 20-year gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida, effective July 1, 2018 (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the compact authorizes the Tribe to offer the following games (Sec. 1):

• Slot machines at all 7 Seminole-operated facilities; and

• Banked card games including blackjack, chemin de fer, and baccarat at 5 of the 7 facilities.

• Prohibits slot machine gaming, including pre-reveal slot machines, at pari-mutuel facilities outside of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties (Secs. 9-12).

• Specifies that only traditional, pari-mutuel style poker games are authorized in cardrooms (Sec. 13).

• Defines “pari-mutuel” as a system of betting on races or events whereby the winners divide the total amount bet in proportion to the sums they have wagered individually (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits issuing new slot machine gaming licenses beginning January 1, 2018 (Sec. 10).

• Requires the Tribe to make revenue sharing payments totaling at least $3 billion to the State during the first 7 years of the compact (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that monies paid by the Tribe to the State will go towards (Sec. 1):

• K-12 teacher recruitment and retention bonuses;

• Service for students from persistently failing schools; and

• Recruitment and retainment of distinguished higher education faculty.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes Seminole-operated casinos to maintain blackjack tables.

Highlights:

• Establishes a 20-year gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida, effective July 1, 2018 (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the compact authorizes the Tribe to offer the following games (Sec. 1):

• Slot machines at all 7 Seminole-operated facilities; and

• Banked card games including blackjack, chemin de fer, and baccarat at 5 of the 7 facilities.

• Prohibits slot machine gaming, including pre-reveal slot machines, at pari-mutuel facilities outside of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties (Secs. 9-12).

• Specifies that only traditional, pari-mutuel style poker games are authorized in cardrooms (Sec. 13).

• Defines “pari-mutuel” as a system of betting on races or events whereby the winners divide the total amount bet in proportion to the sums they have wagered individually (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits issuing new slot machine gaming licenses beginning January 1, 2018 (Sec. 10).

• Requires the Tribe to make revenue sharing payments totaling at least $3 billion to the State during the first 7 years of the compact (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that monies paid by the Tribe to the State will go towards (Sec. 1):

• K-12 teacher recruitment and retention bonuses;

• Service for students from persistently failing schools; and

• Recruitment and retainment of distinguished higher education faculty.

Full Bill Text