Florida voters want the Seminole gaming compact to continue. That’s according to a poll released by the Seminole Tribe of Florida Monday. The study comes as lawmakers consider allowing a piece of the state’s gaming agreement with the tribe to expire.
In a few months, an agreement that gives the Seminole tribe exclusive rights to conduct bank card games like Black Jack expires. Officials have the option to renegotiate that piece of the compact, but legislative leaders are indicating they might just let it expire, despite the revenue cut the state would take as a result. But Neil Newhouse with the Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies says 62 percent of Florida voters think the governor should review the compact.
“And what voters are saying in this is voters are saying ‘hey this is working well.’ You read the verbatim comments from people and they believe the Seminoles have earned it. They believe it’s bringing jobs and revenue to the state,” Newhouse says.
Newhouse says 70 percent of voters want to reduce gaming in Florida or keep it the same. 46 percent support a moratorium on new gaming permits. Newhouse’s company conducted the poll on behalf of the Seminole tribe.
