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High Court Denies Gambling Compact Rehearing

By James Call

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-758824.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Supreme Court, Thursday, denied Gov. Charlie Crist's request for a rehearing on the Seminole tribal case. James Call reports, the ruling makes final the high court's July decision invalidating a compact between the Governor's office and the tribe.

Earlier this year the justices ruled that the governor played a bad hand when his office didn't include the Legislature in the process. They said he exceeded his constitutional authority by permitting forms of gambling prohibited by Florida Law and invalidate a multi-million dollar agreement between the state and tribe. Now it's up to either the Federal government or the state to decide whether the Seminoles can continue to offer card games like black jack and Las Vegas style slot machines at their seven casinos.

The Compact negotiated by the governor would have paid the state at least 100 million dollars a year. Despite no agreement, The Seminoles say are operating within federal law, and will continue to offer the games without having to pay the state for the rights to do so.