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FL A.G. Seeks an End
to Illegal Slots
The Attorney General of the state of Florida is on
a one-man quest: to wipe out illegal gambling, and illicit slot
machines in particular. Bill McCollumn says that he is onto the
(alleged) unauthorized slot devices held by the Seminole Indian
tribe, and will not rest until these troublesome one-armed bandits
are made a thing of the past. McCollumn’s office announced recently
that he had officially requested that the Seminoles cease and desist
their illegal gambling activities, by way of a certified letter to
the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. The A.G. says
that they have not abided by his request, and he is growing
increasingly more frustrated.
The Seminoles attained the right to operate slot machines by way of
a compact drawn up with state officials – which has since been
declared invalid, thanks in no small part to McCollumn’s
intervention. The Attorney General says that he had issues with the
provisions contained within the compact when it was drawn up and
signed up Governor Charlie Christ. The Supreme Court has since
invalidated the controversial compact and terminated the agreement,
but the Seminoles are refusing to give up the slot machines that
they are running at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.
McCollumn appealed to the National Indian Gaming Commission, because
he acknowledged the difficulties of making an Indian tribal nation
fall under the rulings of state authorities. Because a large part of
the state budget depends on the percentage of proceeds it has
negotiated with tribes like the Seminole, the state holds a
precarious position.
Back to October 2008 Archive.
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SLOTS DATA
