The Seminole Tribe is preparing to play hardball with the continuing state of Florida over the failure of state leaders to negotiate exclusivity for the tribe’s gambling operations.

And if the continuing state doesn’t reply soon, the Seminoles say they’re prepared to play without them.

Seminole Tribal Chairman James Billie sent a letter to mention officials telling them that Florida has 1 month to achieve a new contract with the tribe over their exclusive rights to work banked card games such as blackjack.

The letter ended up being a very bureaucratically named ‚notice of commencement of compact dispute resolution procedures,’ a device that was included into the 20-year-compact consented to between Florida and the tribe in 2010.

But while the name for the procedure may sound innocuous sufficient, the truth is this dispute is over major issues and big money on both sides.

Compact Included rights that are exclusive Banked Card Games

When the compact ended up being first agreed to, it included a guarantee that is five-year of over banked card games.

The exclusivity extended to five of the seven casinos operated by the Seminoles; in exchange, the tribe would pay the state at minimum $1 billion on the five years.

The payments to the continuing state are slated to cease if someone else is allowed to offer the games, which led both sides to seek an extension of the agreement.

Nevertheless the state legislature did not approve a deal during their session earlier this season, and negotiations between Republican leaders and the tribe have perhaps not borne fruit after Governor Rick Scott did not reach an accord himself year that is last.

According to the letter, the Seminoles believe over the exclusivity that they can continue to offer their games even if the state fails to come to an agreement with them.

Moreover, they say, they could be under no obligation to continue payments that are making the state due to just what they believe are violations of that exclusivity agreement.

Electronic Games, Player-Backed Offerings at Issue

At problem are two types of games which can be found at some parimutuel facilities through the entire state. The Seminole Tribe believes that both these games not in favor of the nature and the letter of their compact.

First, there are electronic variations of roulette and blackjack that have been authorized by gambling regulators and they are common at parimutuel locations.

These games operate exactly like their table game versions, but make use of number that is random and are thus categorized as slots.

There is also a presssing issue with Three Card Poker games which are utilized at some racetrack casinos. The game rather than the house, but the Seminoles say that across the country, player-banked card games are considered to be banked games just as much as any casino-backed game in these games, a ‚designated player’ backs.

The tribe says that these games are sufficient to split the exclusivity agreement in the compact.

‚ While the tribe could have exercised its right to [stop its payments to the continuing state] immediately, it has so far elected to carry on making its re payments to your state and, as a motion of good faith, intends to carry on making its payments to the state pending the resolution of this dispute,’ Billie wrote.

While the tribe means well mean to go through making use of their threats if an agreement cannot be reached, some believe that the move is really meant to force the state to get more seriously interested in negotiating a deal.

‚From a legal strategy standpoint, it’s a good strategy,’ said Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton), who helped focus on the compact. ‚I disagree with the arguments that they are making, but it at the very least gives them a procedural methodology to negotiate with the state.’