Two major pro-business groups, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association are calling for renewal of the gambling agreement between state lawmakersĀ and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
In a television ad released today, Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, urge the state to extend the Seminole Gaming Compact. An essential portion of the Compact, which allows blackjack and other games at the seven Seminole Hard Rock Casinos, expires in July 2015.
Under the current agreement, the Tribe pays the state at least $1 billion over five years. āThe Seminole Compact: Partnershipā is a 30-second spot callingĀ the Compact aĀ āpartnership made in Florida that works for Florida.āāĀ The ad triesĀ to strike a balance between extending the Compact and expanding gambling to more facilities in Florida.
Both the Chamber and the Restaurant and Lodging Association have been vocalĀ opponents of gambling expansion, including several attempts to allow the construction of destination resort casinos.Ā Last week,Ā Tampa Republican Dana Young, the House majority leader, filed a bill that could permit two destination casinos in South Florida and slot machines at two more greyhound tracks.
āFlorida is changing, which is why we need to extend the Compact and limit gambling,ā Wilson said in a statement. āChanging it could lead to the expansion of gambling, which simply is unacceptable for a state that has worked hard to grow its economy and develop a family-friendly image.ā
āPartnershipā is the second in a statewide campaign seekingĀ to raise public awareness ofĀ the 20-year Compact. The first ad, which began airing inĀ Tallahassee in early March, says the āhistoric Compactāā provides ācontrolled, profitable and safeā gambling in Florida.
If the deal is not renewed, the state stands to lose as much as $260 million a year from the Seminole Tribe.
