With Gov. Charlie Crist facing a federal government deadline of Tuesday, Aug. 21, to report progress in casino gambling talks with Indian tribes, House Speaker Marco Rubio has entered the fray. Rubio on Friday evening asked Attorney General Bill McCollum for a legal opinion on whether the state can permit gambling on tribal lands currently prohibited by state law.

Rubio, whose opposition to expanded gambling is well known, reminds McCollum that any agreement, or compact, between Crist's office and the tribes "may" require legislative approval. Read the full letter here.

Now it's up to McCollum to craft an opinion. A spokeswoman for the A.G., Sandi Copes, said the office received the Rubio letter shortly before the media did and that it will take a little time to have a "well informed and measured response" to Rubio's questions.