State's gambling compact with Seminole Tribe is a top priority with lawmakers

TALLAHASSEE — A gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe was put on the fast track by Florida legislators Wednesday as tribe members continued to pressure lawmakers to complete a revenue sharing deal to include in the state budget by May.

The U.S. Supreme Court started the clock ticking this week when it rejected the tribe's appeal of a Florida Supreme Court decision invalidating an earlier agreement with the state. That agreement gave the tribe exclusive operation of blackjack and Class III slot machines.

The federal court's decision means the tribe now "has nowhere else to go,'' said Rep. Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican who is leading the House review of the issue.

Meanwhile, both the House and Senate are prepared to rewrite the compact — which obligates the tribe to give the state at least $100 million a year for 25 years — and remove some of the competitive barriers that the state's parimutuels have objected to.

The House's committee is likely to reject Gov. Charlie Crist's approach of favoring the Seminoles over the parimutuel industry, Galvano said.