The first full year Seminole operated under a deal with the state

Florida tribal casinos generated US$ 2 billion in 2009 revenue

2011-03-04
Reading time 45 seg

The Miccosukee Tribe has a Miami casino but offers only bingo-based slots and poker. Florida was the fourth-richest state for tribal gambling, behind only California (US$ 7.7 billion), Oklahoma (US$ 3.1 billion) and Connecticut (US$ 2.2 billion), according to the 2011 Indian Gaming Industry Report.

Statewide, Indian gaming revenue increased US$ 193 million, or 10.4 %, in 2009 from a year earlier. That was a strong performance in a year when the sour economy forced gamblers to rein in spending, wrote economist Alan Meister, the report's author.

A 2007 agreement signed by Gov. Charlie Crist allowed the Seminole Tribe to replace bingo-based slots with Las Vegas-style machines and deal blackjack in return for giving the state a share of the take. The Florida Supreme Court invalidated the deal. But the tribe moved ahead, insisting the federal government blessed the agreement.

The Hard Rock in Tampa is planning a new hotel tower, meeting and convention space and a music venue, Meister wrote. Tribe representatives talked about expansion plans, even displaying a drawing of a guitar-shaped hotel, while lobbying for the latest compact.

But the tribe's governing council has not approved moving ahead with construction yet.

Leave your comment
Subscribe to our newsletter
Enter your email to receive the latest news
By entering your email address, you agree to Yogonet's Condiciones de uso and Privacy Policies. You understand Yogonet may use your address to send updates and marketing emails. Use the Unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
Unsubscribe
EVENTS CALENDAR