The dispute between tribal casinos owned by sovereign tribes and the states by which they're located is becoming more heated in a minimum of two states. Alabama Indian casinos are refusing to just accept a state Supreme Court definition of illegal gambling, while Seminole casinos in Florida continue to supply blackjack and other table games even after that state's highest court negated the compact giving the Seminoles those games.Even though Alabama's court set specific standards for illegal gaming to unravel the controversy regarding electronic bingo games that play like slots, casinos run by Poarch Creek Indian Gaming say only the government has jurisdiction to inform it what games are permissible.
Opponents of Alabama Governor Bob Riley's campaign to eliminate gambling within the state say all he has done is create a gaming monopoly for the tribal casinos. But Riley says the Indians are breaking the law, and running criminality doesn't constitute a monopoly.
Alabama Attorney General Troy King, who has opposed Riley's war on gaming, says by allowing any bingo, the state opened the door for electronic bingo on the Indian casinos.
"There's no state official with any authority over what they do," King said.
In Florida, Seminole leaders are using the same argument to take care of the table games they opened at several casinos after reaching an accord with Governor Charlie Crist. Although the state Supreme Court threw out the deal, Seminole officials say the compact had already received federal approval of the arrangement, that is all they need.
Florida's attorney general has asked federal authorities to step in and take away the blackjack tables in Tampa and Hollywood, but no US action was forthcoming. Meanwhile, although installation of more tables have been suspended, existing table games operate defiantly at Seminole casinos.
Published on December 21, 2009 by TomWeston
Read More... [Source: Native Indian Gambling News]
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