September 19, 2008
Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150
McCollum to National Indian Gaming Commission: Order Illegal Gaming to End
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today sent a letter to the Honorable Philip N. Hogen, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, requesting that Chairman Hogen order the Seminole Tribe of Florida to immediately cease the illegal class III gaming activities in Florida.
“The State of Florida is in the untenable position of having a tribal gaming operation, which everyone acknowledges is unauthorized, ongoing without the jurisdiction to stop the illegal activities,” said Attorney General McCollum. “As the regulatory official holdingthe power to enforce this law, the Chairman should take action immediately to see that the Tribe ceases its illegal activity until a valid compact can be consummated with the State of Florida.”
According to the Attorney General’s letter, the Tribe continues to offer banked card games and class III slot machines, despite the recent Florida Supreme Court ruling which determined the gaming compact was not valid. The Tribe is subject to enforcement authority by the National Indian Gaming Commission.