Welcome to

Governor Charlie Crist believes the Seminole Tribe will accept the gambling compact being offered by lawmakers. The deal lets the tribe keep card games such as black jack at four casinos, but does not allow the banked card games at three others. It also requires the Indians to pay the state a minimum 150 million a year.

“To be perfectly honest, I was concerned that it might not happen,” Crist said. “I was just delighted by Senator Alexander’s great work, by Representative Galvano’s work, and the leadership, our Senate president, president Atwater, Speaker Cretul. They both had to make concessions in order for it to work. That’s kinda they way things are. That they came through so well for Florida’s children and education, it’s huge.”

The gambling legislation also throws a bone to dog tracks operating slot machines by lowering their tax rate from 50 to 35 percent.