Reservation Rights

Only time will tell as to how the mess gets resolved.

In the most general of situations, American Indians are usually allowed to do on their reservations whatever is allowed anywhere else in any given state.  This particular law is regarding the state of Florida, a state that has been mired in Blackjack debate for the better part of two years.  The debate centers around the issue of whether or not the Seminole Tribe of Florida is allowed to own and operate the massively popular table card game of Blackjack within the walls of their seven brick and mortar casinos within the southern portion of the state of Florida.  State voters in 2004 approved a local option to allow slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade horse tracks, dog tracks and jai-alai frontons.  That appeared to permit the tribes to operate slots.  While slot machines were permitted at the time, there was no mention of the game of Blackjack, until the current Governor Charlie Crist presented a special deal.  In 2007 he signed a compact with the Seminoles, but he gave up more than the Legislature was willing to give, including an exclusive right to Las Vegas-style Blackjack.

Republican Representative Bill Galvano and others in the Florida Government have debated that the governor went too far and that the game of Blackjack is and should remain illegal to the offered in the state.  However, because of the long time table that they have been working with, it is no longer just as easy as pulling the plug.  Only time will tell as to how the mess gets resolved.