White Folks Want to Run Blackjack, Too

Mike Riggs | June 4, 2008

Non-indigenous casino owners are suing the state of Florida over an agreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Indians that grants the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino the exclusive rights to "offer blackjack, baccarat, around-the-clock poker and six high-stakes poker tournaments annually," in exchange for $100 million a year to the state's coffers:

"The Isle Casino of Pompano Beach claims the agreement between the state and U.S. Interior Department violates the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which allows tribes to play only those games already authorized in Florida.

The suit, filed Tuesday in Tallahassee, also alleges that Isle Casino would suffer irreparable injury if the tribe is allowed to open the blackjack games as planned on June 23 at its Hard Rock Casino near Hollywood."

Do the plaintiffs have a pretty good case against rent-seeking? Or, as a few sympathizers might point out, is the state finally making amends for a long history of mistreatment?

More reason on Indian gambling here.

Comments

Naga Sadow|6.4.08 @ 4:07PM|#

Thats Isle of Capri Casino. I used to work at the one in Biloxi.

|6.4.08 @ 4:07PM|#

Is Mike Riggs ever going to introduce himself to H&R?

Maybe it's this Mike Riggs.

Probably not though. sigh... Probably just another wannabe journalist.

Naga Sadow|6.4.08 @ 4:08PM|#

Sorry Mike. I forgot they changed it to just "The Isle". My apologies.

ed|6.4.08 @ 4:08PM|#

No, it's the Isle. I drive by it every day but have never gone in. What's wrong with me?

Naga Sadow|6.4.08 @ 4:14PM|#

Ed,

Nothing. According to my sources, its kind of a dud casino. An incredible amount of flat screen TVs though, so you can watch your soaps and gamble at the same time.

|6.4.08 @ 4:17PM|#

"Do the plaintiffs have a pretty good case against rent-seeking? Or, as a few sympathizers might point out, is the state finally making amends for a long history of mistreatment?"

Neither. Indian tribes are, in many important ways, independent nations. The states don't have criminal jurisdiction over them, so they shouldn't be able to outlaw gambling on Indian land (Indian casinos on non-Indian land are a different story to me).

I certainly don't approve of gambling bans and if I were king I would lift them. However, under our current laws, the states have the right to ban gambling within their borders. They don't have the right to ban it on Indian reservations.

The Wine Commonsewer|6.4.08 @ 4:18PM|#

I voted for Indian gaming in Ca when it came up years back. My thought was that any foot in the door was good. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Now we have a tribal monopoly on gambling and the tribes have almost as much political clout as the teachers and jailers.

That money and political power will ensure that there will NEVER be legalized gambling in the state (except for the tribes, of course).

And those little ramshackle trailers off of Hwy 76 on the reservation? Still there, apparently the cash doesn't trickle that direction.

The Wine Commonsewer|6.4.08 @ 4:20PM|#

Meant to add: Law of Unintended Consequences and all that.

The Wine Commonsewer|6.4.08 @ 4:21PM|#

Indian tribes are, in many important ways, independent nations

Iffen I was king, I'd abolish the Dept of Indian Affairs and divvy up all the tribal properties amongst all the Indians.

Episiarch|6.4.08 @ 4:28PM|#

BIA has jurisdiction over the Injuns, but Florida can make all the deals it wants. Just because the reservation is in Florida doesn't give Florida a whole lot of influence over it. However, obviously a reservation will want to come to some deal with the state because otherwise the state could mess with them, from not repairing roads just outside the reservation to harassing gamblers to cutting off electricity.

They will always reach an agreement; the money is too good. It really just boils down to:

"we want 120 mil"

"we'll give you 80 mil"

"how about 100 mil"

"ok, let's do it (spit in hand)".

Taktix&#174|6.4.08 @ 4:35PM|#

I could throw a rock from where I am right now and break a window in The Isle Casino of Pompano Beach...

...and no one would notice.

That place is a shithole, bordering one of the worst neighborhoods in Broward County, and looks to be failing.

Are they really going to claim they're being persecuted by the Indians.

P.S. The Seminoles are the only native American tribe that has never surrendered to the U.S. Government...

|6.4.08 @ 4:54PM|#

"And those little ramshackle trailers off of Hwy 76 on the reservation? Still there, apparently the cash doesn't trickle that direction."

Most of the houses on the Salt River Pima rez east of Phoenix could be described as "ramshackle", but I was recently told by a female Pima tribe member that her son is about to turn 18, at which point he takes possession of his $250,000 trust fund, made possible from casino money.

I don't know why but at least on the Pima rez having some more money doesn't necessarily translate into fixing up your house & getting those old cars in the yard hauled away. I've never had the nerve to ask anyone who lives there why that is, seems like a rude question at best.

ed|6.4.08 @ 5:11PM|#

I could throw a rock from where I am right now and break a window
in The Isle Casino of Pompano Beach

We should do lunch, Taktix.
Have your people call my people.

You forgot to mention that Pompano is also a great place to get gunned down if you're a sheriff.

BakedPenguin|6.4.08 @ 5:25PM|#

The Hard Rock in Hollywood isn't on an Indian reservation, it's right in the middle of Hollywood (FL). My brother goes there all the time.

|6.4.08 @ 5:34PM|#

Vegas makes gambling seem glamorous - thus their success (measured in Billions).

Native Americans deserve a break - after all, how many countries have waged biological warfare on its on citizens?

-- the US and Iraq come to mind......

BakedPenguin|6.4.08 @ 5:37PM|#

shrike, I'd agree with you but for the point TWC brought up. They will fight against any legalized gambling that doesn't keep their monopoly status.

SIV|6.4.08 @ 6:33PM|#

shrike,

You are kinda new here so,WHEN DID THE US WAGE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE ON IT'S OWN CITIZENS?????
Good luck coming up with a citation.

|6.4.08 @ 7:07PM|#

SIV | June 4, 2008, 6:33pm | #
shrike,

You are kinda new here so,WHEN DID THE US WAGE BIOLOGICAL WARFARE ON IT'S OWN CITIZENS?????
Good luck coming up with a citation.

I'm gonna guess he'll use the "cholera blanket" issue - I'm too lazy and getting ready to light up the barby right now to look for any links/citations, but if you are in the mood, google "cholera blankets"... oughta be something there that shrike can use against ya... and you can be ready for it.

And for the record shrike, when/if the US actually did use "cholera blankets" as a biological warfare tactic - um, well, Indians, Native Americans, Aboriginal, First Nations Folk (whatever applies) weren't actually citizens at the time.

That, should you choose to accept the assignment, can actually be shown to be governmentally oppressive and true.

SIV|6.4.08 @ 7:51PM|#

KD,

Stop huffing the paint thinner. Send your kids to private school so they don't end up like you.


Cholera is spread by bad water.

The US government never used smallpox infected blankets on Indians. British military officers discussed and might have attempted this but there is no indication they had any success

|6.4.08 @ 8:07PM|#

Or, as a few sympathizers might point out, is the state finally making amends for a long history of mistreatment?

Bullshit. If they're just trying to make amends, how come the state is charging them $100 million. It's a naked tit for tat.

Naga Sadow|6.4.08 @ 8:35PM|#

Pompano sucks? News to me. Isle of Capri/The Isle sucks? Way ahead of you on that one.

|6.4.08 @ 10:58PM|#

It's a naked tit for tat.

Uh, Chris, I think you're looking for the PETA lobster thread.

The Wine Commonsewer|6.5.08 @ 2:00AM|#

Native Americans deserve a break - after all, how many countries have waged biological warfare on its on citizens?

That's such bullshit, doctors didn't have enough sense to wash their hands......