Just to clarify, what the Seminoles did, through their lawyer, is file a Petition to File an Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) Brief. The Seminoles are not a party in this case (Gretna Racing, LLC v. Department of Business and Professional Regulation) and hence cannot file a brief unless the Petition to File Amicus Curiae Brief is granted. The Petition details why the Seminoles have a strong interest in the case and on the subject matter of the appeal. If the Seminoles Petition is granted, they will be allowed to file a brief supporting the State’s position. In fact, the Seminole’s Brief was filled with their Petition. However, it will not be considered unless the Petition is granted. (Briefs are written documents containing statement of fact, issues presented, and arguments containing facts and law supporting a party’s position on the issues.)

There is no testimony taken in appellate courts.

I checked the docket sheet and there has not been a ruling on either the Motion for Rehearing en banc or the Petition. If the Motion is granted, I would expect the Seminole’s Petition would be too. By the way, prior to the oral argument in the case, Gadsden County filed a Petition to File an Amicus Curiae Brief and it was granted.

I think Poker Xanadu is right and the state will “’’keep the genie in the bottle’ by renewing the exclusivities in the compact with the tribe.” Although I too am keeping my fingers crossed that the state grants the pari-mutuels Internet poker, I do not believe that will happened. It would be perceived as a vast expansion of gaming within the state. I believe any concessions made to the pari-mutuels will be limited to de-coupling and perhaps a lowering of the tax rate.

I like to be more optimistic. Might as well try for it.

Here's a decent article on the Seminole scene:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/fl...624-story.html

IIRC, the Seminole tribe had electronic blackjack & baccarat at their casinos before they had the compact authorization for table games, on the claim that they are slot machines. Now they claim that they are table games at the pari-mutuels and therefore a violation of the compact exclusivity. Who wants their cake and eat it, too?

They're adding poker table games like pai gow at Jacksonville Bestbet on Labor Day.

State tells tribe: Prepare to end blackjack games at casinos [apnews.com]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida seem headed for a showdown about the operation of the tribe's successful casinos.

A five-year deal authorizing blackjack and other types of card games at casinos such as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa expires Friday.

The state's top gambling regulator wrote a letter to the tribe chairman Monday asking for a meeting where tribal leaders are expected to give state officials a timeline for closing down blackjack tables.

Yea, I am sure the tribe is hard at work preparing that timeline for them. lol

Legislature unlikely to address gambling during August special session

Florida lottery exploring ticket sales online and alongside bank machines

I wonder if they'll offer self-limitation and self-exclusion options.

Stalemate between state and Seminole Tribe of Florida is thawing

At least we now know who the point men are for the state, i.e., Senate Regulated Industries Chairman Rob Bradley, Scott's general counsel Tim Cerio, House Regulatory Affairs Chairman Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami.

I have been targeting a lot of my iPokerFlorida campaign towards Bradley, Diaz and the other legislators sitting on their committees. My big fear is that the terms of the new compact will change or remove the provision that allows the state to authorize Internet gambling to other entities in the state. Potentially that could be a disaster for the chances to get Internet poker authorized for a long time to come.

More Movement.

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/...blackjack-deal

Reading between the lines one could conclude that the Sands got word that a compact deal is imminent and its provision would prohibit destination casino resorts for an extended period of time.

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/...its-in-florida

That is no doubt where the compact negotiations are headed. The remaining question is what concessions will there be for the parimutuels:

Slot machines outside of the two So. Florida counties? - little chance, imo.

Player-banked poker games for the pari-mutuel cardrooms? - probably not.

De-coupling of poker room operations from Greyhound racing? - maybe, although more likely just somewhat lower racing requirements.

Lower taxes on slots and racing? - most likely concession.

Internet poker? - doubtful, although the new compact may still have the provision that allows for it in the future. If it has such a provision, I suspect it will also say that the Seminole tribe gets it at the same time as anyone else.

I also wonder where the new compact will come in on state lottery sales on the Internet.

Update:

The 1st DCA reversed its Gretna slots decision. They had originally ruled that if counties outside of Miami-Dade and Broward passed a referendum they could have slots but reversed that decision on Friday. I guess somebody took a minute to actually read the state constitution?

Anyway, thats a big question mark that is no longer lingering and could advance the compact negotiations. I think we could expect to hear something positive in the next week or two.

The designated player games are a whole different issue and the state's inactivity has really let them go crazy. I am surprised there hasn't been more backlash.

Poker players naturally have a tough time distinguishing their game from other forms of gambling and I'm surprised the PPA hasn't been more active in criticizing these games. Casino war clearly isn't a poker game, why let it be grouped in the same category?

One of the judges that was on the original 3-judge panel retired, and a new judge came in, appointed by Scott. The court decided to rehear the case before the 3-judge panel, with the new judge replacement, instead of en blanc. The new judge came down against the pari-mutuel, thus reversing the prior decision. More here:
http://staugustine.com/news/2015-10-...s#.VhJG7rRViko

This is not the final word, though. It is likely to be heard by the State Supreme Court.

My State Senator told me last week that he doesn't think the current Seminole compact negotiations are going to get anywhere because the pari-mutuels will block the Seminoles getting what they want (continued table games exclusivity plus craps & roulette) if the pari-mutuels don't get what they want (slots). It's a stalemate, as this legislature is certainly not going to expand slots throughout the state to the pari-mutuels.

I did make my point with him that there is another solution - give Internet poker to the pari-mutuels instead of slots, which gives them the new revenue stream they need without expanding the games they currently offer (just allowing them to offer their current poker games over the Internet as well). He liked the idea. Unfortunately, I've so far been unable to convince any of the pari-mutuels that they should go for Internet poker instead of slots, or even at the same time.

If your senator is right, the Seminoles will file a suit in federal court just before the end of the month.

Movement according to Sen. Bradley.

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/...blackjack-deal

But, then again.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/articl...pecial-session

That's inconsequential to the compact negotiations. If an agreement is reached with the tribe, it will likely be put in place contingent on approval by the legislature at the regular legislative session next spring. The tribe will keep running their current table games and either continue to pay revenue-sharing to the state "in good faith", or put the money into escrow. They'll start the new games (if any) once the legislature and feds give approval to the new compact. I don't see the legislature calling a special session between now and the spring to approve the compact because it will be tied in with any other gambling legislation that will be proposed - by the pari-mutuels, etc. Too complex to deal with just in a short special session.

The question is if they will reach a deal by October 29.

Latest

http://m.palmbeachpost.com/news/news...kennel-/nn2sn/

Just more of the same, really. Interesting to see some specifics of what they are trying to hobble together, but I'd put the chances of such a deal making it past all the hurdles through the legislature pretty darn low (let alone through the compact negotiation itself).

SEMINOLE TRIBE REFUSES TO TAKE DOWN BLACKJACK TABLES

"Thursday marked the last day of a 90-day window the Tribe had to remove card games after the expiration of its deal for exclusive rights to blackjack in Florida.

The Tribe’s lawyers, however, previously made clear it had no intent to discontinue the games."

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/...ackjack-tables

Gambling operators see red over prohibition on card games [sayfiereview.com]

Many of the operators told the regulators at Wednesday's hearing that the wildly popular new games have overshadowed other poker games, such as Texas Hold 'Em. Cardroom revenues had flattened until the introduction of the designated-player games, they said.

The designated-player games also provide a less intimidating option for card players, the operators said.

"Traditional poker is dying," Magic City Vice President Alex Havenick told The News Service of Florida on Wednesday afternoon. "The fad has run out."

(emphasis added).

Yeah. IMO there is something going on with the Compact negotiations that is forcing the regulators to actually do something about the casino games that have been popping up lately. Its funny to see these guys call 3-Card Poker and Casino War "poker" games. It will be fun to watch the blow out if they ever make good on these proposed rules.

I'm actually kind of surprised the PPA or other poker groups haven't gotten involved to separate themselves from that stuff.

In a related story, on Tuesday the state Supreme Court agreed to hear the Gretna Slots case.