Indian Gaming Now

Revenue Sharing

Perspectives from Florida

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Jan 27 2010
An editorial in the Tampa Tribune takes Florida's legislature to task for failing to approve the revised compact negotiated between the Seminoles and Gov. Charlie Crist.  And rightly so -- as we've said numerous times, Florida's continued obstructionism flies in the face of IGRA's requirements and Congress's intent, not to mention tribal sovereignty and respectful government-to-government relations.

But it seems to always be about money, rather than legal duties, mutual respect, or even what's right.

Update in Florida: Still Hope . . . ???

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Nov 4 2009
Gov. Crist may have still been hopeful last week, but it looks like the Florida legislature has a different view.  The chair of the state House Gaming Committee predicted that the renegotiated compact would not pass in the state legislature.  Interestingly, the Committee has yet to make its recommendation to the entire House on whether to approve or reject the revised compact.

Economic Tidbits (and Trends?)

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Oct 31 2009
This week's headlines provided an interesting juxtaposition in the financial health of the Indian gaming industry.  Is any of this indicative of a new trend?

Florida Legislature Calls for NIGC to Shut Down Seminole Games

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Oct 22 2009
Is it really a surprise that Florida is trying to shut down the Seminoles?  After all, this is the state that infamously stonewalled the Seminoles' efforts to negotiate a Class III compact for nearly two decades.  Florida's stance resulted in the Supreme Court's 1996 decision that "undid" IGRA's compromise of state and tribal authority.  Florida's uncompromising (and arguably illegal, if unlitigable) position also resulted in the politicization of compact "negotiations" nationally.  And so it goes in Florida to this very day.

Arizona Indian Gaming Revenue Down—What, Me Worry?

Posted by Kathryn and Steve | Filed under:
Aug 6 2008
The Arizona Department of Gaming reports that revenue generated by tribal casinos is down, and that has state and local policymakers worried—about their own coffers.

Since 2003, Arizona tribes have distributed about $430 million to the state, which then channels the funds to various programs, like schools, hospitals, wildlife conservation, police protection, and other social services, including the mitigation of gambling addiction.

Court Finds that California Negotiated in Bad Faith

Posted by Kathryn and Steve | Filed under:
May 5 2008
In the “so significant it merits a two-part post” file….

A federal district court has held that California's revenue sharing demands in its negotiations with the Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians amounted to an illegal tax, and therefore were evidence of the state's bad faith.

Revenue Sharing in Wisconsin

Posted by Kathryn and Steve | Filed under:
Mar 28 2008
Over the last three years, tribes in Wisconsin have contributed $196 million to the state under current revenue-sharing provisions in the tribal-state compacts. This is big money being kicked back to the state compared to the prior compact provisions, and also is big in relation to revenue sharing in most other states.