Through agreements with the state government, the tribe would have been able to offer more high-yield gambling at casinos in exchange for state regulations and state stakes.
The Seminoles are now likely to push for federal approval. If approved, the state will get nothing.
Bush, who has opposed the expansion of gambling in Florida, only began talking to the tribe last summer after the Seminoles made an official request, backed by Broward voters.
In January, he pledged to “engage further” in discussions with Seminole after signing legislation that would allow four Paris mutual operators in Broward County to install Las Vegas-style slot machines.
Talks have reportedly been intermittent over the past few months. On Friday, the two sides did not say why an agreement was difficult to reach.
“It was too much for me to reach out,” Bush said. Asked what the main hurdle was, he added, “I don’t know if I’ll be allowed to speak. This is all decided by federal law, so maybe I’ll have to set a trap.”
Bush’s legal adviser Raquel Rodriguez sent a letter to the tribe on Friday formally ending discussions, but added: “Our door is always open.”
Tribal lawyer Jim Shore replied, “We are certainly open to further discussion.”
Currently, the tribe only offers poker, bingo, and video terminals that calculate odds in the same way as bingo. Last year, the Seminole was projected to gross more than $250 million from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood and Tampa, and other gaming businesses across the state.
Seminoles argued that when state voters allowed Broward and Miami-Dade in 2004 to decide whether they wanted a local slot machine, the shortage opened the door for higher payments and more attractive full slot machines and other games for customers.
Miami-Dade voters rejected the measure, and Broward approved it. 에볼루션 바카라사이트
A federal court has ruled that Indian tribes have the right to play the same level of games allowed in the state.
Countries that allow gambling must “negotiate in good faith” with tribes under an agreement that sets parameters and returns some of the profits to the country.
If the state doesn’t negotiate, the tribes can appeal to the U.S. interior secretary, who can overwhelm the state and award the full game, without the state seeing a penny in profits.
The Seminoles are already pending a federal appeal filed in 2000. The Seminoles have repeatedly said they do not plan to drop their appeal if they do not reach an agreement.
Tribal Chairman Mitchell Cypress could not be reached for comment on Friday, telling Bush that the state was forced to negotiate after the state and local voters approved the vote.