Seminole tribe spent $5 million trying to stop slots

Jackie Hallifax

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004 | 8:55 a.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Seminole Tribe, which boasts of clearing the path for gambling on reservations 25 years ago, spent more than $5 million trying to defeat a proposal that could bring slot machines to South Florida race tracks and jai alai frontons.

The day cruise industry, another gambling interest opposed to the ballot measure, kicked in nearly $1 million against Amendment 4.

But South Florida's tracks and jai alai frontons spent nearly $15 million to get the proposal on the ballot and convince voters statewide that slot machines are a good way to raise money for schools. More than $3 million came from the Isle of Capri Casino in Biloxi, Miss.

Three times since 1978, Florida voters have killed ballot measures that would allow casino gambling. But last week history was reversed and 51 percent voted yes for Amendment 4.

Under the measure, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, with another vote, can permit seven race tracks and jai alai frontons in South Florida to set up slot machines.

The constitutional provision dedicates any tax revenue on the slot machines to schools around the state; the seven pari-mutuel facilities have promised schools a 30 percent cut if state lawmakers don't pass a tax.

In the two weeks before Election Day, the Seminole Tribe gave $5.6 million to the No on Amendment 4 Committee, which bought television ads warning that slot machines would erode Florida's reputation as a family friendly vacation spot and increase drug use and crime.

The tribe runs six casinos with poker tables, video gaming machines and high stakes bingo. The casinos do not offer blackjack or table games like craps or roulette, which are illegal under state law.

Max Osceola, one of five members of the Seminole Tribal Council, makes no apologies for the campaign.

"We have had to fight and protect every asset we have ... ever since Columbus landed on the shore," he said Monday, citing water rights, fishing rights and land.

But Daniel Adkins, chairman of the slots campaign, blasted the opposition campaign mounted by the tribe.

"For them to go out and call slot machines the crack cocaine of gambling is an insult to the taxpayers of this state," Adkins said.

Gambling on reservations and on cruises-to-nowhere is unregulated and untaxed, Adkins said, repeating a criticism the pari-mutuel campaign made frequently during its campaign.

But supporters also were criticized for their TV ads, which sold the idea of South Florida slot machines as a way of raising money for schools.