This week's installment of Inside Gaming updates three ongoing stories involving the Seminole Tribe of Florida, including its recent acquisition of the Hard Rock International brand, the sudden vote to take away its longtime chairman, and the tribe's federal court battle with the state over a brand new compact.
As the week concludes, Hurricane Matthew has understandably occupied the eye of most Floridians because it makes it way up the state's eastern coast. Meanwhile so far as industry news is concerned, the former week have been something of a whirlwind for the Seminole Tribe of Florida who've been fascinated with multiple stories of significance.
Early within the week the tribe announced it had purchased the rest rights of the worldwide Hard Rock Hotel and Casino brand. That came at the heels of the tribe's abrupt decision to take away its longtime chairman. Meanwhile the Seminoles this week battled in federal court with the state of Florida over a brand new compact, including the tribe's keep exclusive statewide rights to supply blackjack and baccarat.
Seminoles Gain Exclusive Ownership of HRI
Last Friday came the announcement that the tribe now exclusively owns Hard Rock International Inc., a brand which have been formerly split among multiple owners for greater than three decades.
In its press release, Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen noted the way it have been over 35 years since HRI had one controlling ownership, calling it a "historic day for the emblem... that we believe ignites the trail for further expansion across the globe."
The tribe is now "exclusively entitled to develop, own, license, franchise and manage Hard Rock Casinos and Hotel-Casinos within the western U.S., including Minnesota and state[s] west of the Mississippi River, in addition to in Australia, Brazil, Israel, Venezuela and Vancouver, British Columbia" the presser notes. The tribe also continues to possess and operate the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.
In an editorial considering "What a united Hard Rock brand means for customers," VEGASINC further quotes Allen describing benefits to be hand from the consolidation.
"It creates consistency within the guest experience and in customer support because now we will be able to be working with all of the same brand standards on an international basis," explained Allen. "It also allows us to do Hard Rock deals in territories with respect to gaming. And it enhances the revenue stream. We're now collecting revenue streams from the licensees themselves."
Chairman Ousted, No Comment from Tribe
Meanwhile, last week the Seminole Tribal Council voted 4-0 to take away James E. Billie as chairman, a task he'd served for greater than 25 years in two separate stints dating back to 1979.
Gary Bitner, tribe spokesman, offered no details in regards to the decision to finish Billie's tenure when chatting with the Tampa Bay Times, stating the tribe "considers this an internal matter and isn't going to be more specific or elaborate beyond what was said" within the announcement of his ouster.
TBT notes the continuing battle between the tribe and Florida regarding a brand new compact, adding that it's unclear what effect a metamorphosis in Seminole leadership might need on those negotiations.
Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida Plays Out, New Compact at Issue
Picking up that thread, lawsuits by both the state and the Seminoles were together combined right into a single case, Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida, that spread out on Monday in Tallahassee and continued through Wednesday.
As the light State News explains, the tribe argued that a clause within the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires the state "to barter a brand new maintain[ the tribe] in good faith after the expriation of the primary gambling compact," a five-year agreement made in 2010.
Following the expiration of that compact on the end of July 2015, Governor Rick Scott signed a brand new 20-year compact with the tribe in December 2015, however the agreement required approval by both the state's House and Senate. The compact didn't get such approval, however, not making it throughout the latest legislative session.
Among the conflict-causing items is the tribe's want to keep exclusive statewide rights to supply "banked card games" like blackjack and baccarat.
According to the Sun Sentinel, it appeared on the close of proceedings on Wednesday that U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle was signaling a ruling in favor of the Seminoles after "suggest[ing] state regulators had violated an existing take care of the tribe."
"If the tribe wins the lawsuit, it might result in a brand new round of negotiations over gambling with the state," writes the Sentinel. The tribe may also stop making millions of bucks of payments to the state until a brand new deal is reached.
Judge Hinkle is predicted to rule within the case within the coming weeks.
Photo: Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood.
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