The good news is that Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe
beat the clock in ratifying a new gambling compact. The bad news
is that the compact needs work — lots of it — if it hopes to
survive the Florida Legislature.  In the ideal world, the
governor would be able to, with minimal obstacles, craft an
agreement that is acceptable to all parties. The tribe needs a
compact to expand its gambling operations, Florida lacks the
revenue needed to keep up with its expenses, and the pari-
mutuels seek a revival of their industry.  How hard could it be?
Unfortunately, this is Tallahassee, where the gambling compact
is caught in a political crossfire that, if left unchecked,
could kill the initiative outright.  Crist negotiated a deal
that would give the tribe a 20-year monopoly on blackjack and
slot machines outside of South Florida. The deal provides the
state with as much as $300 million annually. Eight pari-mutuel
operations in Broward and Miami-Dade counties would get lower
taxes and expanded poker operations.