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A federal judge has stated that he can do nothing to stop the Seminole Tribe in South Florida from offering blackjack at its casinos. A Pompano racetrack lawsuit attempted to block the Seminoles efforts. Last month, blackjack debuted at the Tribe's Hollywood, Florida Hard Rock Casino with massive fanfare from area residents.
Lawyers for The Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park and its parent company, PPI Inc., attempted to sidestep the tribe's sovereign nation status by suing only Gov. Charlie Crist and the federal government over a gambling compact approved in January and invalidated last week by the Florida Supreme Court, according to John Holland | South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
U.S. District Judge Stephan P. Mickle ruled the Seminoles must be included in the suit because any action taken would directly affect the tribe and its 3,200 members.
"Although there is no alternative forum for PPI to litigate its claim, in equity and good conscience this case cannot proceed without the Seminole Tribe," Mickle wrote in the ruling released in Tallahassee on Wednesday.
"We are evaluating the judge's ruling and will decide what steps to take," Haynes said.
Just last week, the Supreme Court invalidated the gambling compact between Crist and the tribe that allowed the Seminoles to offer table games such as blackjack and baccarat in addition to Vegas-style slot machines in seven of their casinos.
The Seminoles continue to operate the games, however. Tribe attorney Barry Richard stated that unless the federal government reverses its decision, the tribe won't stop.
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