Attorney General Bill McCollum's suit to delay the U.S. Interior Department's approval of Governor Crist's gambling agreement with the Seminoles was denied by District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, D.C. clearing the way for the federal approval to be final.

McCollum sued to prevent the new gaming agreement from becoming effective before the Florida Supreme Court decides whether legislative approval is required.  The federal judge rejected arguments saying "If the Supreme Court says it's void, it's void. While there may be a theoretical problem, it's unlikely to be a real problem."

The Florida Supreme Court will hear a suit January 30th that was filed by House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt challenging Governor Crist's authority to sign the gambling compact without legislative approval.

Return to Florida Casinos.