Hollywood, Florida - Purse in hand and eyeglasses on, 80-year-old Ruth Spivak stood behind a velvet rope just steps away from the bright lights, musical chiming and big jackpots. Las Vegas-style slot machines have come to Florida, and Spivak was one of hundreds who showed up Monday to feed dollar bills or casino debit cards into the 800 new machines at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Miami -South Florida's gaming scene has taken some big strides since the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino kick-started things with its opulent digs in 2004. Las Vegas-style slots arrived in Broward County last November and cued a glitzy transformation for its fading parimutuels. This past summer, Florida law expanded gambling even further: Casinos can stay open 18 hours a day during the week and 24 hours on weekends, up from 16 hours every day.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (AP) -- Leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida -- the first U.S. tribe to offer high-stakes gambling -- have spent millions of dollars from the group's vast casino income on themselves and their relatives, according to a report. The spending has triggered audits by federal regulators and complaints among Seminoles that the gambling profits benefit certain members at the expense of the rest of the tribe...

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has begun airing television spots in Orlando and around the state promoting the gambling deal it recently signed with Florida Governor Charlie Crist. But the Crist-Seminole compact is already drawing fierce criticism, both from Florida’s existing pari-mutuel industry, which says it would devastate their own business, and from anti-gambling lawmakers in the Florida Legislature, who call it an unprecedented gambling expansion.

Governor Charlie Crist is expected to announce a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines and card games at its Hard Rock casino in Hollywood and six other sites, in exchange for USD 100 million or more in annual cash. Under the pact, revenue sharing by the Seminoles with the state would grow each year, depending on the success of the games.

Tallahassee, Florida (AP) - Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Indians are close to a deal allowing the tribe's casinos to offer Las Vegas-style slot machines -- possibly even card games -- with the potential to generate more than USD100 million a year for the state. Crist, who took office in January, has made progress in negotiations with the tribe, unlike his predecessor, Gov. Jeb Bush. Bush adamantly opposed gambling and was at an impasse in talks when he left office.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has offered the state USD 50 million up front and at least USD 100 million a year in exchange for the right to have Las Vegas-style slot machines, blackjack and baccarat, the tribes' attorneys said Friday. Under the proposal, the state would receive a percentage of the seven tribal casinos' revenue with the Seminoles guaranteeing a minimum annual payment of USD 100 million.

Hollywood, Florida -- PRNewswire -- As the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe enter the final days of their closely watched compact negotiations, the 3rd annual Florida Gaming Summit is preparing to spotlight Indian gaming with special presentations on October 8-9 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Hotel & Casino. James F. Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, will kick off the conference with a keynote address at the conference Welcome Reception.

A deal to allow Las Vegas-style gambling on tribal lands in Florida could face a major obstacle: the state Legislature. Governor Charlie Crist said he would likely submit any agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lawmakers for approval, although there are “mixed interpretations” about whether he must.