The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Photo by Buddy Phillips/Shutterstock.com. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Photo by Buddy Phillips/Shutterstock.com.

The tribe had warned it would halt the payments, which totaled nearly $330 million last year, because of controversial designated-player card games offered by many of the state's pari-mutuel cardrooms. The Seminoles — and a federal judge — say the games violate part of a 20-year gambling deal signed by the tribe and the state in 2010. That deal, in part, gave the tribe exclusive rights to “banked” card games.

Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican slated to take over as Senate president following the 2020 elections, worked throughout the legislative session that ended May 4 to finalize a new compact with the tribe.