Time is up at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.
The deal with the state to run blackjack and banked card tables expired Thursday. But the deadline didn't mean much. All day long, the cards were still on the table and people were playing.
"Blackjack to me, it has the best odds, it's the most fun," said Nicholas Vaccaro, who has visited the Hard Rock casino.
The negotiations to keep blackjack at the casino haven't been much fun. The state and Seminole Tribe have been talking for months, but can't agree on a new deal. Florida's governor said he won’t be rushed.
"I'm going to take the right amount of time to get the right deal in our state," said Florida Governor Rick Scott.
Meanwhile, the tribe filed a lawsuit this week. It alleged the state violated the old agreement by allowing other places to run video blackjack and other card games. The tribe was supposed to have exclusive rights.
"The legal team is reviewing it," Governor Scott said. "And we will act in the best interest of the state of Florida."
In the end, much of it comes down to money. For the last five years, in exchange for the card games, the tribe has given the state part of the revenue. This year, that's about $250 million.
Now, according to the lawsuit, the state wants more money for a new deal. It's unclear whether that's in the cards.
The tribe and the Governor are still meeting each week to negotiate. The tribe's Florida chairman said there has been progress.