Miccosukee Gambling Age

The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida is a federally recognizedNative American tribe in the U.S. state of Florida. They were part of the Seminole nation until the mid-20th century, when they organized as an independent tribe, receiving federal recognition in 1962. The Miccosukee speak the Mikasuki language, which is mutually intelligible with the Hitchiti language, is considered its dialect, and is also spoken by many Florida Seminole.^[2]

Historically, the Miccosukee trace their origins to the Lower Chiaha, one of the tribes of the Creek Confederacy in present-day Georgia. Under pressure from European encroachment in their territory, they migrated to northern Florida in the early 18th century, where they became part of the developing Seminole nation.^[3] By the late 18th century, the British recorded the name Miccosukee or Mikasuki as designating a Hitchiti-speaking group centered on the village of Miccosukee in the Florida Panhandle.^[4]

Made an on-site visit at Miccosukee Resort & Gaming on US Route 41. The staff in the casino were friendly and recommended a week advanced notice for RV overnight parking. Slideouts may be extended and use of generators are allowed. Tribe police presence is visible and the parking area was clean with trash receptacles. Miccosukee Hotel offers more than just comfortable accommodations for travelers bound for South Florida. Miccosukee Casino Miami Resort offers great gaming experiences and rewards for guests wanting to try the gaming available in the resort. For relaxation, there are more than 300 rooms at the Miccosukee Casino Resort. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp 1401 79th Street Causeway Miami, FL 33141 Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 Newsroom: (305) 795-2777.

Like other Seminole groups, they were displaced during the Seminole Wars (1817–1858), and many migrated or were forced to relocate west of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory in 1842, after the Seminole Wars.^[5] The Miccosukee chief Ar-pi-uck-i, also known as Sam Jones, proved an effective leader during the Second Seminole War.^[6]

Descendants of those who remained in Florida were concentrated in the central part of the state. In the 1920s and 1930s, many Seminole established communities along the Tamiami Trail, a roadway completed in 1928 that ran through the Everglades and connected the cities of Tampa and Miami. The Trail Indians, as they were called, generally kept more traditional practices. They were less interested in establishing formal relations with the federal government than those Cow Creek Seminole to the north who started moving to reservations around the same time.^[7]

In 1953, the Seminole were identified for termination of federal status; the Seminole Tribe of Florida organized as a tribe and were recognized in 1957. That process had pointed out cultural differences between the groups, and the Miccosukee gained state recognition separately that year, and federal recognition in 1962. The Traditionals or Independents did not affiliate with either tribe.^[8]

History

The Miccosukee historically inhabited the upper Tennessee Valley in present-day Georgia, where they were originally part of the Upper Chiaha. Later they split: the Miccosukee (Lower Chiaha) migrated northeast to the Carolinas and the Upper Chiaha, also known as Muscogee, migrated west to northern Alabama. Under continuing encroachment pressure from European-American settlers, many migrated to northern Florida during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Lower Chiaha comprised the major part of the Seminole tribe, which formed in the eighteenth century in Florida through a process of ethnogenesis. They numbered about 6,000 by the early 19th century. About 2,000 Upper Creek (Red Sticks), who were Creek speakers, joined them after defeat in the Creek War of 1813-1814. Although East and West Florida were under Spanish control, United States forces invaded in 1818 in the First Seminole War, in retaliation for Indian raids against settlers in Georgia.

In 1821 the United States (US) acquired Florida from Spain, and it increased pressure for removal against the Seminole/Creek from Florida. It relocated several thousand Seminole and hundreds of Black Seminoles, who lived in close association as allies, to the Indian Territory. They were originally given land under Creek administration and later given a separate reservation.

Those who remained in Florida fought against US forces during the second and third Seminole Wars. They had moved into central Florida and the Everglades to try to evade European-American settlement pressure. During this period, the Miccosukee mixed with the Creek-speaking Seminole, but many maintained their Mikasuki language and identity.

Twentieth century to present

The tribe had long maintained its distinction from the Seminole, whom they believed were more willing to adapt to the majority culture. The federal and state governments persisted in treating them as a unified people, and there was a third group, known as Traditionals or Independents. An issue that divided them was the majority Seminole filing in 1950 with the Indian Claims Commission for claim for compensation for lands taken by the US government. The Miccosukee and Traditionals contended they had never reached an official peace with the US in Florida, and they wanted a return of their land rather than financial compensation. (The United States settlement of the claims with the Seminole and Miccosukee in Florida, and the Seminole in Oklahoma, was finally made in 1976. Division of shares within the tribes took until 1990 to settle.)

Under the federal government's program of termination of recognition, it proposed in 1953 that the Seminole Tribe be terminated. The Seminole Tribe of Florida developed a constitution and corporate charter, organizing a government, which achieved federal recognition in 1957. These people had begun to move onto designated Indian reservations in Florida starting in the 1930s and 1940s.

The land claims and termination controversies heightened the distinction for the Trail People, who became more defined and began to organize as the Miccosukee Seminole Tribe; they were mostly Mikasuki language speakers.^[9] They were recognized by the state of Florida in 1957, and gained federal recognition in 1962 as the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.^[9]

The tribe today occupies several reservations in southern Florida, collectively known as the Miccosukee Indian Reservation.^[9] The largest land section is a 333-acre (1.35 km²) reservation on the northern border of Everglades National Park, about 45 miles (72 km) west of Miami.^[10] The tribe controls about 200,000-acre (810 km²) of wetlands, most under a perpetual lease made in 1983 with the state of the South Florida Water Management District's Water Conservation Area 3A South.^[11] It may use 'this land for the purpose of hunting, fishing, frogging, and subsistence agriculture to carry on the traditional Miccosukee way of life.'^[12] Another site is its Alligator Alley Reservation, located near Ft. Lauderdale. It includes 20,000-acre (81 km²) of developable land, much of which they use for a cattle grazing lease, and nearly 55,000-acre (220 km²) of wetlands. They provide use permits for non-Natives to use some of the wetlands for hunting camps.^[12]

Among their lands is a site in Miami, where the tribe in 1999 developed the Miccosukee Resort & Conference Hotel, which includes gaming facilities. The revenue from this enterprise has supported economic development and improvements to education and welfare. They have generally modern housing on their reservation 40 miles west of Miami, and some of the tribe live in suburban Miami.^[13]

Membership

The Miccosukee requires members to have at least half-Miccosukee ancestry, and will accept individuals with Miccosukee mothers who are not enrolled in any other Tribe. The tribe has a matrilineal system of kinship and inheritance. Children are considered to be born into their mother's clan, from which they gain their status in the tribe. In this system, the mother's older brother is highly important to her children, more than the biological father, especially for boys. The uncle is the one who introduces the boys to the men's groups of the clan and tribe.^[14]

Government

The tribe has a written constitution and elects officers, including a chief. In 2015, Chief Colley Billie was removed from office for financial mismanagement.^[15][16] As of 2020, the current chief is Billy Cypress.^[17] All adult members are part of the General Council, which manages the tribal services.^[16] The first chief at the time of federal recognition was Buffalo Tiger, who continued to lead as tribal chairman until 1985.^[18]

The tribe operates its own police and court system.^[13] It also has a clinic, day care center; senior center; Community Action Agency and an educational system, ranging from the Head Start Pre-School Program through senior high school. Adult, vocational and higher education programs are also available.^[19]

Business interests

The tribe operates the 302-room Miccosukee Resort & Gaming hotel in Miami-Dade county.^[20]

Sports sponsorship has extended to several teams in NASCAR, primarily Phoenix Racing and Billy Ballew Motorsports. These include the 2009 Aaron's 499 winning Sprint Cup Series car driven by Brad Keselowski, a Camping World truck driven by Kyle Busch, and a Nationwide car driven by Mike Bliss. The Miccosukee relationship with NASCAR dates to 2002,^[21] ending prior to the start of the 2010 season.^[22][23]

Museum

The Miccosukee Indian Village Museum was founded in 1983. The museum offers to its visitors a variety of artistic expressions such as native paintings, hand crafts, and photographs. Additionally, it is possible to find some artifacts such as cooking utensils that are also on display. The Museum is located in 41 Tamiami Trail, Miami, FL, 33131.

Iron Arrow Honor Society

The Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest obtainable honor at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, is an officially sanctioned clan of the Miccosukee tribe.^[24]

Notable Miccosukee

• Kinhagee, the last chief of the Creek of Miccosukee, Florida, who was defeated in battle in 1818 by US forces commanded by General Andrew Jackson. Later Kinhagee's people migrated south, maintaining their local village name Miccosukee as the name of the tribe.
• Buffalo Tiger (Heenehatche), (born 1920), first chief of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, led initiatives for self-determination^[18]

Notes

1. ^Pritzker
2. ^Hardy, Heather & Janine Scancarelli. (2005). Native Languages of the Southeastern United States, Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, pp. 69-70
3. ^Pritzker, p. 390.
4. ^Mahon, p. 189.
5. ^Mahon, pp. 190–191.
6. ^Mahon, p. 199.
7. ^Alexander Spoehr, Camp, Clan, and Kin among the Cow Creek Seminole of Florida, Field Museum, Anthropological Series, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2 August 1941
8. ^Mahon, pp. 202–204.
9. ^ ^abcMahon (1996), pp. 202–204
10. ^'Concerning the Miccosukee Tribe's Ongoing Negotiations with the National Park Service Regarding the Special Use Permit Area'. Resources Committee, US House of Representatives. September 25, 1997. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
11. ^ItemID=WE43&iPin=ENAIT516&SingleRecord=True Ewen, Alexander and Jeffrey Wollock. 'Tiger, William Buffalo', Encyclopedia of the American Indian in the Twentieth Century, New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2014. American Indian History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed August 14, 2014)
12. ^ ^ab'Tribe: Reservation areas'Archived 2013-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, Miccosukee Tribe website
13. ^ ^abPritzker, Barry (2000). A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-513877-5. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
14. ^Miccosukee Tribe, Official Website, accessed 29 Apr 2010
15. ^'Miccosukee Tribe removes Chairman Colley Billie from office'. Indianz. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
16. ^ ^ab'Leaders'Archived 2013-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, Miccosukee Tribe website
17. ^'Tribal Leaders Directory Indian Affairs'. www.bia.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
18. ^ ^abHarry A. Kersey Jr., 'Buffalo Tiger, Bobo Dean, and the “Young Turks”: A Miccosukee Prelude to the 1975 Indian Self-Determination Act', American Indian Culture and Research Journal, Volume 29, Number 1 / 2005, ISSN 0161-6463 (Print)
19. ^'Tribal Programs and Business'Archived 2013-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, Miccosukee Tribe website
20. ^Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Hotel, official website
21. ^Dave Rodman, 'Bodine gets boosts in sponsorship, schedule', Turner Sports Interactive, NASCAR, 6 Mar 2002, accessed 29 Apr 2010
22. ^Fan, Horn (April 14, 2010). 'Aric Almirola's Sole Focus Is Now Camping World Truck Series'. Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
23. ^Broomberg, Nick. 'Kyle Busch says that he needs a sponsor to run his truck team in 2011'. Yahoo!. Yahoo!. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
24. ^'Native American students call for changes within Iron Arrow,'The Miami Hurricane, July 27, 2020, retrieved July 27, 2020

References

• Mahon, John K.; Brent R. Weisman (1996). 'Florida's Seminole and Miccosukee Peoples'. In Gannon, Michael (Ed.). The New History of Florida, pp. 183–206. University Press of Florida. ISBN0-8130-1415-8.
• Pritzker, Barry (2000). A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-513877-5. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
• Tiger, Buffalo and Harry A. Kersey, Buffalo Tiger: A Life in the Everglades, University of Nevada Press, 2008

Further reading

• Ewen, Alexander and Jeffrey Wollock. 'Tiger, William Buffalo.' Encyclopedia of the American Indian in the Twentieth Century, New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2014. American Indian History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE43&iPin=ENAIT516&SingleRecord=True (accessed August 14, 2014).
• James A. Goss, Usual and Customary Use and Occupancy by the Miccosukee and Seminole Indians in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida National Park Service, 1995, (pdf)
• Kersey, Harry A. An Assumption of Sovereignty: Social and Political Transformation Among the Florida Seminoles, 1953-1979, University of Nebraska Press, 1996

External links

• Miccosukee Tribe, Official Website
• Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Hotel, website
• Miccosukee Land Co-op, a co-housing community

The Sunshine state is a casino haven for many gamblers. Their tribal casinos are dotted across the southern part of the state. They also have pari-mutuel casinos, casino cruises, and agreat state lottery.

As of now, Florida does not allow online casinos or sportsbooks. They were slated to have serious discussions about legalization in 2020. But that now seems postponed to 2021.

Still, Florida has some exciting opportunities for land-based casino lovers.

Online Casinos in Florida

Although Florida has a long tradition with some great landbased casinos, it has not legalized online casinos. There have been discussions about legalizing online casinos in the statecapital, but there seems to be little actual motion toward legalization at this point.

Florida does have a state lottery, which can indicate an openness to other forms of betting.

The nearest state where online casinos are legal West Virginia. The online casinos are now operational there!

But, you can still register with a legal online casino while you're in Florida. That means you can get the casino's bonus offers or deposit, and then play whenever you're in stateswhere it's legal. (Do be aware of the casino bonus's expiry date, though.)

Land-Based Casinos in Florida

Florida has a number of different types of land-based casinos.

There are:

Miccosukee Casino Bingo

• 6 Native American tribal casinos
• casino boats
• 8 pari-mutuel casinos
• state lottery

Types of Casinos in Florida

There are three types of Florida casinos:

• Native American tribal casinos
• casino boats
• gaming machines at pari-mutuels in two south Florida counties

At the moment there is no serious legislation moving toward widening the land-based betting options in Florida.

Tribal Casinos

There are currently six Florida tribal casinos. The Seminole Tribe has five and the sixth is on the Miccosukee Tribe’s reservation.

The Seminoles signed a compact with the state that allows them to offer traditional Class III gaming machines. As part of their compact, five Seminole casinos are also allowed to offer

• blackjack
• baccarat
• mini-baccarat
• three card poker
• let it ride
• pai gow poker

All of the Indian casinos are open 24 hours (except Big Cypress) and all offer bingo except for both Seminole Hard Rock Casinos and the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek.

The minimum gambling age is 18 at all Indian casinos for bingo or poker and 21 for electronic gaming machines.

Pari-mutuel casinos

There are eight pari-mutuel casinos in Florida.

In early 2005 voters in Broward County (home county of Fort Lauderdale) passed a referendum to allow slot machines at four pari-mutuel facilities within that county and all are now inoperation.

In January 2008 voters in Miami-Dade County also passed a referendum permitting slot machines at four pari-mutuel facilities.

Click HERE to see a list of Florida casino slot machine payback statistics.

South Florida’s pari-mutuel facilities (as well as most pari-mutuels throughout the state), also offer poker.

Admission to all casinos is free and they are allowed to be open a maximum of 18 hours per day during the week and 24 hours on the weekends and some holidays.

If you want to order a drink while playing, be aware that Florida gaming regulations do not allow pari-mutuel casinos to provide free alcoholic beverages.

List of Pari-mutuel casinos

1. Big Easy Casino
2. Calder Casino
3. Casino Miami
4. [email protected] Beach
5. Gulfstream Park
6. Hialeah Park Racing & Casino
7. Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
8. Magic City Casino

Casino Boats

The casino boats in Florida offer gamblers the opportunity to board ships that cruise offshore where casino gambling is legal. From the west coast, the boats travel nine miles out into the Gulfof Mexico. From the East coast, they travel three miles out into the Atlantic Ocean.

The minimum drinking age on all boats is 21. Due to security restrictions, you must present a photo ID at all casino boats or you will not be allowed to board.

List Of Land-based Casinos In Florida

Miccosukee Tribal Gaming Agency

Miccosukee Casino Address

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Age

Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center

• Address: 500 SW 177th Ave, Miami, FL 33194
• Hours: ·8am–2am
• Phone: 305-222-4600
• Website: www.mrg.miccosukee.com

Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Center has nearly 70,000 square feet of casino game space. This includes nearly 2,000 slots.

In addition to casino games, they also have high-stakes bingo.

Seminole Casino Brighton

• Address: 17735 Reservation Rd, Okeechobee, FL 34974, United States
• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Phone: +1 800-360-9875
• Website: www.seminolebrightoncasino.com

Seminole Casino Brighton is a 27,000 sq. ft. casino. They have a moderate 400+ slot and gaming machines. They have a number of table games and high-stake bingo.

Seminole Casino Immokalee

• Address: 506 S 1st St, Immokalee, FL 34142
• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Phone: 239-658-1313
• Website: www.seminoleimmokaleecasino.com

Seminole Casino Immokalee has 75,000 sq. ft. of casino action. They have over 30 table games, including: blackjack, baccarat, poker, and pai gow, and 3-card poker. This isin addition to a large selection of slots and video poker machines.

Seminole Classic Casino

• Address: 4150 FL-7, Hollywood, FL 33021
• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Phone: +1 954-961-3220
• Website: www.seminoleclassiccasino.com

Seminole Classic Casino features a 73,500-sq. ft. casino floor with over 1,000 slot machines. They also have live-action table games and a very large high-stakes bingo room.

Seminole Hard Rock Coconut Creek

• Address: 5550 NW 40th St, Coconut Creek, FL 33073
• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Phone: 954-977-6700
• Website: www.seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com

The recently renovated Seminole Hard Rock Coconut Creek hosts over 2000 Las Vegas-style slots. They also offer around 70 live table games, including blackjack, baccarat, 3-card poker, ultimateTexas hold ’em, pai gow poker, let it ride, Spanish 21, casino war.

Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood

• Address: 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314
• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Phone: +1 866-502-7529
• Website: www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com

The Hard Rock Hollywood has a new 30,000 sq. ft. casino gaming area. It offers nearly 200 table games, 3,100 slot machines, and a new 45-table Poker Room.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa

• Address: 5223 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33610, United States
• Hours: Open 24 hours
• Phone: +1 866-388-4263
• Website: www.seminolehardrocktampa.com

If you like size, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is up your alley. It's huge 245,000 sq. ft. casino is the sixth-largest in the world. They have a great selection of slots, andtable games include everything from blackjack to baccarat, Pai Gow, Casino War, and Let It Ride. Their poker room features Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Seven-Card Stud amongother games.

Florida Land-Based Casinos Map

Miccosukee Casino Age