TALLAHASSEE -- A gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe was put on the fast track by Florida legislators Wednesday as tribe members continued to pressure lawmakers to complete a revenue sharing deal to include in the state budget by May.

The U.S. Supreme Court started the clock ticking this week when it rejected the tribe's appeal of a Florida Supreme Court decision invalidating an earlier agreement with the state. That agreement gave the tribe exclusive operation of blackjack and Class III slot machines.

The federal court's decision means the tribe now ''has nowhere else to go,'' said Rep. Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican who leads the House review of the issue. ``From a state perspective, it certainly enhances our negotiating strength.''

Florida lawmakers are operating under the assumption that since the Florida Supreme Court invalidated the agreement, they are operating the games illegally.

While there is no sign that federal authorities will stop the games, lawmakers believe the tribe wants to get a new deal signed to avoid a confrontation and continue with their casino expansion plans.

The tribe has mounted a full-barreled effort to renegotiate with the state -- hiring lobbyists, public relations and advertising consultants to make their case.

''We leave here today encouraged that the process is moving in a positive direction,'' said Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen at the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Wednesday. As for the allegations that they are operating illegally, he said: ``We recognize there are a lot of legal opinions.''

But at a recent meeting of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs gave the clearest indication yet that he believes the compact Crist signed is invalid.

George Skibine, acting director of the bureau, told the gathering that Florida's compact was in ''chaos.'' He said that the governor did not have the authority to enter into a compact.

Allen says that the deal was passively approved when the bureau posted it in January 2008 in the federal register and that makes it valid.

Skibine acknowledged that the compact was ``deemed approved in Florida.''

Meanwhile, the House and Senate are prepared to rewrite the compact and remove some of the competitive barriers the state's parimutuels have objected to.

''We have to be able to balance the issue,'' said Senate Regulated Industries Committee Chairman Dennis Jones, one of three members asked to review the governor's compact by Senate President Jeff Atwater.

The group will recommend whether lawmakers should start over or approve the agreement that obligates the tribe to give the state at least $100 million a year for 25 years in exchange for the exclusive operation of blackjack and Las Vegas-style slot machines outside Miami-Dade and Broward.

The House's select committee is likely to reject Crist's approach of favoring the Seminoles over the parimutuel industry, Galvano said. ''In addition to the compact, we're going to have to make sure there are ways to be more equitable with the parimutuel community,'' he said.

A week from Friday, the committee will look at the impact of Seminole gambling on the convention industry and draw up a report giving guidelines to the governor.

Sebastian Sinclair, president of Christiansen Capital Advisors, a New York-based company hired by lawmakers, said that even if the tribe's competition wasn't a factor, the parimutuel industry would be in decline because players prefer slot machines and other games that require less expertise.

''Horse players are dying and they're not being replaced,'' Sinclair said.

Reach Mary Ellen Klas at meklas@MiamiHerald.com.

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