A Florida Senate panel on Wednesday sharply questioned Gov. Rick Scott's proposed gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe, casting doubt on legislative ratification and endangering passage of Scott's corporate tax cut package.

The compact, which Scott signed in December after secretive negotiations with tribal leaders, would allow Seminole casinos to add new games, including Craps and Roulette, to an exclusive portfolio that already includes card games like Blackjack and Baccarat. In return, the tribe would pay the state $3 billion over seven years.

The promised revenue has become an especially important prize for Scott: with state economists lowering the size of Florida's projected surplus by $388 million, the compact money could be the only way to pay for the governor's proposed tax cuts, which total $1 billiion. Some senators indicated that, even if the compact were to be ratified, the revenue shouldn't be earmarked for Scott's purposes.

"What could happen here, conceivably, if we pass this compact, is we would generate this revenue, but then this revenue could conceivably then immediately go out in a tax cut for C-corporations," said Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater).

Many lawmakers skeptical of the compact say the biggest sticking point is the expanded gaming at tribal casinos.

A clause in the compact would also allow a new slot machine license to be issued in Miami-Dade County, which anti-gambling activists say could be handed to Genting, an international gaming conglomerate that for years has been seeking to build a massive resort casino complex in South Florida.