The Seminole Tribe of Florida says it does not expect federal approval to have land it has been purchasing for expansion adjacent to its Hard Rock Hollywood and Coconut Creek casinos approved for inclusion in its reservations until after the Bush Administration leaves office in January 2009.

''We would have to wait for a new administration, after the presidential elections,'' Seminole Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner told the Miami Herald.

While the Seminole Tride is seeking Department of the Interior approval to have the land purchased outside its casinos -- 44 acres surrounding the Coconut Creek casino and 60 acres in Hollywood -- added to its federal trust lands, the Bush Administration has okayed few annexations of Indian owned land.

If the land remains outside the Seminole reservations in Hollywood and Coconut Creek, the Seminole Tribe will have to obtain approval from the two municipalities to build or expand hotels, parking garages or otherwise add to its Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood and Seminole Coconut Creek casinos.

In addition to freeing the tribe of the need to seek local zoning approval for expansion of its casino complexes, inclusion of the property in the Seminole Tribe's federal trust lands would also make it exempt from local taxes.

Nevertheless, Coconut Creek City Manager John Kelly said the Seminole Tribe has agreed to pay the city more than $1.6 million each year if the non-reservation land there is added to the federal trust.

''It is clear that when table games and slots come to this [Coconut Creek] casino that it will become even more popular,'' Kelly told the Miami Herald. "This is why we have conceptually agreed with them -- nothing has been submitted -- for them to build a 24-story hotel, and a 6,500-space parking garage, and space for retail.''