The battle between Oklahoma’s native Indian tribes and the governor has taken its next step. Governor Kevin Stitt wants the tribes to sit down at the table to renegotiate their gambling compacts, which expired at the end of 2019, while the tribes assert that the agreements simply, and legally, rolled over to 2020. Three state tribes are now suing the governor over the ordeal and are looking for a federal court to determine what course of action is required.
According to AP News, the Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw nations have asked a federal judge to provide guidance on whether or not the compacts rolled over or if, as Stitt asserted, it’s time to negotiate new revenue sharing schemes. Stitt has been open about his belief that the tribes need to give up more of the revenue to operate in Oklahoma and is using the compact expiry as leverage to make sweeping changes.
The tribes believe the compacts automatically renewed for another 15 years as of January 1 and that they are still entitled to the same exclusivity previously afforded by the agreements. Assert Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby and Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton in a joint letter to Stitt this week, “For some time, we have tried to establish meaningful intergovernmental engagement regarding our gaming compacts, but you have continued to reject our compacts’ plain terms. Recently, you have gone further, stating allegations against us and threats to our operations.”
Oklahoma is home to 39 federally recognized native Indian tribes and two of these, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee and the Kialegee Tribal Town, have already worked out a deal with the government for an eight-month extension to their compacts. Stitt has indicated that he is “disappointed” in the remaining tribes’ inability to negotiate with him, adding, “The state of Oklahoma offered an extension, with no strings attached, to all tribes that operate casinos in the state, and my door continues to be open for more tribes to join who are worried about impending uncertainty.”
For their part, the tribes have never said that they are unwilling to negotiate their revenue sharing agreements. However, they have indicated that they would only be willing to do so if Stitt admitted publicly that the compacts autorenewed as of January 1. The governor is still not willing to acknowledge this, partly out of concern that it would hinder his ability to seek a larger piece of the tribes’ gambling revenue. They currently give around 4-10%, and Stitt is looking for as much as 25%.
