The Tahlequah, Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission announced that in August, all Oklahoma gaming tribes will have paid the state a total of billion in compact gaming exclusivity fees. Since 2005, Oklahoma tribes have paid 9,661,302 in monthly state compact fee payments, according to state documents. By paying these fees, the CN and Oklahoma’s other 33 compacted tribes have exclusive rights to operate Class III gaming.
The CNGC report indicated the 10 Cherokee Nation Entertainment casinos have more than 7,000 electronic compact and Class II games, plus 83 card/table games.
CN Gaming Director Jamie Hummingbird said, “Reaching the $1 billion mark is a major milestone for Indian gaming in Oklahoma. This clearly shows that the Cherokee Nation and the other compacted Oklahoma tribes have clearly not only met, but exceeded our obligations that the state of Oklahoma has received $125 million, on average, each year for the past five years from gaming. This is $50 million more than the anticipated $75 million that was expected annually under the compact. That is a tremendous success by any measure.”
Class III gaming includes electronic amusement games, electronic bonanza-style bingo games, electronic instant bingo and non-house banked card games. Tribal Class I and II gaming do not require compacts.
Under the compact, 4 percent of the first $10 million of the annual AGR from Class III electronic games goes to the state, which gets 5 percent on the next $10 million of AGR, and 6 percent over $20 million. For non-house banked card games, the state gets 10 percent of the monthly net income.
The compact requires 12 percent of all gaming revenue received by the state to be deposited in the state’s General Revenue Fund, and 88 percent of those fees will be deposited in the Education Reform Revolving Fund. Also, the first $20,833.33 of all fees received each month by the state are transferred to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the treatment of compulsive gambling disorder and related educational programs.
A CNGC report showed between 2005 and 2015, the CN has paid $159.9 million to Oklahoma in accordance with its gaming compact, with $111.7 million directed to the state; more than $8 million to Fair Meadows, a Tulsa horseracing track; and more than $31 million to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.
According to the CNGC report, the CN paid the highest amount in fees, more than $17 million, in 2007. The year with the lowest fees paid was 2005, with $4.9 million.
The CN compact will expire on January 1, 2020.
Meanwhile, the six-story, 120-room hotel portion of the $80 million transformation of the Cherokee Casino & Hotel in Roland, Oklahoma, now billed as a “premier entertainment development,” is set for later this fall. The new casino portion of the venue opened July 1.
General Manager Chad McReynolds said, “Before building the new facility, Cherokee Casino Roland employed 320 people. The new entertainment destination added nearly 300 jobs, including a few new positions coming with the opening of the hotel this fall.” The new jobs include servers, food and beverage staff, EVS attendants, director of hospitality, hotel manager and executive chef positions. Each position offers “competitive pay, health insurance and a retirement package,” McReynolds said.
Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Entertainment officials broke ground on the new $80 million resort in April 2014. The 170,000 square foot facility offers 850 electronic games, table games and a private high limit poker room, plus two restaurants, a cocktail lounge and an entertainment venue.
Since it originally opened in November 1990, the facility has undergone $1.2 million in remodels and renovations. Janelle Fullbright, deputy speaker of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council , noted the current expansion was “what we’ve waited on for a long time. I’m very proud of all the jobs this casino is bringing to Sequoyah County. This town and community has been very supportive of us. I am happy these employees have a beautiful place to work and it is something to be proud of.”
