The U.S. Department of the Interior announced it will allow Oklahoma’s gaming compacts with the Kialegee Tribal Town and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians to take effect. The tribes can begin operating under the terms of the compacts as soon as they’re published in the Federal Register.
Governor Kevin Stitt signed the compacts earlier this year. Neither of the two tribes currently operates casinos in Oklahoma but the new compacts will allow them to open casinos near metro areas. Under the compacts, the tribes will pay exclusivity fees up to 13 percent rather than the current 6 percent to conduct Class III games at their casinos. They will not be allowed to offer sports betting.
Stitt commented, “The U.S. Department of Interior recognizes the state’s good faith effort to negotiate with Oklahoma tribes in the approval of two new gaming compacts that will generate new revenue for public schools in the future and expand economic opportunity for our tribal partners. With these new gaming compacts, Oklahoma is ushering in a new era of prosperity, opportunity, and partnership for the state and the tribes.”
Kialegee Mekko Brian Givens added, “The Kialegee Tribal Town would like to thank Governor Kevin Stitt, his administration, the great state of Oklahoma and the U.S. Department of Interior for the good faith in producing our new gaming compact. This compact will allow the Kialegee Tribal Town the same opportunities others have had and could improve the economic landscape for the Tribal Town and tribal members. As an agreement between two sovereign entities, I see this act of good faith in continuing our relationship with the state of Oklahoma and look forward to future dialogue to improve our local communities.”
United Keetoowah Band Chief Joe Bunch stated, “It is a great day as we prepare to partner with the state of Oklahoma in this Class III gaming compact that will be good for Logan County, the state and the United Keetoowah Band. Our compact will help provide much needed resources to our tribe and surrounding communities as we continue to develop a robust economy and exercise our tribal sovereignty.”
The Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations have long dominated gambling in Oklahoma; their casinos generated 66 percent of Class III gaming revenue in 2019. They have strongly opposed new compacts Stitt has negotiated with the United Keetoowah Band and Kialegee Tribal Town, and previously with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation.
Since then, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Citizen Potawatomie nations sued the U.S. Department of Interior in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.. The tribes contend the agency violated federal law by allowing the Comanche Nation and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe compacts to take effect. Observers said similar lawsuits probably will be filed over the Interior Department’s approval of the Kialegee Tribal Town and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians compacts.
Earlier this year, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the gaming compacts Stitt entered into with the Comanche Nation and Otoe-Missouria Tribe were invalid, since they included sports betting which is not legal in the state.
