Under Oklahoma’s 15-year gaming compact with Native American tribes, the tribes must pay the state 4 percent to 10 percent of casino gaming revenue in exclusivity fees by the 20th of the following month. So fees from January proceeds will be due February 20.
But there’s a problem. Governor Kevin Stitt has claimed in federal court that the 15-year tribal gaming compact expired at the end of 2019. The tribes argue the compact automatically renewed on January 1.
In his recent State of the State address, Stitt said, “As governor, I remain supportive of the sovereignty of the state of Oklahoma and our right and our duty as a legislature to oversee all industries operating in the state.”
Stitt has not announced if the state will accept the fees, since doing so could be interpreted as agreeing with the tribes. Meanwhile, Stitt asked legislators to use funds left over from last year to cover the fees temporarily.
But lawmakers are undecided on the issue. State Senator Greg Treat said he’s waiting for the court’s decision. “I look forward to having a conversation with the governor about the particulars on how we handled that money, but that’s still in discussions,” Treat said.
State Rep. Emily Virgin said the state should accept the tribes’ fees. “My response is, ‘Governor, I think you should’ve thought about that when you picked an unwinnable fight.'”
