Tribes of Oklahoma and the state government are at an impasse over the renewal of gaming compacts.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Mike Hunter argue the gaming compacts
expire on 1 January 2020 and intend to go into arbitration to resolve the matter.
The 31 tribes that conduct gambling in the state believe their gaming compacts should
automatically renew.
Tribes pay the state a rate in the range of 4% to 10% of their take to possess exclusivity over
gambling in Oklahoma.
The state is seeking a higher rate of income from the compacts. Around 200 tribal representatives met with Hunter in late October to discuss the condition of the compacts.
In a letter sent to Hunter on 5 November, the tribes wrote: “The state’s argument against renewal is not supported by any facts or law and arbitration is not presently justified.”
Earlier this year, Gov. Stitt wrote an opinion piece in Tulsa World arguing in favor of new
gaming compacts.
Stitt said compacts in other states consist of exclusivity fees in the range of 20% to 25%.
