Oklahoma Gov. clashes with tribes

The new Governor of Oklahoma has clashed with local tribes over the gambling compacts in the state.

US.- Kevin Stitt, governor of Oklahoma, has defied the local tribes over the gambling compacts that expire at the end of this year. Stitt set a press conference last week to explain that there might be a legal problem with the tribes.

The Governor said that he wanted to present the case to the people of Oklahoma. “The fact of the matter is they have refused to communicate with me,” Stitt said. “This is going to cause extreme uncertainty if we don´t have a new compact before Jan. 1, 2020.”

The tribes and the state argue the terms of the gambling compacts, as they can’t agree if they automatically renew for another 15-year term on January 1. While the Governor suggested that the current rate of 4% and 10% should be larger, the tribes said that they’re not willing to negotiate those numbers, at least not until he acknowledges if the compact renews or not.

“The tribes are unified in their position that the compacts renew and they’re going to continue to operate,” said Stephen Greetham, senior attorney for the Chickasaw Nation, one of the most powerful in the state. “If Gov. Stitt wants to force the issue… he would have to go to court and try to get some kind of order to shut the casinos down. Barring that, we´re just going to continue to operate and we´re going to continue remitting our revenue-share payments to the state and we´re going to continue to grow, as we have for the last 15 years.”