Oklahoma's Five Tribes reject Stitt's call to renegotiate gaming compacts

TULSA — In a show of unity, leaders of Oklahoma’s Five Civilized Tribes on Friday backed the state’s current gaming compacts and rejected Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call to renegotiate the agreements.

Leaders of the five major tribes also pushed back against Stitt’s assertion that the compacts will expire and not automatically renew on January 1, 2020.

The Native American tribal leaders believe while there is a window to renegotiate the tribal gaming compacts, the compacts will automatically renew next year if the state and tribes are unable to agree on new terms. Stitt disagrees and has said he believes the contracts must be renegotiated because they will not automatically renew.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief James Floyd and Seminole Nation Greg Chilcoat signed onto a resolution Friday to reject the state’s attempt to “unlawfully and unilaterally terminate the Compact.” They backed the current fee structure for tribal gaming and said the current compacts reflect a balanced approach between the tribes and state.

Read more: https://oklahoman.com/article/5636087/oklahomas-five-tribes-reject-stitts-call-to-renegotiate-gaming-compacts