(Oklahoma City, OK) A federal judge dealt another blow to Governor Kevin Stitt’s effort to restructure Oklahoma’s gamin compacts, stating they automatically renewed on January 1st.
Stitt has been adamant that the 15-year compacts expired at the start of 2020, making Class III gambling illegal for tribes to offer. Stitt is trying to negotiate more exclusivity fees from Natives.
In order to negotiate, tribes say they want Stitt to concede the automatic renewal first.
Stitt issued a statement Tuesday expressing frustration with the judge’s decision.
“I am deeply disappointed by the federal court’s ruling,” Stitt said. “It confirms my fears, and the fears of many fellow Oklahomans, that the State entered into a poorly negotiated deal and now we must bear the cost of this mistake.”
