Three native American tribes, including the Cherokee, are filing a federal lawsuit against Oklahoma’s governor because he is seeking to end their gaming contracts.
The Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations want to renew their gaming compacts in Oklahoma but said Gov. Kevin Stitt wants to halt those renewals.
All three nations are seeking a judicial declaration the gaming compacts will be renewed on Jan. 1, 2020, according to KOCO.
Georgia’s closest native American-owned casino is in Cherokee, N.C., a Harrah's casino and hotel owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and operated by Caesars Entertainment.
The compacts are set to renew automatically Jan. 1, but Stitt is arguing that, because he asked the tribes to renegotiate in July, the Nations’ casino-style gambling will become illegal Wednesday.
The compact between the tribes and the state was signed 15 years ago, with an expiration date of Jan. 1, 2020, and an automatic renewal of 15 more years. It also says either side can request to renegotiate within six months of the agreement’s end, which is the crux of Stitt’s argument.
According to the tribes, the compacts should renew at their current rate regardless of whether a renegotiation has been requested.
Casinos were approved by Oklahoma voters in 2004.
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