The government-to-government gaming agreement is a success story for all Oklahomans, and it has far exceeded estimates of its benefits to the state.
In 2004, Oklahomans overwhelmingly approved a referendum to allow Class III tribal gaming. Together, the state and tribes worked diligently to forge an agreement that has provided new revenues for education, helped preserve the Oklahoma horse industry and contributed billions of dollars to the state economy.
The success of the state-tribal gaming compact is indisputable, and it has far exceeded original estimates. To date, tribes have paid the state more than $1.5 billion in exclusivity fees. And in 2017 alone, the tribal nations of Oklahoma:
The 2004 gaming compact, after meeting requirements necessary for renewal, automatically renewed for a successive 15-year term on January 1, 2020. However, that renewal did not come without challenge.
In a July 2019 editorial, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt called for the gaming compact to be negotiated. He adopted a position that the compact would expire at the end of 2019 and he was seeking a rate increase. The united response from tribal nations was that they were open to a rate discussion once Gov. Stitt acknowledged the compact’s automatic renewal.
The governor’s refusal to acknowledge the renewal led to a divisive dispute and an erosion of the goodwill that had been built over decades with successive Oklahoma governors. It culminated in a costly legal battle — Gov. Stitt spent more than $1.5 million arguing his interpretation of the compact — a case that was ultimately decided in favor of the tribes.
The timeline below outlines key activities related to the gaming compact from adoption in 2005 to present day. Click here for an associated collection of documents including correspondence, legal filings and statements. View the TV spots here.
All of those jobs in rural Oklahoma wouldn't be there without some of the gaming we have in the state, or the expansion of our enterprises and economic development because of the gaming dollars that create new jobs.
Gaming in Oklahoma has sailed far beyond revenue projections. The state has gotten more than they believed they were ever going to get.
Stay Informed
Stay up to date on the stories about all the unique ways state-tribal partnerships work for the benefit of everyone in the state.
©2023 United for Oklahoma • Privacy Policy