The compacts are due to come to end in January 2020. The tribes have said they are prepared to renegotiate some of the terms. But, if consensus can\u2019t be reached, the compacts should automatically renew.<\/p>\n
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But writing an op-ed in Tulsa World<\/em> in July, Stitt said the compacts must be redrawn to \u201creflect market conditions\u201d and claimed that operators in Oklahoma pay the lowest rev-share percentages in America.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe last point is inaccurate. Tribal operators in Arizona, for example, pay between 1 percent and 8 percent. In Minnesota, they pay nothing.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, if the governor is prepared to pay hardball and agreement cannot be reached, the state could declare the tribes to be in breach of their compacts, which means they would be offering class III gaming illegally. They would still be permitted to offer class II bingo-style electronic games, which is their right to do under the Indian Gaming Regulation Act (1988) without permission from the state.<\/p>\n
But this would decimate a multibillion-dollar industry that provides jobs and tourism, and invests in housing, hospitals, and infrastructure, largely in small poor rural communities, surely a drastic option.<\/p>\n
Proven Record<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u201cWhen dealing with issues as complex as compact negotiations, it is important to have experts with experience in this area,\u201d said AG\u2019s Office spokesman Alex Gerszewski of the state\u2019s new adviser in an official statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cDykema has a proven record of success in tribal compact and gaming negotiations. We believe, with their help, we can achieve a successful outcome for both the state and our tribal partners,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Dykema\u2019s website says its \u201ccompacting and governmental negotiations experience extends beyond just initial compacts, and also encompasses evaluating the interplay between existing compacts and new proposals, and navigating disputes that arise under compacts.\u201d<\/p>\n
As well as working directly for tribes, the firm has advised state governments on the impact of exclusivity clauses, and \u201cpermissible arrangements for structuring tribal revenue sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Oklahoma\u2019s attorney general Mike Hunter has hired the services of Michigan-based law firm Dykema as the state prepares to begin a hugely complex — and controversial — compact renegotiation process with its Native American casino operators. The firm will be paid up to $250,000 for its advice during sensitive talks between the state\u2019s Republican Governor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":115029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Oklahoma Hires Michigan Law Firm to Advise on Casino Compact Talks<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n