The gaming compacts, which are set to expire January 1, have required the tribes to pay four to six percent of their gross gaming revenue on slots and 10 percent on tables to the state. The slot tax is a sliding scale based on total win from the terminals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Stitt believes those tax figures are far too low. He’s offered new compacts, but at a starting negotiating tax rate of 25 percent. The tribes say it’s all nonsense, as their current gaming compacts automatically renew under the present terms.<\/p>\n
Following Billy’s resignation, Stitt said his administration “has been and remains committed to working collaboratively with the Tribes. We regret that we won’t have the wisdom of Lisa Billy’s counsel in that endeavor.”<\/p>\n
Stitt, a member of the Cherokee Nation himself, said last week he was “disappointed that the tribes turned our offer down and refused our requests to negotiate new compact terms that better address the parties’ changing needs.”<\/p>\n
Stitt’s administration subsequently mailed out letters to all gaming tribes on Friday informing them that audits of their casino operations will resume January 2.<\/p>\n
\nThe objective of the investigation is to determine if the State has received all fees owed from the conduct of covered games pursuant to terms of the Model Tribal Gaming Compact,” Brandy Manek, director of budget, policy and gaming compliance for the state, said in the letter.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
“At the completion of the investigation, the SCA (State Compliance Agency) will forward a written report, including any suspected violations of law or the Model Tribal Gaming Compact, to the Tribal Compliance Agency and the Office of the Governor,” Manek explained.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs Lisa Billy resigned from the governor’s cabinet this week because of “unnecessary conflict” with the tribes. Governor Kevin Stitt (R) is engulfed in a contentious battle with the state’s tribes regarding their expiring gaming compacts. He is demanding the various Native American groups that operate casinos sign amended contracts […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":122989,"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 Sec. of Native American Affairs Resigns Amid Tribal Dispute<\/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