Even though the gambling compact between the State of Oklahoma and the tribal governments expired on January 1, 2020, the tribes continued with their normal gambling operations despite efforts by Gov. Kevin Stitt to sit down and renegotiate.

Stitt even offered an eight-month extension so that both sides could find a suitable solution. The tribes initially said no to the extension and announced that nothing would change despite the compact’s expiration.

The gambling debacle was started by ex-Gov. Brad Henry, who managed to get a vote to approve casino gambling by promising that gambling revenues would end funding problems for public education. They didn’t.

Henry negotiated a terrible deal for the state in which there was virtually no oversight or auditing of revenues by the state.

The tribes consider themselves to be sovereign nations. The purpose of the compact was to give them a virtual monopoly on gambling operations in Oklahoma.

And since that ill-fated approval, gambling has skyrocketed in Oklahoma, with more than 140 tribal gambling operations and continuous expansion of casinos.

The tribes donate a few million here and there for public relations purposes and they spend millions with big newspapers and TV stations to ensure that their operations are not scrutinized by the “news media.”

All Stitt wants is a fair shake. He realizes that – pending an act of God – these casinos are here to stay. If they are going siphon billions off the Oklahoma economy every year, they should pay a percentage of their profits for the public good.

Casinos are not good for Oklahoma. They are not genuine economic development and they destroy the lives of people who get sucked into compulsive gambling.

This needs to change and thank goodness Gov. Stitt has the courage to stand up and say the truth.