Republican leaders in the Legislature praised the decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court declaring recent gambling agreements negotiated by Gov. Kevin Stitt as void under Oklahoma law.
“This ruling confirms what we have maintained all along: There are parameters defined by statute that must be followed in the negotiation of and entering into tribal gaming compacts,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.
”This has always been about preserving the separation of powers among the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government. When one branch of government acts outside of its authority, the other branches must take steps to restore the balance of power. This is a victory for the rule of law and preserves the foundational principle of checks and balances upon which our government is based.”
“We appreciate the court’s quick decision and look forward to all parties proceeding in a mutually beneficial manner for Oklahoma and all sovereign tribal nations,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.”From the start, this was about separation of powers, and the Supreme Court affirmed as much with a decisive ruling. Oklahoma and its tribal nations can move forward from this together as partners, as we have done for decades with great success.”
The original gambling compact between the State of Oklahoma and the tribes expired on January 1. Stitt wants the terms to be renegotiated but most of the tribes refuse to renegotiate and continue to operate under the old agreement.
Oklahoma has at least 143 tribal casinos with legalized gambling. There are casinos in these cities (some have more than one casino):
Ada, Anadarko, Antlers, Apache, Ardmore, Atoka, Bartlesville, Beggs, Braman, Bristow, Broken Bow, Canton, Catoosa, Chandler, Checotah, Clinton, Concho, Coyle, Davis, Devol, Duncan, Durant, Elgin, Eufaula, Fort Gibson, Grant, Grove, Guymon, Hammon, Harrah, Heavener, Hinton, Holdenville, Hominy, Hugo, Idabel, Kingston, Konawa, Lawton, Madill, McAlester, Miami, Muskogee, Newcastle, Newkirk, Norman, Okemah, Okmulgee, Pauls Valley, Pawhuska, Pawnee, Perry, Pocasset, Pocola, Ponca City, Poteau, Quapaw, Ramona, Red Rock, Roland, Perkins, Sallisaw, Sand Springs, Seminole, Shawnee, Skiatook, South Coffeyville, Stigler, Stringtown, Stroud, Sulphur, Tahlequah, Terral, Thackerville, Tishomingo, Tonkawa, Tulsa, Verden, Walters, Watonga, West Siloam Springs, Wewoka, Wilburton, Wilson, Wyandotte and Yale.
Tribes who operate casinos in Oklahoma include:
- Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
- Apache Tribe
- Cherokee Nation
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
- Chickasaw Nation
- Choctaw Nation
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation
- Comanche Nation
- Delaware Nation
- Eastern Shawnee Tribe
- Fort Sill Apache Tribe
- Iowa Tribe
- Kaw Nation
- Kickapoo Tribe
- Kiowa Tribe
- Miami Tribe
- Modoc Tribe
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Osage Nation
- Otoe-Missouria Tribe
- Ottawa Tribe
- Pawnee Tribe
- Peoria Tribe
- Ponca Tribe
- Quapaw Tribe
- Sac & Fox Nation
- Seminole Nation
- Seneca-Cayuga Nation
- Shawnee Tribe
- Thiopthiocco Tribal Town
- Tonkawa Tribe
- Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
- Wyandotte Nation