Although he said that “we table the issue of the renewal or termination date of the exiting compact, and use our time more productively by focusing on coming to a shared vision of gaming in Oklahoma for the future,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s spokeswoman says the governor has not budged either on the issue of compact expiration nor on raising exclusivity fees. Tribes responded, acknowledge that our compacts automatically renew and then we’ll talk.
Tribes even allow there’s a case to be made for higher fees. The fees range from 4% to 10%. Stitt wants more—a lot more. But they also deny Stitt’s contention that their fees are the lowest in the U.S. “While his latest communication is warmer in tone, we still have concerns and will formally respond in due course,” wrote the Five Civilized Tribes in an open letter. Stitt has begun meeting with the Sooner State’s dozens of tribes but no compact talks have started. Stitt wants talks to proceed through a mediator, tribes want to negotiate directly with the governor. He has the carrot of sports betting and the stick of trying force a Jan. 1, 2020 expiry of the compacts. Tribes respond that Stitt hasn’t even pitched the exact tax rate that he’s seeking. (He’s hinted at figures well in excess of what the average tribal casino pays.) Oklahoma is hardly hurting for money: In 2017, tribal fees from gaming were $134 million.
* First World problems: Having to move to keep company with your favorite NFL team. Representatives of condo towers One Las Vegas say they have experienced “a significant uptick” in sales from disenfranchised Oakland Raiders fans, who have chosen to move to Las Vegas in order to keep attending Raiders games. It must be nice to have that kind of money.
* MGM Resorts International has announced a long-range plan for the site of domestic terrorist Stephen Paddock‘s shooting spree. In a generous move, MGM will turn it into a community and athletic center, turning the site of something horrible into something positive. In the meantime, it will be used as parking for events at Allegiant Stadium, when that is completed.
* Maine Gov. Janet Mills has punted a sports-betting bill—and a probable $5 million in taxes—into the legislature’s lame-duck session, ensuring that Maine bettors will miss football season. The law, which sailed through the Lege without opposition was held up by Mills, part of a 39-bill postponement she unleashed upon lawmakers. Established casinos, OTBs, harness tracks and Native American tribes would have been enabled to offer sports betting under the bill, leaving those interest groups momentarily on the outside looking in.
