Gov. Kevin Stitt is pushing for the legalization of sports betting. And a invoice filed by Ponca City Rep. Ken Luttrell would do exactly that.
Luttrell’s invoice includes a tiered price construction for tribes the place they pay extra of a share of their income primarily based on how a lot cash they soak up. That resembles the state’s exclusivity funds for tribes underneath the mannequin gaming compact.
In 2022, Tribal nations paid greater than $166 million dollars in exclusivity charges. Tribal nations in Oklahoma use the funds from gaming to help teaching programs of their very own, Native language revitalization, elder care and in some instances, the rising value of sustaining their felony justice system after the 2020 McGirt v. Oklahoma determination restored tribal jurisdiction to 6 tribal nations.
Jason Salsman, spokesperson for the Muscogee Nation mentioned a number of the particulars of the present invoice should be labored out.
“And I think right now, as it is the language in the proposals, I don’t think it works for the Muscogee Nation,” mentioned Salsman, who thinks that the invoice in its present kind could be constructed upon.
Matt Morgan chairs the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. He says the state’s tribes all have different ranges of curiosity in sports betting, however that it additionally comes right down to how a lot threat they’re keen to tackle a brand new enterprise.
“Because of the uniqueness of their operations and their markets and you know how those proposals are set forth, the fine details are going to be really important and whether they’re supportive of the idea or not,” Morgan instructed KOSU.
Regardless, it seems the invoice will want work and tribes will must be consulted. The on-line news outlet The Frontier reported Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat mentioned he gained’t help a deal earlier than Oklahoma’s tribal nations come to the negotiating desk.
“I think it needs to be handled in a way that’s respectful of our tribal nations, it needs to be above board, and something that is a win-win for the state of Oklahoma and our 39 tribes,” Treat instructed The Frontier.
Morgan mentioned he nonetheless has plenty of questions concerning the invoice although on first learn, he says it is clear that Luttrell consulted with specialists within the sports betting business, however not with OIGA.
“I always appreciate him bringing conversation to the table,” mentioned Morgan, referring to Luttrell.
“I don’t know if it hits the mark for those tribes that are interested in every way, and I’m really inquisitive: Is this is his idea, or is this legislative leadership’s idea? Don’t know the answer to that, but it would be really interesting to find out,” Morgan mentioned.
The invoice affords a tiered price construction for tribes to pay to the state: 4% on the primary $5 million tribes obtain in a month, 5% on the following $5 million and 6% of all the remaining in a calendar 12 months obtained by these gaming tribes.
Speaking on the sports speak radio present The Franchise final week, Governor Stitt when requested concerning the invoice mentioned he needs the method to be “transparent” and honest for all Oklahomans. He additionally mentioned that every one the stakeholders want to come back to the desk just like the state’s sports groups.
“We’ve got some casinos that want to be able to be a part of that, but we’ve got the Thunder… And so a lot of stakeholders you got University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State athletic departments that want to weigh in on that and how that looks like for the future of our state,” Stitt instructed hosts Dylan Buckingham and Todd Lisenbee.
Having folks within the business on the desk is useful, mentioned Morgan. But past that, he mentioned it is necessary to recollect what’s legal and what’s unlawful underneath the present mannequin gaming compact.
“The stakeholders are involved here…I want to be clear, are the state of Oklahoma, meaning the governor and the legislature and the tribes. Outside of those three stakeholders, anything above and beyond that, you risk the real possibility of breaching our current gaming compact,” mentioned Morgan.
The mannequin gaming compact tribal nations at the moment function underneath was signed in 2004 and renewed after 15 years. In 2019, months after Governor Stitt took workplace, he wrote an opinion piece within the Tulsa World stating that the compact did not renew in 2020. A legal battle ensued with the tribes prevailing in July of 2020.
The mannequin gaming compact was negotiated between tribes and the state to generate further income in on line casino operations following a statewide referendum to develop tribal gaming in 2004, whereas additionally saving Oklahoma’s racing business.
Luttrell filed a bill to legalize sports betting at first of the 2022 legislative session, but it surely did not go wherever.
submit credit score to Source link