Stitt: Tribes would ‘illegally’ run games without new deal

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says the state’s Native American tribes would be illegally operating certain gambling games after January 1st if they don’t resolve a dispute over the tribes’ compacts with the state.

Stitt made the remarks Thursday amid an impasse between the state and several tribes over the gaming compacts. Stitt says the compacts expire at the end of the year, but the tribes say the current compacts will automatically renew.

The Republican Governor wants to renegotiate the terms to receive a larger proportion of tribal gambling revenue. The Tulsa Word reports that the tribes will operate gaming on January 1st.