Seminole chief Greg Chilcoat and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt are arguingover how much tribal casinos should contribute to society. Stitt wants to taxoperators more heavily whereas Chilcoat believes the tribes have been doingtheir fair share.
Oklahoma Tribes Launch Campaign to Support Casino
Oklahoma’s tribal operators have launched a large-scale public campaign focused on boosting their reputation and trying to win a dispute with state Gov. Kevin Stitt who is determined to tax the tribes more.
The case is most likely going to reach court and be settled there, butin the meantime, tribal operators will try to inform members of the publicabout the broad investments they have been doing, boosting everything fromhealthcare to the economy, and providing residents with stable employment.
Seminole Chief Greg Chilcoat didn’t specif 7BALL CC ically argue that the tribes were better prepared to direct funding for the state and stimulate growth and sustainability. Chilcoat noted that the current predicament with Gov. Stitt was not a matter of how much tribes should be taxed, but rather how a single revenue stream can be divided.
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby has told the federal agency that oversees tribal gaming that any effort to disrupt its operations would be an “intolerable risk” to the tribe and its citizens: https://t.co/U9dbPO7qMj pic.twitter.com/AZlYUvX8zp
— United For Oklahoma (@UnitedForOK) December 8, 2019
Some have suggested that the tribes have too much clout and they need tobe reminded that the state can still decide on matters that affect allresidents, including taxation. Yet, the tribes have argued that their economicimpact in the state has reached $15 billion.
Measurable Economic Impact
The tribes have also paid estimated $150 million in licensing fee,a rate that has doubled since 2009. Operators need to pay between 4% and10% of gross gaming revenue (GGR). These fees apply exclusivelyon Las Vegas machines, i.e. Class III gaming products. Chickasaw, Choctaw,Cherokee, Muscogee Creek and Osage account for two-thirds of all such Class IIImachines.
Chilcoat also discussed the idea of tribes trying to distribute moremoney among community members:
“It’s just taking money from (a form of) local government and giving it to the state to send out to wherever. I’m not saying we’d do better than the state, but when I can walk out my front door and see my neighbor that needs help, that’s who you’re going to help.”
United for Oklahoma, as the tribal coalition in the state, has prepareda number of marketing materials to air on TV and be posted all over socialmedia. Oklahoma has around 38 small tribal governments and they are all part ofthe marketing campaign as well.
Most compacts (56%) have rates less than 10%. Only 5% of all state-tribal gaming compacts nationwide provide rates as high as 20% to 25%. pic.twitter.com/fm9xKHfJWN
— United For Oklahoma (@UnitedForOK) December 4, 2019
The tribes are citing examples of good policymaking and governance byrecognized tribe members. Especially in Tulsa, the tribes consider themselvesto be fully-focused on the needs of the community.
Tulsa Area United Way Chief Executive Officer Alison Anthony appearedin one of the videos reaffirming the stance of Oklahoma tribal officials andcasino bosses. Another person to appear in the videos and vow support for thetribes is Mental Health Association Oklahoma Chief Executive Officer MikeBrose.
Both Anthony and Brose agreed under the condition that they are notinvolved in a political conflict or asked about politically sensitive issues.
Meanwhile, Gov. Stitt has said that he will suspend the compacts of several operatorseffective January 1, 2020.