The Otoe and Missouria tribe and the Comanche Tribe recently signed new gaming compacts with Gov. Stitt last week. Now, their attorney says that they will not push for sports betting.

Not fighting for sports betting

Rob Rosette, whose firm is representing the two tribes said that sports betting is “not an issue we’ll fight about.”  The issue is not a priority for the tribes and they will let the state resolve this matter. He added that the main benefit of signing the new compacts is lower exclusivity fees for the tribes. Earlier, the tribes paid a 6% exclusivity fee which has now been reduced to 4.5%. However, this will only be applicable if the tribes don’t expand their operations.

Rosette added that if the tribes do nothing else at all, they will be paying a 25% lesser fee to the state. Apart from this state, the state will look into banked games and support for federal applications for newer venues. It will also contemplate sports betting. He said that the governor is interested in bringing more revenue to the state and he wants to do it by growing the market.

Controversy hitting Stitt

Gov. Stitt has been locking horns with the tribes of the state that suggest that their gaming compacts, signed 15 years ago, are scheduled for autorenewal. However, Stitt suggests that the compacts should be renegotiated. Several people have criticized Stitt and said that he is overstepping his authority by including sports betting in the tribe compact. The people critical of his decision include Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, House Speaker Charles McCall, and Attorney General Mike Hunter.

Sports betting as well as banked games which include roulette, craps, and blackjack are included in the compact which stands in violation of the existing statutes of the state. Interestingly, Stitt, who has launched a campaign against the tribes, is a member of the tribes himself.

Rosette defended the compacts saying that the compact covers sports betting “as allowed by state law.” He emphasized that the two tribes are in no hurry to implement sports betting and will wait until the state resolves the issue. There is also a severability clause in the compact, which means that even if some parts are deemed illegal, others will continue to be functional.