Two gambling venues in Oklahoma have evacuated amid a local near the Kansas border. The spreading fire forced local residents to evacuate as well.

The affected casinos were two tribal venues, namely the Native Lights Casino and the 7 Clans First Council Casino Hotel. Both properties are situated near the border with The Sunflower State and were exposed to high risks of being engulfed by the fire.

For reference, the two casinos are operated by the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians respectively.

The properties were warned about the nearby wildfire on Tuesday evening, prompting the evacuation. Some Chilocco residents were also asked to leave their homes as the fire was headed directly toward that area.

At that time, the wildfire was directed north of Newkirk, a small city in Kay County. The County itself was affected by the flames, resulting in a lot of smoke that affected local traffic. At first, Newkirk residents were advised to evacuate but that order was later retracted as firefighters from the two neighboring states were able to get the situation under control.

Firefighters Prevented the Fire from Reaching the Casinos

At 9 pm, Kay County Emergency Management representatives released an update on the situation, announcing that firefighters from Oklahoma and Kansas had managed to stop the fire’s advance, preventing it from reaching the Native Lights Casino and 7 Clans First Council Casino Hotel.

For reference, the danger of the wildfire had initially increased because of some unexpected wind.

Kay Country wasn’t the only place in the state affected by the ongoing wildfires. As of Tuesday, Oklahoma was experiencing 32 fires, resulting in damages and loss of forests. Reports say that the fires have also led to injuries and property damage.

Two Oklahoma Casinos Dealt with Cyberattacks

Luckily, the two casinos in northern Oklahoma were unaffected thanks to the firefighters’ hard work. Damages to the two properties could have added to the woes of local tribal organizations in the wake of the recent cybersecurity incidents.

For reference, two of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s properties, namely the Indigo Sky Casino and Resort and Outpost Casino, experienced data security incidents in December. Both properties warned customers that their data might have been compromised, advising them to protect their identities.

In the meantime, Oklahoma continues to mull over the legalization of sports betting.

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As part of a new deal negotiated between the tribal gaming operator and the company, Anaxi has introduced the Mobile on-Premise solution which will allow casino guests who are playing on trust lands to enjoy Aristocrat Class II gaming machines via mobile devices.

New Mobile Solution Enables Class II Gambling on Trust Lands

This is a prelude to online casino gambling, although in a rather limited capacity that requires more tailored geofencing to be successful.

Anaxi, which operates under the Aristocrat roof, has been an established provider of digital products and has been working on both expanding the group’s iGaming presence but also on driving synergies with existing physical businesses that already work with Aristocrat.

Commenting on the latest opportunity, Anaxi SVP of iGaming Product & Technology Josh Morris said that the partnership was groundbreaking, and it was an arrangement of that type that would drive the company and the industry forward. The Mobile on-Premise solution is a forward-thinking experience that is designed to elevate the gambling experience at tribal gaming operators and beyond.

“We also thank our integration partners that have been part of this journey, helping to deliver this innovation solution,” Morris added.

The partnership sees the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Oklahoma, the biggest casino resort property in the world, benefit through the introduction of Class II games. Anaxi and WinStar also want to make sure that this collaboration is ongoing and that Anaxi’s platform continues to inject fresh content that allows players to get even more value with each visit.

The arrangement was welcomed by Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Dan Boren who was equally excited about the opportunity.

“The approval last year by the National Indian Gaming for alternate technical standards for the Chickasaw Nation Office of the Gaming Commissioners applicable to Class II mobile gaming provides us with the flexibility to take advantage of modern technology,” Boren explained.

Mobile Is the Future of Gambling, Land-Based and Otherwise

He also said that mobile gaming is one of the technologies that will continue to shape the future of gaming. The opportunity to introduce it to the WinStar casino and guests is just a first step in what Boren hopes will be a long and successful partnership with the innovative gaming operator.

Anaxi has been actively expanding its portfolio of partners over the past weeks, with the company teaming up with PENN Interactive and strengthening its iGaming brands. The company has similarly teamed up with Caesars and FanDuel, establishing its foothold in the North American market and the United States in particular.

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Tribal gaming leaders in Oklahoma, alongside their national counterparts, have called upon Gov. Kevin Stitt to support tribal-led sports betting initiatives. 

Tribal Chiefs Express Concerns Over Las Vegas Sands’ Dallas Mavericks Deal

The call for action was made during a recent webcast titled “The New Normal,” hosted by Victor Rocha, conference chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, and Jason Giles, executive director of the Indian Gaming Association. 

Matthew Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, was interviewed during the webcast, where concerns were raised regarding the recent acquisition of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team by Miriam Adelson, widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, and the subsequent move by the Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Adelson’s family, known for controlling the Las Vegas Sands Corp., has committed to purchasing the majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks for a reported $3.5 billion. This move has sparked apprehension within tribal circles as the Adelsons have been actively lobbying to legalize gambling in Texas. Mark Cuban, the current owner of the Mavericks, envisions a new arena with an integrated casino in an entertainment district. 

According to the terms of the deal with Adelson, Mark Cuban, who took ownership of the Mavericks in 2000, will retain a stake in ownership and continue to oversee basketball operations.

Oklahoma Tribal Chiefs Skeptical of Stitt’s Sports Betting Tax Rates

Gov. Stitt, a member of the Cherokee Nation, recently proposed a sports betting plan for Oklahoma. However, tribal leaders assert that the proposal, which includes a 15% tax rate on retail sports betting at tribal casinos and a 20% tax on mobile licenses with a $500,000 license fee, caught them off guard and lacks feasibility. Despite Stitt’s efforts to diversify the state’s revenue streams, stakeholders remain skeptical.

Jason Giles pointed out the inexplicable tax rates proposed by Stitt, emphasizing the robustness of the Oklahoma gambling industry and its potential for growth. Giles argued for a more forward-thinking approach, urging the state to move beyond dependence on the fluctuating oil market and consider economic diversification.

Highlighting the regional competition from neighboring states like Kansas and Arkansas, as well as potential future entrants like Missouri and Texas, Giles stressed the need for strategic planning. 

Morgan echoed these sentiments, underlining the importance of Oklahoma becoming a pioneer in sports betting before other states capitalize on the opportunity. In response to the economic concerns raised by Giles, Morgan expressed optimism about the resilience of Oklahoma’s gaming industry. He emphasized ongoing investments by tribal nations in casino properties, citing recent openings and renovations across the state.

The post Oklahoma Tribal Leaders Rally for Sports Betting Amid Economic Concerns appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced Tuesday it plans to represent the interests of the state in a years-long legal battle over unlawful gaming compacts that resulted in losses of state resources. Back in 2020, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office reached revised gaming compacts with four Native tribes, the Otoe-Missouria, the Kialegee Tribal Town, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as the Comanche Nation. This prompted four other tribal nations, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Citizen Potawatomi, to file federal lawsuits, challenging the Governor’s authority for the signed gambling compacts.

The prime issue with the compacts orchestrated by Gov. Stitt was that he didn’t have the legislative authority to enact them. The legal battle continued with the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling twice that the aforementioned gambling compacts are invalid, despite the Governor submitting them to the federal government for approval.

State’s Relationship with Tribal Organizations Suffered Damage

Now, the state’s Attorney General, confirmed he joins the lawsuit to defend the interests of the state and informed the Governor of his decision via a personal phone call and an official letter. In his letter, Drummond said that Gov. Stitt can freely deal with the tribes but cannot violate the established laws currently in effect in Oklahoma. “I am taking this action in order to uphold the law and defend our constitution,” wrote the Attorney General.

Additionally, Drummond criticized the Governor for damaging the relations between the state and tribal organizations while at the same time not following the law. He claimed that the Governor didn’t enact gambling compacts that would bring benefits to Oklahomans but chose to engage in “costly legal battles.” Drummond pointed out: “Millions of dollars of state resources have been squandered on these futile efforts.”

“Oklahoma’s relationship with our tribal partners has suffered greatly as a result of your divisive rhetoric and refusal to follow the law,“

wrote Attorney General Gentner Drummond

According to the recent statement released by the Attorney General, there are nearly $600,000 in accumulated expenses for private law firms that are currently defending the unlawfully signed gambling compacts. He claimed that other legal battles have resulted in millions of losses under the tenure of Gov. Stitt. The Attorney General pointed out that he represents a “broad coalition of state leaders” that have an ultimate goal to repair the damage that has been done due to the unlawful gambling compacts with the tribal operators.

In light of the situation, earlier this week, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat hinted that lawmakers may consider taking the authority related to the negotiation of tribal gambling compacts from the Governor. It is yet to be confirmed how can such change be enacted.

The post AG in Oklahoma Backs State in Unlawful Gaming Compacts Lawsuit appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The tribal gaming regulator has said that has flagged what it considers to be multiple offenses committed by the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma dating back to 2013 and that have to do with the annual audits of gaming operations and the Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).

The infringements flagged by the regulator, are serious and they criticize the lack of timely and compliant financial statements by the company. The two properties that are tied to the infringements are the Golden Eagle Casino and the Silver Buffalo Casino, a now-closed property.

Apache Tribe in Hot Water with NIGC

NIGC outlined specific breaches had to do with three areas, including the submission of annual audits, the hiring of an independent CPA to conduct independent audits of each casino for each fiscal year, and independent audit and financial statements sent to the regulator within 120 days of the end of a property’s fiscal year.

According to the regulator, which went back and looked all the way back to 2013, some of the audits had been carried out by an unlicensed CPA and were therefore unacceptable. The situation was further outlined by an official press release with a statement from NIGC chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer:

NIGC’s technical assistance provided to the Tribe over the past several years to correct these violations and to improve its internal controls and record keeping has not resulted in voluntary compliance. Submitting timely and accurate annual independent audit reports and AUPs is critical to NIGC’s mission to protect the integrity of Indian gaming, and we do not take this enforcement action lightly.

NIGC chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer

Massive Fines Are Possible But Not Very Likely

AUPs refer to agreed-upon procedures, or in this case, the obligations that tribal operators and their properties have towards the regulator. NIGC has noted that a normal course of action would be to issue a fine to a property of $57,527 per day for each day of missing reports and audits.

The tribe now has 15 days to respond to the regulator. The regulator logged the case on April 19, which is the date from when the grace period is counted. It’s unlikely however that NIGC will particularly seek to enforce a stiff penalty on the tribe’s properties, and rather seek a course to remedy the records.

The post NIGC Targets Apache Tribe’s Oklahoma Casinos in Enforcement Action appeared first on Keno Wizard.

In February, Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City filed House Bill 1027, bringing sports aficionados and gamblers from Oklahoma one step closer to finally seeing sports betting legalized in the Sooner State.

After the legislation went through a smooth review from a friendly committee that was chaired by Luttrell, KOKO-TV announces that the House Committee on Appropriations and Budget has decided to pass the bill on Thursday.

27 “Yes” Votes, Four “No” Votes

Luttrell’s second trial to introduce sports betting to Oklahoma gathered 27 “yes” votes and it was only opposed by four “no” votes in the Appropriations and Budget Committee.

According to its initiator, the main purpose of the bill is to allow additional changes that might be necessary during the lawmaking procedure. In its current form, the legislation would enable Native American tribes to make their way into new sports betting compacts that legalize both in-person and mobile sports betting.

Tribes eager to participate would be allowed to ink partnerships with larger online sports betting sites or create their own gambling sites and platforms and sportsbooks. They would also be allowed to set limits to mobile betting and only allow the vertical on tribal land.

Luttrell explained that the new bill is the result of his lengthy work and collaboration with the tribes and gaming partners in his own districts as well as several other districts in Oklahoma.

While the bill was successfully passed out of committee at the start of March, this still does not offer any guarantee on the fact that it would also reach the House. Nonetheless, Luttrell has expressed his optimism that this would occur.

In the event that the bill would reach the House floor, it would still require clearance from the House and Senate prior to being signed into effect by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The Power of Example

Further strengthening his argument that Oklahoma is currently missing out on a lot of money, Luttrell explained that after sports betting became legal in nearby Arkansas, the three casinos there generated a massive total bid of $500 million, with $11 million reaching the state’s treasury.

The bill’s initiator also argued that sports betting was already legal in New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas, while adding that the purpose of the bill was not to expand gambling or gaming, but to offer “another option for those tribes that would like to provide this to their customers.”

If it would come into effect, the legislation would follow the same distribution of the fees that currently come to the state from other compacts.

Accordingly, 80% of the money would go to education while a separate provision would be used to combat problem gaming and provide counseling to problem problems and persons at risk.

While the legislation still has a long time to go before it turns into a palpable reality, the fact that it currently enjoys the support of both the tribes and the Governor can be taken as a good omen.

The post House Committee Clears Bill That Would Legalize Sports Betting in Oklahoma appeared first on Keno Wizard.