The most notable recent example occurred on Oct. Yet Oklahoma’s tribal casino operators are increasingly looking to use more of their Oklahoma earnings on casino investments in other states-including Arkansas and Missouri-and are often doing so despite the fact they will pay significantly higher tax rates or fees to those other states’ governments. “I don’t want to try and help the state of Texas or Arkansas or Missouri-they’re doing well on their own, they don’t need our help,” said Gary Ridley, former secretary of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, in another quote highlighted on the website.
Lisa Billy in one quote posted on the “United for Oklahoma” website.
“Tribes have been relocated here officially since 1832, they were here long before that, and we’re not leaving the State of Oklahoma for better investments,” said former state Rep. The “United for Oklahoma” website, funded by tribal casino operators, includes several quotes making that point. Kevin Stitt’s call for the State of Oklahoma to receive higher exclusivity payments for monopoly casino rights, Oklahoma’s tribal casino operators often argue that the benefits of the state’s low rates accrue to Oklahoma anyway because they have nowhere else to go with their earnings.
