Stitt takes lead on gambling talks, offers tribes extension

(AP) Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says he’s taking over gambling negotiations with Native American tribes from the attorney general and plans to hire his own out-of-state legal team. Stitt said Tuesday he also plans to offer tribes an extension to allow casino gambling to continue while negotiations continue. Stitt maintains the compacts expire and that casino gambling will become illegal in the state on Jan. 1. The tribes dispute that position and maintain the compacts automatically renew. Stitt says the compacts expire, and he wants to renegotiate for a larger slice of casino revenue. Tribal leaders have said they’re willing to renegotiate the fees they pay, but first want Stitt to acknowledge the compacts automatically renew. Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association President Matt Morgan said he expects casinos to continue operating as usual on Jan. 1.