Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. issued the following statement today on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma ruling in favor of the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations and intervening tribes, that the gaming compacts with the state renewed on Jan. 1 for another 15-year term.

“The Cherokee Nation is pleased with today’s ruling which affirms what our tribal nations have known from the beginning, that our gaming compacts with the state of Oklahoma renewed on Jan. 1 for another 15 years. Tribal gaming in this state will continue to be strong, not only for tribes, but for all of Oklahoma, contributing vital education dollars into our public schools and bolstering health care, roads and communities,” Chief Hoskin said. “Everything in our compact now remains the same, and we hope we can move forward and build a relationship built on respect with Gov. Stitt in the future.”

The Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 31 seeking a judicial declaration that the gaming compact with the state renewed on Jan. 1. The Citizen Nation Potawatomi, Muscogee Creek Nation, Quapaw Nation, Delaware, Seminole, Wichita and affiliated tribes also intervened in the case.