UKB Signs Oklahoma Gaming Compact, Eyes Return to Tribal Casino Market
Posted on: May 12, 2025, 02:34h.
Last updated on: May 12, 2025, 03:22h.
- UKB signs Model Tribal Gaming Compact with Oklahoma state
- UKB’s previous casino operation was shut down in 2013 due to legal issues
- Cherokee Nation not happy
Twelve years after the Keetoowah Cherokee Casino in Tahlequah, Okla., was shuttered over legal concerns, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) is poised to reenter the gaming industry.
The tribe confirmed late last week that it signed a Model Tribal Gaming Compact with the state of Oklahoma on April 29, shortly after it received federal approval of its updated UKB Gaming Code from the National Indian Gaming Commission.
The compact, which is pending final approval from the US Department of the Interior (DOI), would authorize the UKB to operate Class III gaming on its trust land, marking the end of a longstanding jurisdictional dispute with the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma’s largest tribal government.
Cherokee Spat
Though both tribes trace their lineage to the historic Cherokee people and are headquartered in Tahlequah, they have often clashed over territorial sovereignty. The Cherokee Nation has long argued it holds exclusive jurisdiction over Cherokee lands in the state, a position it used to challenge the UKB’s casino operation.
The Cherokee Nation currently owns 10 casinos across northeastern Oklahoma.
The UKB opened its casino in 1986, despite lacking trust land, and operated it for years offering Class II gaming.
In 2013, following a lawsuit by the Cherokee Nation and pressure from state and federal regulators, the casino was shut down. Central to the dispute was the UKB’s lack of federally designated trust land, a legal requirement for tribal gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
Things began to move for the UKB in 2011 when the DOI agreed to take a 76-acre parcel of land into trust for the tribe. The Cherokee Nation sued to block the move, but the decision was ultimately upheld in 2019 by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Momentum shifted decisively in January 2025, when the DOI issued a legal opinion affirming that the UKB – like the Cherokee Nation – is a legitimate successor to the historic Cherokee Nation. That recognition bolstered the UKB’s sovereign status and cleared a path for gaming development.
‘Years of Determination’
“This agreement reflects years of determination and is a significant turning point for the Keetoowah people,” said UKB Chief Jeff Wacoche. “Gaming is not just about business – it’s about restoring self-determination, creating jobs, and building prosperity for our Tribal Members. We are laying the legal and economic foundation for our future.”
The tribe said it was now “actively engaged in development planning” and would move forward “responsibly and transparently.”
Nation Doubles Down
Despite the DOI opinion, the Cherokee Nation is doubling down on its assertion of sovereignty over the lands.
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians does not have jurisdiction over the Cherokee Nation Reservation,” Cherokee Nation Attorney General Chad Harsha told Tulsa NBC affiliate KTUL.
“The UKB has previously attempted to operate an illegal gaming operation, which was shut down since it did not comply with federal law. The UKB’s effort to amend their old gaming laws does not confer any authority within the Cherokee Nation Reservation for gaming operations or otherwise,” he added.
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