Compacts

Governor denies offer of $250M for Poarch Creek compact

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

A view of the gaming floor of the Creek Casino Montgomery. The tribe only offers Class II games at its facilities. Photo from Facebook

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has not offered $250 million in exchange for a Class III gaming compact, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) said.

The tribe reportedly made the offer as some form of advance payment. It would help the state address its budget shortfall.

But Bentley, who has gone back and forth on the idea of negotiating a compact, claims the offers is bogus. He told reporters that the tribe is being "disingenuous."

"We have not been offered $250 million by the Poarch Creek Indians," Bentley said, AL.Com reported. "We can't take money from them because it's advance money that will be paid on things down the road."

Chairwoman Stephanie A. Bryan, however, reiterated that the tribe is "sincere" with the $250 million figure. The money would apparently be tied to some form of exclusivity for Class III games.

"We are sincere in our offer to give Alabama the $250 million it needs now," Bryan said in a statement to WKRG. "And we are confident that where there is a will to fix this problem, the great legal minds in our state’s government will find a way to accept this ground-breaking solution for the good of Alabama and its citizens."

The tribe has long offered to share revenues as part of a gaming compact. But no Alabama governor has ever come to the table.

The tribe is also seeking a compact in neighboring Florida. The tribe has trust land in the state and operates a commercial racetrack that might be able to add slot machines under a recent court decision.

Get the Story:
Gov. Bentley slams Poarch Creeks as 'disingenuous' about offer to bail state out of budget crisis (AL.Com 7/20)
Bentley Not Budging On Gaming Budget Bailout (WKRG 7/21)
Proposed Gambling Rules Impacting Poarch Creek’s Gretna Track Headed For Showdown (The News Service of Florida 7/21)
Poarch Creeks use advertisting campaign to promote compact (The Wetumpka Herald 7/19)

Florida 1st District Court of Appeal Decision:
Gretna Racing v. Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering (May 29, 2015)