Cherokee Nation Celebrates 10 Years Of Gaming In Oklahoma

The Cherokee Nation is celebrating a milestone. It's been 10 years since Oklahoma voters passed State Question 712 which allows tribes to operate Vegas-style gaming at casinos and horse racing tracks.

The state question was passed under Governor Brad Henry who was a guest speaker at the commemoration.

The Cherokee Nation says in the past decade, the gaming compact has led to thousands of new jobs and more than $895 million for the state from 33 of the tribes which call Oklahoma home.

""It's a win, win, win for the state of Oklahoma, for the education, for the superintendents, for the county commissioners - for the tribes," said Chief Bill John Baker.

Baker said before the gaming agreement, the state was losing those dollars to other states that had legalized gaming.

The Cherokee Nation is the largest American Indian Tribe, and claims a $1.3 billion economic impact on Oklahoma.