An Estimated 25,000 Hard-Working Oklahomans

The Facts:

• Before tribal gaming expanded in Oklahoma, Remington Park was Oklahoma’s leading tourism attraction and was the hub of a growing horse industry. The subsequent proliferation of tribal casinos changed everything.

• Before electronic gaming was approved for Oklahoma racetracks in November 2004, Remington Park was on the verge of closing its doors.

• The Shawnee Tribe’s proposed casino would undermine the purpose behind State Question 712, which was supported by Oklahoma voters in 2004 by a significant margin (60%-40%). This law allows horse tracks to offer an extremely restricted form of gaming (higher tax rate, limited type of gaming, limited number of gaming machines, limited hours of operation, etc.) in comparison to that offered by tribal casinos on assigned lands. To date, however, the results generated from the passage of SQ 712 have been very beneficial to Oklahomans.

• Before State Question 712 was enacted, no tribe had ever laid claim to establishing trust land in the Oklahoma City area, a fact that then-State Finance Director Scott Meacham, Governor Brad Henry and the Legislature took into account when negotiating the terms of the new law.

UNDER STATE LAW:

• Remington Park is taxed at a rate of 30-50 percent of the revenues it receives from its electronic gaming operation.
• Tribal casinos only pay 4-6 percent of their revenues to the state in exchange for the right to offer broader gaming options to their customers.
• Remington Park is currently allowed to have only 700 slot machines operating at any given time (capping at 750 in 2010).
• The Shawnees are proposing thousands of slot machines because the tribe is not   limited in how many slot machines it can offer.
• Remington Park is not allowed to offer any card games.
• The proposed Shawnee tribal casino would be allowed to offer card games.
• Remington Park has restricted hours of operation.
• The proposed Shawnee tribal casino will be allowed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Impact:
Remington Park is not allowed to operate by the same set of rules as tribal casinos. We are heavily regulated by the state and have gone above and beyond our obligations in order to grow the horse industry and offer a first-class entertainment venue in Oklahoma City.

Community Facts about Remington Park

The Facts:

• Remington Park is the crown jewel of Oklahoma’s growing horse racing industry.
• Remington Park anchors the Adventure District and has been a leader in the overall development of this area in Oklahoma City.
• Remington Park is a major league attraction for our community. Many of the nation’s best trainers, jockeys, quarter horses and thoroughbreds race here.

The Impact:
Remington Park has been an upstanding community citizen for 20 years and has invested heavily in this community, as well as serving as the central place of business for the 51,500 Oklahomans who work full-time in the horse industry. Citizens have responded by supporting this important cultural landmark. The Shawnee Tribe is not from Oklahoma City. Their people are not from Oklahoma City. Their interest in building a casino in Oklahoma City is strictly monetary.