Oklahoma’s tribal casino operators have prevailed in their legal battle with the state’s governor over the renewal of their gaming compacts.

On Tuesday, US District Court Judge Timothy DeGiusti issued a ruling that affirmed the automatic renewal of gaming compacts between the state and tribal casino operators on January 1, 2020. The compacts are therefore valid for a new 15-year term following the expiration of their original agreement.

The dispute dates back to last summer, when Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that he would seek a higher share of gaming revenue for the state than called for in the original 2004 deal with the tribes. The tribes pay variable rates of 4-10% while Stitt (pictured) suggested a 20% cut of revenue was justified in exchange for casino exclusivity.

The tribes said they were willing to renegotiate the terms if Stitt acknowledged that the compacts automatically renewed at the start of 2020. When he refused to accept the renewals, the Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw nations sued Stitt in federal court. A handful of other Oklahoma tribes eventually joined the suit.