Peebles Bergin Schulte & Robinson LLP proudly announces that the
Wyandotte Nation and the State of Kansas have entered into the Nation's first
Tribal-State Gaming Compact, approved on March 31, 2026. The compact authorizes
Class III gaming, including slot machines, table games, and sports betting, at
the Nation's gaming facilities in Kansas City and Park City, Kansas. Kansas had
not entered into a new State-Tribal Gaming Compact since 1995.
This compact follows decades of litigation and negotiation concerning the
Nation's gaming rights in Kansas. After more than three decades of federal litigation, the
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit twice confirmed the
eligibility of the Nation's Kansas lands for gaming. Despite repeated efforts
by the Nation to secure a compact beginning in the early 1990s, negotiations
did not meaningfully advance until 2025, when Governor Laura Kelly agreed to
engage in good-faith negotiations. The parties worked closely with the
Department of the Interior to ensure compliance with federal law, culminating
in legislative approval by the Kansas House and Senate in March 2026.
The newly approved compact establishes a long-awaited regulatory framework
for Class III gaming in Kansas and creates significant opportunities for
economic development, governmental funding, and expanded services for Wyandotte
citizens and surrounding communities.
Partner W. Blake Follis served as a lead negotiator in representation of the
Wyandotte Nation for the approval of the compact.
"This agreement reflects decades of perseverance by the Wyandotte Nation and
affirms its right to pursue economic development on its lands," said Blake
Follis. "It represents an important step forward in strengthening tribal
sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship with the State of
Kansas."