Gaughan Gaming settles legal dispute

Gaughan Gaming, a Las Vegas-based casino management company, settled its legal dispute with an Oklahoma Indian tribe whose casinos it once operated.

In a statement, Gaughan Gaming Chief Executive Officer John Gaughan said all matters with the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Tonkawa Tribal Gaming Commission had been settled before a panel of the American Arbitration Association.

Gaughan Gaming had claimed the Tonkawa Tribe breached management contracts and suspended the company’s license without cause and was in violation of its own procedures. The tribe paid Gaughan Gaming $2 million to settle all claims and agreed to terminate the management agreements.

Gaughan Gaming operated the Native Lights Casino and the Tonkawa Casino for more than three years.

“We certainly had disagreements with a couple of their current governmental leaders,” Gaughan said. “But we greatly appreciated the experience of working with the National Indian Gaming Commission and helping the people of the Tonkawa Tribe.”

John Gaughan, who also operates Las Vegas Dissemination Co., is the son of South Point owner Michael Gaughan.