Sixteen tribes in Arizona operate a total of 23 Las Vegas-style casinos that employ almost 15,000 residents, more than that employed by McDonalds according to a study done by Taylor Policy Group and cited in Indian Country Today.
According to the study, entitled “Economic Impact on Tribal Gaming in Arizona” and written by Jonathan Taylor these figures make tribal gaming one of the state’s top employers. The tribal casinos operate more than 2 million square feet of gaming and run almost 3,300 hotel rooms and 100 restaurants.
The casinos generate about $2.5 billion in economic activity, including $.6 billion in salaries.
“Arizona tribes are rightly proud of the policy goals they’re advancing for themselves and other citizens of the state—jobs, investment, education, healthcare, tourism and wildlife preservation—the whole spectrum,” wrote Taylor.
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry President/CEO Glenn Hamer reacted to the study: “Tribal gaming is integral to Arizona’s business community. With meaningful job creation throughout the state, tribal business represents good business for all of Arizona.”
According to Valerie Spicer, executive director of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association, Indian gaming impacts the state in five key areas, 1) employment, 2) gross state product, 3) underwriting state programs, 4) rural economic development and 5) Indian gaming’s future.
She commented, “We’ve established our base in Arizona. A new Tohono O’odham casino is preparing to come on-line in the Phoenix Valley by year-end and the Pascua Yaqui tribe’s Casino Del Sol was just named Casino Arena/Amphitheater of the Year at the Global Gaming Expo, putting it in the class of Caesar’s Palace and Mohegan Sun. As the state’s economy stabilize and new growth draws businesses here and tribes continue to diversify, our gaming facilities will thrive and revenues will grow.”
