Steve Stallings, chairman of California Nations Indian Gaming Association last week gave the “State of the Industry” report at the group’s 21st annual Western Indian Gaming Conference held earlier this month at the chairman’s home territory at Harrah’s Resort Southern California at the Rincon reservation in San Diego County.
Stallings is a council member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño, which partners with Harrah’s.
He noted that California has 25 percent of tribal gaming in the U.S. and revenues in 2014 were 4.9 percent higher than the year before. He gave credit to CNIGA for helping to pass the two state ballot measures in 2000 that granted Golden State tribes that right to build Las Vegas style casinos.
“We can measure CNIGA’s achievements by the success of Indian gaming and the dollars generated. Alternatively, we can measure its contribution, over the past 20 plus years, by the people whose lives have been touched for the better because of Indian gaming. We all have success stories, and for this, we owe CNIGA members, past and present,” said Stallings.
Stallings showcased a paper by Beacon Economics, which CNIGA commissioned to report on the benefits of Indian gaming. He noted that the report showed that Indian gaming had an $8 billion annual impact on the state and helped maintain 56,000 jobs. It also noted that the number of tribal casinos had grown from 64 to 68 since the last report.
Of the $8 billion, $2.9 billion were earnings by casino employees. There were also $4.2 billion in secondary effects, pointing to an impact on the state economy beyond direct expenditures.
The non-gaming operations maintained by Indian gaming accounted for $2.3 billion and helped support nearly 15,000 jobs, whole directly employing about 8,000 employees.
CNIGA plans to release a similar report next year. Stallings declared, “We owe the voters of California – the people who gave us this opportunity for economic development– a report card in return for their support. Also we are very proud of our record in strengthening our own governments, but also that we are able to contribute to the state’s economy, and participate in the well-being of our neighbors in many rural areas where jobs and many government services did not exist until tribal gaming.”
Stallings addressed the rapid effects that technology has on Indian gaming, and pointed to efforts to legalize online poker in the Golden State: “I hope, amidst all the potential for profits and politics around internet gaming, that the consumer doesn’t get lost and that we will continue to look to gaming that rewards both the players and the host.”
He added, “Given how fast technology changes, the digital campfire with its massive audiences, pit falls, and opportunities, is the most immediate challenge facing California tribes. Finding skill based games that appeal to the younger markets, and diversifying our entertainment venues is one solution. It has been estimated that California with its population of 30 million offers one of the most lucrative internet gaming markets in the US. Online Poker, still illegal in the US, has been reported to currently have over ten million players.”
