During the annual Arizona Indian Gaming Association Tribal Leaders Meeting held at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino on October 9 Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye called Indian gaming revenue “critical to promoting economic development, employment and contributing to statewide programs and services.”
It is also important for maintaining state educational programs, he said. “Revenue sharing from gaming tribes in Arizona continues to support education statewide. The revenue we share contributes to increasing teacher’s salaries. We provide funds to help students stay in school and not drop out. Our gaming dollars go toward improving instruction in Arizona school classrooms.”
As part of the tribal state compact with Arizona, passed in 2002, gaming tribes contribute 12 percent of their gross income to municipal and county government. Since 2002 tribal gaming has contributed more than $1 billion to the state.
“We should be proud of this and people across the state need to remember this. They need to know that Indian tribes are supporting their programs, services, schools and hospitals,” Begaye said.
The meeting’s main thrust was a discussion pro and con of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s proposed Glendale Casino, an issue that divides tribes in the state.
