A North Dakota casino that was badly impacted by declining tourist revenue during the protracted Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access pipeline is slowing righting itself.
The Prairie Knights Casino is owned by the Standing Rock tribe.
At the height of the protest, which lasted from the end of 2016 until the beginning of 2-17, and which involved people coming in from all over the country, the tribe was dealing with a $6 million shortfall.
Additional problems were caused by blizzards and the closure by protestors of the main road leading to the casino.
The Bismarck Tribune quoted Tribal Chairman Mike Faith: “It’s a slow recovery, but it is on the incline.” In October about 2,000 people attended the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at the casino and the casino is starting to recover its peak visitor figures from two years ago.
The tribe funds food distribution, insurance, elder care, veterans care, emergency services, waste management and K-12 education. Although tribes don’t share information on revenues, an economic development strategy report from five years ago showed the casino making nearly $13 million in net revenues.
At this point the casino is considering investing in new slot machines.
