At a recent “Get to Know Gaming” seminar in Tulsa, American Gaming Association Chief Executive Officer Bill Miller commented on the $9.8 billion in annual revenue tribal gaming generates for the state. ‘
“Oklahoma is unique because there was so much cooperation and recognition and acceptance between the tribes and the state,” he said. “Yes, we’re very optimistic about the future of gaming in this state. I believe Oklahoma is one of the best stories of how tribal nations, politicians and business leaders created an environment to work together for the better of all. The tribal nations have been able to take that money and use it for the benefit of many underserved people and to diversify their businesses.”
Miller added, “When you create a buzz, as tribal gaming has done in Oklahoma, then the employees and all of the businesses around it benefit. Gaming has helped create development and a level of stability with it.”
According to the AGA, from 2006 to 2016, Oklahoma took in more than $1 billion in tribal exclusivity fees. Tribal and commercial interests operate 141 casinos across Oklahoma, ranking it third in the U.S. for gaming operations behind Nevada and California. Three major casino resorts have opened in the Tulsa metropolitan area in the past decade, adding more than 1,000 hotel rooms, three major entertainment venues and dozens of restaurant and bar options. Oklahoma tribal gaming employs 75,000 people and pays $4.3 billion in supported wages.
Muscogee (Creek) Casinos Chief Executive Officer Pat Crofts said, “From every indication, it appears we should continue to grow. We’re all sharing in the success of the industry here in our state. It is great for our tribes, and it is great for the entire state. Certainly, it has been great for our tribe and northeastern Oklahoma. We couldn’t be happier with the way our gaming operations are performing.”
Bill John Baker, chief of the 360,000-member Cherokee Nation, the U.S.’s largest tribe, stated, “As a tribe, we thought long and hard whether we should be involved in tribal gaming. There was a great deal of debate. We got involved because the money would come back to the tribe and make the lives of Cherokees better. We could not have done that if we had not become a gaming tribe. I’m a fan of gaming.”
Cherokee Nation Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Mark Fulton commented, “There’s always potential for more growth. What you’ve seen in the Tulsa area is growth into a major regional attraction. We believe it will continue to grow, and we will continue to reinvest in our operation. I don’t know if we’ll see double-digit growth in the future. We are a mature industry now. However, we have seen steady growth.”
Osage Casinos Chief Executive Officer Byron Bighorse added, “I’m very optimistic about the future of Indian gaming in our state because there is such a good relationship between the tribal entities and the state government. We want to help our tribal members through these operations, and it also helps grow jobs and the economy throughout northeastern Oklahoma. Even with a new governor, lieutenant governor and many new legislators, we’re all very optimistic that this spirit of cooperation will continue.”
