For the first time a state-by-state analysis of the economic engine that is tribal gaming has been released by the American Gaming Association.
The study that the AGA commissioned shows that the Indian gaming industry supports 635,000 gaming jobs and has a $97 billion economic impact.
The AGA released figures from the study during a roundtable discussed which was part of the AGA’s Get to Know Gaming (G2KG) campaign at Oklahoma City. The AGA is crossing the country on its American Gaming Small Business Jobs tour.
AGA CEO and president Geoff Freeman declared, “Casino gaming is a strong community partner throughout Oklahoma and across the 40 states where our industry operates. As tribal and commercial operators continue to work together, our industry will continue to grow in the years to come.”
The report he quoted from, “The Economic Impact of Tribal Gaming: A First-Ever State-by-State Analysis” says tribal gaming guaranteed in excess of $33 billion in wages, $16 billion in taxes to government at all levels. It was written by Alan Meister, considered the preeminent authority on the economics of Indian gaming.
Since tribal gaming took off after the 1988 passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) tribal gaming has grown from a $121 million sector, which was mainly bingo halls, to $30 billion in 28 states.
Several months ago, the AGA released “The Gaming Industry’s Impact on Small Business Development in the United States” which drew a bead on how gaming affects small businesses near casinos.
That reported concluded that the gaming industry generates $52 billion annually for small businesses, including $13 billion in employee wages.
During the event at Oklahoma City, Russell Evans, executive director of the Stevens C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute at Oklahoma State University, commented, “Gaming] is a significant driver of economic activity, particularly in areas in the state where economic opportunity is difficult to find right now.”
