Native American gambling is a specific endeavor and refers to casino-style operations, bingo halls and other forms of gambling, conducted in Indian reservations or other tribal lands across the United States. Since the state governments are restrained in prohibiting such activities in these territories, as postulated by the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, all tribal casinos and other gambling establishments are subject to regulation by the National Indian Gaming Commission. In 2012 a total of 241 tribes own and operate 425 gambling establishments.
A Closer Look at Industry Numbers
| Total Tribal Casino Revenue by Fiscal Year in thousand US dollars | |
|---|---|
| 2013 | $28,031,595 |
| 2012 | $27,900,004 |
| 2011 | $27,153,807 |
| 2010 | $26,502,534 |
| 2009 | $26,482,446 |
| 2008 | $26,738,826 |
| 2007 | $26,143,472 |
| 2006 | $24,889,023 |
| 2005 | $22,578,800 |
| 2004 | $19,479,134 |
| 2003 | $16,826,126 |
| 2002 | $14,716,056 |
| 2001 | $12,822,346 |
| 2000 | $10,958,690 |
| 1999 | $9,800,840 |
| 1998 | $8,495,694 |
| 1997 | $7,451,447 |
| 1996 | $6,300,868 |
Source: National Indian Gaming Commission
Total revenue from tribal casino operations has been in an uptrend between 1996 and 2008. During the first nine years of that period growth has been steeper, after which more modest rates have been observed. Between 1996 and 2008 total revenue soared at an average annual rate of 12.90%.
2009 has been the only year to see a decline in revenue, after which the uptrend continued. Between 2009 and 2013 total revenue of tribal casinos rose at an average annual rate of 1.44%.
| Tribal Casino Revenue by Region and Fiscal Year in thousand US dollars (1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region* | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||
| Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | |
| Portland | 51 | $2,902,799 | 49 | $2,873,925 | 49 | $2,763,647 |
| Sacramento | 66 | $6,992,690 | 64 | $6,956,562 | 63 | $6,902,843 |
| Phoenix | 48 | $2,738,803 | 48 | $2,716,525 | 48 | $2,614,362 |
| St. Paul | 128 | $4,745,087 | 120 | $4,797,631 | 119 | $4,565,004 |
| Tulsa | 68 | $2,033,815 | 64 | $2,014,997 | 64 | $1,889,706 |
| Oklahoma City | 60 | $1,866,562 | 53 | $1,800,972 | 51 | $1,702,409 |
| Washington DC | 28 | $6,751,839 | 27 | $6,739,392 | 27 | $6,715,837 |
| All Regions | 449 | $28,031,595 | 425 | $27,900,004 | 421 | $27,153,807 |
| Tribal Casino Revenue by Region and Fiscal Year in thousand US dollars (2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region* | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||
| Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | |
| Portland | 50 | $2,655,096 | 49 | $2,520,908 | 47 | $2,376,025 |
| Sacramento | 62 | $6,794,012 | 62 | $6,969,881 | 59 | $7,363,493 |
| Phoenix | 48 | $2,538,617 | 47 | $2,599,885 | 46 | $2,773,715 |
| St. Paul | 119 | $4,451,539 | 120 | $4,384,444 | 115 | $4,402,311 |
| Tulsa | 65 | $1,769,493 | 64 | $1,715,393 | 62 | $1,699,940 |
| Oklahoma City | 51 | $1,582,635 | 49 | $1,509,200 | 48 | $1,347,242 |
| Washington DC | 27 | $6,711,142 | 28 | $6,782,735 | 28 | $6,776,100 |
| All Regions | 422 | $26,502,534 | 419 | $26,482,446 | 405 | $26,738,826 |
Source: National Indian Gaming Commission
* Portland includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington;
Sacramento includes California, and Northern Nevada;
Phoenix includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Southern Nevada;
St. Paul includes Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming;
Tulsa includes Kansas and Eastern Oklahoma;
Oklahoma City includes Western Oklahoma and Texas;
Washington DC includes Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and New York.
| Tribal Casino Revenue by Region and Fiscal Year in thousand US dollars (3) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region* | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||
| Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | |
| Portland | 46 | $2,263,950 | 46 | $2,080,369 | 49 | $1,829,276 |
| Sacramento | 58 | $7,796,488 | 56 | $7,674,794 | 57 | $6,992,784 |
| Phoenix | 46 | $2,874,052 | 45 | $2,718,914 | 48 | $2,529,128 |
| St. Paul | 111 | $4,224,866 | 122 | $4,069,940 | 118 | $3,983,635 |
| Tulsa | 57 | $1,438,228 | 98** | $2,125,906 | 92 | $1,729,842 |
| Oklahoma City | 45 | $1,146,047 | ||||
| Washington DC | 28 | $6,399,841 | 27 | $6,219,100 | 28 | $5,514,135 |
| All Regions | 391 | $26,143,472 | 394 | $24,889,023 | 392 | $22,578,800 |
| Tribal Casino Revenue by Region and Fiscal Year in thousand US dollars (4) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region* | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |||
| Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | Number of Casinos | Gambling Revenue | |
| Portland | 45 | $1,601,710 | 46 | $1,441,488 | 47 | $1,230,194 |
| Sacramento | 54 | $5,822,114 | 54 | $4,699,889 | 51 | $3,678,095 |
| Phoenix | 45 | $2,159,872 | 43 | $1,898,522 | 40 | $1,782,874 |
| St. Paul | 117 | $3,815,857 | 109 | $3,597,005 | 109 | $3,537,227 |
| Tulsa | 87** | $1,258,717 | 82 | $867,088 | 79 | $651,841 |
| Oklahoma City | ||||||
| Washington DC | 27 | $4,820,864 | 24 | $4,322,134 | 22 | $3,835,825 |
| All Regions | 375 | $19,479,134 | 358 | $16,826,126 | 348 | $14,716,056 |
Source: National Indian Gaming Commission
** between 2002 and 2006 the number of casinos and the casino revenue for Tulsa and Oklahoma City regions are presented as a combined figure
Portland
The number of casinos peaked at 51 in 2013, while all establishments are managed by 38 tribes. As of 2015, in Oregon alone there are 9 tribes owning and operating establishments as follows:
1. Burns Paiute Tribe of the Burns Paiute Indian Colony of Oregon, which operates the The Old Camp Casino;
2. Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians of Oregon, which operate Three Rivers Casino & Hotel;
3. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, which operate Spirit Mountain Casino;
4. Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians of Oregon, which operate Chinook Winds Casino & Convention Center;
5. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which operate Wildhorse Resort & Casino;
6. Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, which operate Indian Head Casino;
7. Coquille Indian Tribe, which operates The Mill Casino & Hotel;
8. Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, which operates Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort;
9. Klamath Tribes, which operate Kla-Mo-Ya Casino.
In Idaho there are seven tribal casinos (Coeur D’Alene Casino, Bannock Peak Casino, Clearwater River Casino & Hotel, Fort Hall Casino, It’se-Ye-Ye Casino, Kootenai River Inn Casino & Spa, Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino), which are managed by four tribes (Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Kootenai Tribal Council, Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee, Shoshone-Bannock Tribe).
In the state of Washington there are 32 tribal casinos operated by 23 tribes, while in Alaska there are two tribal casinos.
Between 2002 and 2013 total revenue from tribal casino operations in Portland has been in a steady uptrend, with the average annual rate of growth being 8.23%. During the first four years growth has been steeper, after which moderate-to-low rates of growth have been registered.
Sacramento
The number of casinos peaked at 66 in 2013, while all establishments are managed by 61 tribes. As of 2015, in the state of California there are 69 tribal casinos owned by 62 tribes.
Between 2002 and 2007 total revenue from tribal casino operations in Sacramento has demonstrated a consistent growth, followed by three years of decline and another three years of growth. During the period 2002-2007, the average annual rate of revenue growth has been 16.62%, while between 2011 and 2013 – 0.97%.
Phoenix
Within the period 2010-2013 the number of tribal casinos has remained steady at 48. As of 2015, in the state of Arizona there are 25 Native American casinos operated by 16 tribes.
In Colorado there are two tribal casinos (Ute Mountain Casino and Sky Ute Casino Resort), which are operated by two tribes (Ute Mountain Tribe near Cortez and Southern Ute Indian Tribe near Durango).
In New Mexico there are 25 Native American casinos operated by 14 tribes.
In Nevada there are two local tribes (Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and Moapa Band of Paiutes), which operate two tribal casinos (Snow Mountain Smoke Shop and Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza, respectively) and one tribe from Arizona (Fort Mojave Indian Tribe), which operates one Native American casino (Avi Resort & Casino).
Between 2002 and 2007 total revenue from tribal casino operations in Phoenix has shown a consistent growth, followed by three years of decrease and another three years of growth. During the period 2002-2007, the average annual rate of revenue growth has been 10.11%, while between 2011 and 2013 – 2.57%.
St. Paul
The number of casinos peaked at 128 in 2013, while all establishments are managed by 60 tribes. As of 2015, in Wyoming there is one tribal casino (Shoeshone Rose Casino), which is operated by one tribe (Eastern Shoshone Tribe).
In Wisconsin there are 25 Native American casinos operated by 11 tribes.
In South Dakota there are 10 tribal casinos operated by 8 tribes from South Dakota and 1 tribe from North Dakota.
In North Dakota there are 7 tribal casinos operated by 5 tribes.
In Nebraska there are 4 Native American casinos, while two of them are operated by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and the other two casinos are under the control of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska.
In Montana there are a total of 9 Class Two casinos (offering bingo-style games played against other players) and Class Three casinos (offering traditional casino-style games such as roulette, blackjack, craps and slots), which are operated by 7 tribes (Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Reservation, Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Crow Nation of the Crow Indian Reservation, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Nations of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation).
In Minnesota there are 18 Native American casinos operated by 11 tribes.
In Michigan there are 19 tribal casinos operated by 14 tribes.
In Iowa there are 3 tribal casinos (Blackbird Bend Casino, Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel, and WinnaVegas Casino) operated by 3 tribes.
Between 2002 and 2007 total revenue from tribal casino operations in St. Paul has demonstrated a consistent growth, followed by two years of decline and another three years of growth. During the period 2002-2007, the average annual rate of revenue growth has been 3.63%, while between 2010 and 2012 – 3.06%.
Oklahoma City
The number of casinos peaked at 60 in 2013, while all establishments are managed by 19 tribes. In Western Oklahoma there are 52 Class Two and Class Three casinos operated by 18 tribes.
In Texas there is 1 Native American casino (Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass) operated by 1 tribe (Kickapoo Traditional Tribe).
Between 2007 and 2013 total revenue from tribal casino operations in Oklahoma City has grown on a consistent basis, with the average annual rate being 8.57%.
Tulsa
The number of casinos peaked at 68 in 2013, while all establishments are managed by 18 tribes. In Eastern Oklahoma there are 59 Class Two and Class Three casinos operated by 14 tribes.
In Kansas there are 4 local tribes and 2 Oklahoma tribes owning and operating establishments as follows:
1. Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, which operates the White Cloud Casino;
2. Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas, which operates the Golden Eagle Casino;
3. Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas, which operates the Prairie Band Casino Resort;
4. Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, which operates the Sac & Fox Casino;
5. Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, which operates the Downstream Casino Resort;
6. Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma, which operates the 7th Street Casino.
The same tendency, as that observed in Oklahoma City, can be discerned in the region of Tulsa. Total revenue from tribal casino operations has risen consistently during the period 2007-2013, with the average annual rate of growth being 6.10%.
Washington D.C.
The number of casinos in the region has remained relatively steady since 2004 (27 in 2004, 28 in 2013), while all establishments are managed by 13 tribes. As of 2015, in Alabama there are 3 Native American casinos (Creek Casino Montgomery, Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka and Wind Creek Casino & Hotel) owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama and operated by the Gaming Authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI Gaming).
In Connecticut there are 2 tribal casinos (Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino) owned and operated by 2 tribes.
In Florida there are 8 tribal casinos, while 7 of them are under the control of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the eighth is owned and operated by Florida’s Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.
In Louisiana there are 3 tribal casinos under the control of 3 tribes – Cypress Bayou Casino and Hotel owned and managed by the Chitimacha Tribe, Coushatta Casino Resort owned and managed by the Coushatta Tribe and the Paragon Casino Resort owned and managed by the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe.
In Mississippi there are 3 Native American casinos (Silver Star Hotel and Casino, Golden Moon Hotel and Casino and Bok Homa Casino), which are owned and operated by only 1 tribe (the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians).
In New York there are 8 tribal casinos owned and operated by 3 tribes (the Oneida Indian Nation, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Seneca Nation of Indians).
In North Carolina there are 3 Class Two and Class Three casinos (Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel, Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel and Cherokee Tribal Bingo), which are all under the control of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Between 2002 and 2009 total revenue from tribal casino operations in Washington D.C. has been in a steady uptrend. There has been only one year of decline (2010), after which the uptrend resumed during the period 2011-2013. During the period 2002-2009 the average annual rate of growth has been 8.61%, while in the period 2011-2013 a more modest average growth rate has been observed (0.20%).
| Tribal Casino Revenue Share by Region and Fiscal Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 |
| Revenue Share | Revenue Share | Revenue Share | Revenue Share | Revenue Share | Revenue Share | Revenue Share | |
| Portland | 10.36 | 10.30 | 10.18 | 10.02 | 9.52 | 8.89 | 8.66 |
| Sacramento | 24.95 | 24.93 | 25.42 | 25.64 | 26.32 | 27.54 | 29.82 |
| Phoenix | 9.77 | 9.74 | 9.63 | 9.58 | 9.82 | 10.37 | 10.99 |
| St. Paul | 16.93 | 17.20 | 16.81 | 16.80 | 16.56 | 16.46 | 16.16 |
| Tulsa | 7.26 | 7.22 | 6.96 | 6.68 | 6.48 | 6.36 | 5.50 |
| Oklahoma City | 6.66 | 6.46 | 6.27 | 5.97 | 5.70 | 5.04 | 4.38 |
| Washington DC | 24.09 | 24.16 | 24.73 | 25.32 | 25.61 | 25.34 | 24.48 |
| All Regions | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
During the period 2007-2013, the Sacramento region has contributed the most to the total tribal casino revenue, but, however, its revenue share has gradually diminished. On the other hand, revenue shares of Portland, Tulsa and Oklahoma City have shown a constant expansion during the period in question.
During the period 2007-2010, the Phoenix region has been in a retreat, in terms of revenue share, after which it regained certain ground during the three following years.
Washington DC’s revenue share has peaked in 2009 and has been decreasing ever since.
St. Paul’s revenue share has been the highest in 2012, after which a reduction followed in 2013.
