By Allie Barth, Vice President, Industry Relations
Thoughtful policy frameworks in the gaming industry have led to profound economic opportunities in communities where our industry operates. Tribal gaming has been no exception in the three decades since the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Growing from small bingo halls across the country to now global event and entertainment centers with thousands of slot machines, table games and hotel rooms, tribal gaming has matured from a $121 million sector of the U.S. gaming industry to the $32.4 billion economic powerhouse that it is today. Research from the American Gaming Association (AGA) demonstrates this growth as the tribal gaming sector now generates 45 percent of all gaming revenue in the U.S. and employs 676,000 Americans across 28 states.
This tremendous growth has enabled tribal gaming operators across the country to invest directly back into tribal life, provide diverse career opportunities, support local businesses and fund critical tribal government programs and initiatives. As Richard Barker, an Oklahoma-based hospital administrator, shared with AGA, “What the Chickasaw Nation and gaming has meant to me in particular is it created a vehicle whereby they would use their resources very, very wisely and feed revenues back to the community. So, I can say unequivocally their support has allowed our healthcare system to remain open.”
At the AGA, we are committed to fostering growth across the entire gaming industry and look forward to welcoming commercial and tribal operators to Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Las Vegas, October 14-17 at the Sands Expo Center. For tribal and commercial leaders alike, the content-rich educational program will offer panels, case studies and roundtables filled with inspirational speakers, including D.J. Vanas, G2E’s Monday keynote speaker.
With the expansion of tribal gaming to its 29th state in Indiana this past year, there’s no doubt this sector will continue to thrive.
Learn more about the American Gaming Association.
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