US tribal gaming revenue jumps 5% in FY 2022
Three traditional tribal gaming hubs report double-digit percentage jumps in revenue, according to the latest data from the National Indian Gaming Commission
US tribal gaming gross gambling revenue (GGR) rose by 5% year on year (YOY) to $40.9bn during full-year (FY) 2022, its highest level for 20 years, according to data from the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC).
The $40.9bn figure is up $1.9bn from the same period in 2021, the first year following the emergence of the sector from the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result of the pandemic, tribal gaming GGR slumped to $27bn, substantively lower than previous years and the lowest GGR total this decade so far.
At a regional level, seven of the NIGC’s eight traditional tribal gaming hubs across the US reported YOY percentage increases in GGR, with only the Sacramento region reporting a revenue decline.
The Phoenix region, which encompasses 51 tribal operators in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado reported a 15.7% YOY increase in GGR to $3.7bn during FY 2022.
The District of Columbia region, which includes 41 operators across seven US states, came in the next highest in percentage terms, reporting an increase of 10.9% YOY to $9bn.
The Tulsa region, which encompasses Kansas and a large part of Oklahoma, including 74 tribal operations, rounded out the top three, reporting a 10.6% increase in GGR to $3.9bn.
FY 2022 revenue is calculated from the independently audited financial statements of 519 gaming operations owned by 244 federally recognized tribes. Indian gaming operations are located on Indian land in 29 states.
NIGC chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer welcomed the financial growth, paying tribute to tribal operators and the performance of the industry following the pandemic.
“This year’s historic revenue reflects the resiliency of many tribal gaming operations, and how tribal gaming continues to rebound and remain strong,” Simermeyer said.
“Tribal governments and the operations they license continue to explore new and innovative ways to expand and deliver world-class experiences to cultivate sustainable economies.
“Across Indian country, tribes pursue economic sustainability through gaming by relying on the robust regulatory reputation for which Indian gaming is well known and made better when supported by efficient and effective measures,” the NIGC chairman concluded.
Elsewhere, the US Department of the Interior has ratified a gaming compact to allow Kansas-based tribe the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to operate class III gaming, paving the way for the group to offer sports betting at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort.
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribal council chairman Joseph Rupnick hailed completion of what he deemed a “quite cumbersome” legislative process to secure the additional gaming concession.
“But thanks to the Governor’s staff, their leadership, along with the leadership of the elected members of the House and Senate, we were able to get this done,” Rupnick added.
The tribe is expected to launch a retail sportsbook and potentially an online sportsbook app in Q4 this year.