Indian Gaming Revenue Reaches New Heights

The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) revealed on Wednesday that Indian gaming revenues reached an unprecedented $41 billion in 2022, a significant increase from the previous year. The commission disclosed that the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) for the 2022 fiscal year escalated by 5%, amounting to a close $40.9 billion. This increase represents nearly $2 billion more than the revenues of the 2021 fiscal year. The announcement was eagerly awaited and was made at the WinStar World Casino and Resort, operated by the Chickasaw Nation in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, Chairman of the NIGC, explained that the GGR number is a combined total of revenues derived from 519 audited financial statements. These statements come from 244 tribes that manage Indian gaming operations across 29 states within the United States.

Seven out of the eight regions under the NIGC demonstrated a revenue growth compared to the 2021 fiscal year. However, it should be emphasized that these year-on-year changes in GGR by region shouldn’t be taken as a definitive measure of the local economy in any particular region. The GGR at the regional level could be influenced by a myriad of factors such as the initiation of new gaming operations, expansion or renovations of existing establishments, temporary or permanent shutdowns, or even alterations in a gaming operation’s fiscal year.

“I want to say that in general Indian gaming continues to do well, despite the historic challenge of tribal casino closures that began in March 2020 due to the pandemic,” Simermeyer said.

“This year’s historic revenue reflects the resiliency of many tribal gaming operations, and how tribal gaming continues to rebound and remain strong. 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,” Simermeyer said.

In a phone conversation with Native News Online, in their original reporting, Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. of the Indian Gaming Association expressed his satisfaction with the figures.

“We always keep our fingers crossed when these numbers are released, but I am pleased to see the rebound from the pandemic era and continue to grow,” Stevens said. “It’s a credit to our tribal leaders, casino operators, managers, and regulators, who are continuing to make what is good, much better through their hard work and dedication. We see it as a responsibility to our tribal communities.”

NIGC Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland, of the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe, was also present for the announcement in Oklahoma. Over the past year, she has visited numerous Indian gaming establishments across the country.

“I visited tribal nations whose gaming revenues have empowered through tribal sovereignty, created self-sustaining economies, diversified their business ventures, and alleviated financial hardships,” Hovland said. “I have seen how gaming revenues have improved the quality of life for many who have access to quality health care, clean water, renewable energy resources, higher education opportunities, and much needed social and welfare programs.”

“In short, gaming revenues have helped to preserve the ways of the last seven generations and allowed tribes to plan for the next generations,” Hovland continued.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), enacted by the United States Congress on October 17, 1988, laid the foundation for Indian gaming. The purpose of this act was to regulate and control the operations of gaming on Indian lands. As part of this Act, the National Indian Gaming Commission was established, setting the regulatory framework for Indian gaming within the United States.

The Commission comprises three full-time members, which includes a chairman and two associate members. The President appoints the NIGC chairman, a process that includes consultation and approval from the U.S. Senate. The Secretary of the Interior, on the other hand, appoints the two associate members.

“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,” said Simermeyer.