The National Indian Gaming Commission has reported a new record high for gross gaming revenue in the 2022 fiscal year as operations bounced back from the pandemic, reflecting the “resiliency” of tribal gaming.
Reporting the results, NIGC noted that GGR came in at $40.9bn, up 4.9 per cent year-over-year (FY2021: $30.9bn).
FY22 GGR was the “highest ever GGR for the Indian gaming industry” according to the commission, with seven out of the NIGC’s eight regions reporting an improvement compared to the previous year.
Revenues are calculated from the independently audited financial statements of 519 gaming operations owned by 244 federally recognised tribes located on land in 29 states.
Chairman E Sequoyah Simermeyer commented on the results: “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 licence 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.”
Per region, only Sacramento reported a decrease in YoY GGR, falling by 1.4 per cent to $11.8bn from 87 operations (2021: $11.9bn – 78 operations). Phoenix underwent the biggest GGR increase YoY, rising by 15.7 per cent to $3.7bn from 51 operations (2021: $3.2bn – 50 operations).
The rest of NIGC’s regions performed as follows:
- Portland – $4.48bn from 55 operations, up 1 per cent (2021: $4.44bn – 56 operations)
- St Paul – $4.95bn from 96 operations, 3.4 per cent increase (2021: $4.79bn – 99 operations)
- Rapid City – $406.2m from 43 operations, 9.1 per cent uptick (2021: $372.3m – 41 operations)
- Tulsa – $3.49bn from 74 operations, 10.6 per cent improvement (2021: $3.16bn – 74 operations)
- Oklahoma City – $3.15bn from 72 operations, 4 per cent rise (2021: $3.03bn – 70 operations)
- DC – $8.98bn from 41 operations, 10.8 per cent growth (2021: $8.1bn – 42 operations)
NIGC noted that 55 per cent of tribal gaming facilities reported less than $25m in revenues, accounting for 5 per cent of total GGR for the measuring period, while 8 per cent reported more than $250m in revenues, 51 per cent of total GGR.
Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland stated: “We have cause to celebrate the opportunity successful Indian gaming operations affords tribes to invest in the future and improve the quality of life for individual Native people, and their families, and their communities.”
