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June 4, 2009

State Indian gaming revenue on the rise

By Murray Evans

OKLAHOMA CITY -- National Indian Gaming Commission figures released Wednesday indicate that tribal gaming revenues in Oklahoma and two adjoining states rose to more than $3 billion last year.

The commission announced the figures at a gaming conference in Washington, D.C., and the two Oklahoma regions tracked by the commission showed the strongest growth in the nation.

The Oklahoma City region, which includes western Oklahoma and Texas, has 48 gaming operations and produced $1.347 billion in revenues, up 17.6 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, the Tulsa region, which includes eastern Oklahoma and Kansas, has 62 gaming operations that produced $1.699 billion in revenues, an increase of 18.2 percent.

Nationally, revenues totaled $26.738 billion, up 2.3 percent from 2007. More than 240 of the nation's 562 American Indian tribes engage in gaming, operating more than 400 casinos and bingo halls in 28 states.

The two Oklahoma regions were the only ones nationally to show a double-digit percentage increase. The Oklahoma City region has three more operations than in 2007, while the Tulsa region has five more.

Mark Fulton, the senior vice president for operations for Cherokee Nation Enterprises, which operates seven gaming facilities -- including casinos in Catoosa, West Siloam Springs, Fort Gibson, Tahlequah, Sallisaw and Roland -- said the tribe is not surprised at the growth of Oklahoma casinos.

He said the region's tribes have made significant reinvestments in their gaming facilities during the past year.

"As other states were being impacted by high gas prices and recessionary tightening, such as California and Las Vegas, this region was expanding its offerings with hotels, more amenities and entertainment. It happened at just the right time," Fulton said.

"The growth of all of the gaming operations in Oklahoma helped legitimize and position the region as a viable vacation destination when people were wanting to travel closer to home."

Two regions showed revenue declines -- Sacramento, which includes California and northern Nevada, fell by 5.6 percent, while Phoenix, which includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and southern Nevada, dropped by 3.5 percent. The Sacramento region still had the highest overall annual revenues, with $7.363 billion generated by 59 operations.

"We know that the economic downturn has impacted casino and bingo hall patrons, and reports from many tribal gaming facilities reflect that," said Phil Hogen, the commission's chairman.

He said that reports indicate that while crowds at tribal gaming facilities aren't diminishing, the amount patrons are spending there is.

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