Gaming Revenue Up Across Country

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The National Indian Gaming Commission reports revenue from casinos across the country are on the rise with a $500 million increase from a year ago.

And that includes Oklahoma, where the 31 tribal casinos are also showing a jump in revenue.

Despite the slumping economy, State Treasurer Scott Meacham said this rise in revenue comes as a major surprise because people aren't necessarily spending more money.

Oklahoma's Indian gaming revenue has gone up double digits this fiscal year given the eroding economy. In the Oklahoma City region, revenue jumped 17.6 percent to $1.3 billion. In the Tulsa region, there has been an 18.2 percent spike to nearly $1.7 billion.

Meacham says the spike is due to an increase and upgrade in compact games to table games and slots at the tribal casinos.

"A lot of the games in Oklahoma before were bingo games and under federal law, the trines didn't have to pay the state any money for those games," Meacham said.

The gaming tribes contributed about $106 million to the state in the 2009 fiscal year. A majority of that money will fund education.

"As everybody know, income tax receipts have been down this year, our gross production receipt down, this will help offset a part of that because all that extra money is coming from tribal gaming," Meacham said.