NIGC Announces 2006 Indian Gaming Revenues

Tribal gaming continues to grow. According to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), Indian gaming was a $25.1 billion industry in 2006, up 11% from 2005. Six percent of the nearly 400 tribal gaming operations earn nearly half of the industry's revenue, each earning $250 million or more, while one in every five tribal gaming operations earns less than $3 million.

This is what we call the "spectrum of success" of tribal casinos: while highly profitable operations in California and Connecticut get attention in the press and serve as poster children for what some members of Congress have called an "out of control" industry, 20% of tribal gaming operations earn just enough to keep the casino doors open, continuing to provide jobs for tribal members and others and raising modest tribal government revenue.

For the NIGC press release, which includes a breakdown of tribal gaming revenue by region, click here.