Casino City Releases 2016 Indian Gaming Industry Report: Indian Gaming Parallels Growth of the Economy; Outpaces Growth of the Commercial Casino Sector

Newton, MA, March 03, 2016 --

Casino City Press today announced the release of the 2016 Edition of Casino City’s Indian Gaming Industry Report – the most comprehensive, up-to-date study of Indian gaming available – authored by Dr. Alan Meister, an economist with Nathan Associates Inc. who has done extensive research and analysis on Indian gaming issues over the past 15+ years.

The Report provides nationwide and state statistics (the latter not available anywhere else) for calendar year 2014, the most current data available: gaming and non-gaming revenue; Class II vs. Class III gaming; number of facilities, tribes, gaming machines, and table games; and revenue sharing with federal, state, and local governments.  The Report also includes comparisons across states, state-by-state market summaries, historical perspective and trends, an assessment of the recent performance of Indian gaming, comparisons to other gaming segments, an economic impact analysis measuring Indian gaming’s contribution to the U.S. economy, and a future outlook.

Significant findings include the following:

• In calendar year 2014, there were 243 Native American tribes operating nearly 352,000 gaming machines and nearly 7,800 table games in 489 gaming facilities across 28 states.

• Gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities nationwide grew approximately 2% in 2014 to an all-time high of approximately $28.9 billion.

• 2014 was the fifth consecutive year of growth for Indian gaming.

• The growth rate of non-gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities (5%) was more double that of gaming revenue.

• There was a wide disparity in performance within Indian gaming.

• Gaming revenue grew in 20 states, including double-digit growth in three states, and declined in 8 states.

• The top 2 states generated approximately 39% of total gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities; the top 5 states generated about 62%; and the top 10 states generated 85%.

• Indian gaming facilities, including non-gaming operations, directly and indirectly generated approximately $95.0 billion in output, 738,000 jobs, $32.6 billion in wages, $1.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, and $8.0 billion in direct revenue sharing payments to federal, state, and local governments.

• In 2014, the performance of the commercial casino segment was the polar opposite that of Indian gaming with a decline of approximately 2%.

• Indian gaming generated 43.5% of all U.S. casino gaming revenue in 2014.

Dr. Meister highlights that “Indian gaming’s growth in 2014 outpaced that in 2013, paralleling the improvement of U.S. and state economies.  However, there was substantial variation in performance across states, from a high of 13% to a low of -9%.”

Casino City’s Indian Gaming Industry Report is relied upon by the gaming industry, other related industries, tribal and non-tribal governments, gaming regulatory agencies, the investment community, academics, gaming consultants, and news outlets.  As in previous years, this report continues to be the product of independent scholarly research.  Neither Dr. Meister nor Nathan Associates nor Casino City was commissioned to prepare it.

For more information and to order a copy of the report, visit www.casinocitypress.com.

Alan Meister, Ph.D.
Nathan Associates Inc.
[email protected]
949-474-4955