Tribal gaming grants Arizona $1 billion in revenue

PHOENIX — Tribal gaming is a proven economic engine for the state of Arizona.

Over the past 11 years, more than $1 billion in shared tribal gaming revenues have gone to the state, according to an announcement Thursday by Valerie Spicer, executive director of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA).

“In 2002, when the tribal leaders envisioned how to share gaming revenues, they wanted to provide not only for their own people, but for everyone who calls our state home,” she said in a release.

The revenue supports Arizona public and charter schools, trauma and emergency services, economic development through tourism, wildlife conservation and cities throughout the state.

Since the 2004 fiscal year, tribal contributions have reached nearly $430 million directly to Arizona’s school districts, and approximately $215 million to more than 64 hospitals in Arizona.

Approximately 15,000 people are directly employed by tribal gaming in Arizona.