Casino City releases 2015 Indian Gaming Industry Report: Indian gaming holds its own amidst a slowdown of the economy

NEWTON, Mass. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- 2015 Casino City Press today announced the release of the 2015 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.

The Report provides calendar year 2013 nationwide and state statistics (the latter not available anywhere else) on: 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 2013, there were 244 Native American tribes operating over 353,000 gaming machines and 7,700 table games in 479 gaming facilities across 28 states.
• Gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities nationwide grew 0.5% in 2013 to an all-time high of approximately $28.3 billion.
• 2013 was the fourth consecutive year of growth for Indian gaming.
• Although Indian gaming grew in 2013, it was at a slower pace than in 2011 (3%) and 2012 (2%) due primarily to the sluggish economy.
• Market maturation and increased competition in various parts of the country also contributed to the slower growth of Indian gaming.
• There was a wide disparity in performance within Indian gaming.
• Gaming revenue grew in 17 states, including double-digit growth in four states, and declined in 11 states.
• The top 2 states generated approximately 38% of total gaming revenue at Indian gaming facilities; the top 5 states generated about 61%; and the top 10 states generated 85%.
• Indian gaming facilities, including non-gaming operations, directly and indirectly generated approximately $91.1 billion in output, 612,000 jobs, $27.6 billion in wages, $7.1 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, and $2.0 billion in direct revenue sharing payments to federal, state, and local governments.
• Other segments of the gaming industry also experienced slower growth in 2013 as a result of the economy, market maturation, and increased competition. From 2012 to 2013, gaming revenue growth fell: from 4% to 1.5% for the commercial casino segment; from 8% to -0.2% for the racino segment; and from 2% to -0.3% for the card room segment.
• Indian gaming generated approximately 43% of all U.S. casino gaming revenue in 2013.

Dr. Meister said about the performance of Indian gaming in 2013: “Given the slowdown of the economy, including other segments of the gaming industry, it is no surprise that Indian gaming on a nationwide basis also experienced slower growth. However, there was healthy growth of Indian gaming in many parts of the country.”

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.