The latest revenue report from the National Indian Gaming Commission outlines a very healthy tribal gaming industry in the U.S. For the first time in history, tribal gross gaming revenues exceeded $30 billion in fiscal year 2016, an increase of 4.4 percent over 2015. In the NIGC “regions” where gaming operates, tribes all showed healthy growth over 2016. According to NIGC Chairman Jonodev O. Chaudhuri, “The stable growth is reflective of a healthy and well-regulated industry with a tremendous impact on local and state economies. When Congress passed IGRA almost 30 years ago, it expressly cited in its findings and purposes the longstanding federal policy goal to promote tribal economic development, tribal self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments; no other economic driver has been able to do that for Indian Country as successfully as gaming.”
