The National Indian Gaming Commission released its country-wide gambling totals for fiscal year 2022. Like the rest of the US, revenue continues to edge up in Texas.
Last year, the NIGC said tribal gaming operations brought in $40.9 billion in gross gaming revenue, breaking the record set in FY2021. The Oklahoma City Region, which includes the Lone Star State and parts of Oklahoma, was responsible for $3.1 billion in revenue, 4% more than in 2021.
National tribal gaming revenue has only dipped one year, in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person gambling for a period of time. Revenue totals have increased 278% over the past 20 years as tribes have added new brick-and-mortar casinos and introduced sports betting.
“Tribes continue to explore new and innovative ways to expand and deliver world-class in-house and virtual experiences, all under the excellent reputation for integrity and compliance for which Indian gaming is well known,” the report stated.
Tribal revenue in Texas’ region
The OKC Region reported a $122 million gain last year. Overall there was a $1.9 billion revenue growth over NIGC’s eight separate regions, a 4.9% increase for FY2022 that ended on Sept. 30, 2022.
NIGC oversees one tribal casino in Texas, the Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel in Eagle Pass, which opened in 1996. It has a Class II gambling license, offering bingo, keno and poker but not traditional casino favorites such as craps, roulette or blackjack. Texas is one of only three states forbidding tribes from offering Class III casino games.
According to reports, the Kickapoo Tribe’s gaming establishment generates between $10 million and $25 million annually. There are no commercial casinos in Texas.
Details of the national report
The report states many factors could impact revenue growth at the regional level, such as new gaming operations, expansions or renovations to existing operations, temporary or permanent closures, regulatory changes or changes in an operation’s fiscal year. National revenue has accelerated greatly since 2018, the year online sports betting started in the US.
The NIGC provides federal oversight to more than 500 tribally owned, operated or licensed gaming establishments in 29 states. The report only details gaming revenues, not expenses or profit margins for tribal operations.
