In the past quarter, the Arizona Indian Gaming tribes paid $22.8 million to the state. This is a 22% increase from the $18.7 million supplied last year. The Arizona Department of Gaming revealed that it collected the money based on casino revenues from July 1 to Sept. 30.
The money will go to administrative and regulatory costs, education, trauma and emergency services, wildlife conservation, tourism as well as the treatment of problem gambling. Sheila Morago, Executive Director of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association, believes that because of the income there is more to spread around. Everyone will get a share.
Morago believes that the tribes are making good business decisions. Tribes currently pay the state 1 to 8% of their revenues. Of course, when they make more they pay more. |
