Record gaming revenue reported for tribal casinos in 2024

The National Indian Gaming Commission on Thursday announced gaming revenue at tribal casinos of $43.9 billion for fiscal year 2024 – an historic figure that reflects 4.6%, or a $2 billion, increase over $41.9 billion in 2023.

With the exception of the pandemic during the 2020 fiscal year, tribal gaming revenue has risen every year since 2010 in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

“This year’s GGR reflects not only the resilience of the tribal gaming industry, but also the dedication of  tribal leadership in preserving and growing this important economic driver for their communities,” said NIGC Acting Chairwoman Sharon Avery. “The continued success of Indian gaming is a testament to the  strong tribal governance and the sound regulation that protects the integrity of the industry.” 

The gaming revenue figure is calculated from independently audited financial statements from 532 independently audited gaming operations owned by 243 federally recognized tribes across 29 states. Two NIGC regions, Oklahoma City and Washington, D.C., reported double-digit growth over the previous fiscal year. 

The Oklahoma City region had a 12.7% increase while Washington, D.C., had a 11.2% increase.

The Portland region reported a 3.6% increase; Sacramento, 1.4%; Phoenix, 1.9%; St. Paul, 1.6%; Rapid City, 4.2%; and Tulsa, 0.1%; 

“These revenue numbers demonstrate the positive impacts of tribal gaming and the essential role it plays supporting tribal sovereignty, job growth, infrastructure, education, and important social, health, and welfare programs in tribal communities – just to name a few,” said Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland.

NIGC uses gross gaming revenue as a key industry measure, defining it as the amount wagered minus winnings returned  to players. The agency collects this information annually to assess trends and help guide regulatory policy in support of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. 

About 9% of gaming operations reported more than $250 million of GGR in 2024 and their aggregate revenues made up 55% of the total GGR. In comparison, just more than 54% of tribal gaming facilities reported less than $25 million in revenues and this group represents about 5% of the total GGR share. The percentages of operations that make-up the respective ranges have been relatively consistent over the past years, according to the NIGC.