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Regulation
Five questions with Michael McBride about Indian gaming


"3. There has been a lot of development of Indian casinos in Oklahoma. Is the gaming business still growing here, and, if so, how much more expansion is possible before market saturation?

Thirty-nine of the 565 federally recognized Indian tribes call Oklahoma home. We have more than 110 casinos here that engage in government gaming. Tribal gaming in 2011 will likely generate $30 billion in the U.S. and likely more than $3 billion in Oklahoma. Also, last year Indian gaming revenues surpassed its non-Indian U.S. counterpart in terms of total revenue.

While the gaming industry has matured, the Oklahoma market has continued its growth despite gaming stagnation and declines in other regions of the country. I attribute this growth to excellent management by tribal governments, modern compacts and to geography. Limited gaming opportunities in surrounding jurisdictions - Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and Kansas - focus gaming and tourism dollars on tribal casinos within Oklahoma. The tribal/state partnerships formed through the compacts have been quite beneficial for all Oklahomans. Time and potential legal challenges will have an impact on growth and affect saturation."

Get the Story:
5 questions with Michael McBride III, Indian Law & Gaming chair (The Tulsa World 10/28)