Tribes prepare for state of Arizona to demand more gaming revenues

Thursday, January 17, 2019  

Tribes have already shared more than $1.45 billion in gaming revenues with the state of Arizona and it looks like Gov. Steve Ducey (R) is going to try to get more out of them.

Ducey has hired a gaming compact negotiator who told The Arizona Mirror that the governor is "looking to see how the state can increase revenue" from tribes. And a lobbyist who represents the Arizona Indian Gaming Association confirmed the push for more revenues.

The awareness comes despite the fact that most Class III gaming compacts in the state aren't due to expire for several more years. But with issues like sports betting and additional facilities on the horizon, there appears to be room for negotiation.

“The environment has changed quite a bit,” Kirk Adams, whom Ducey hired to handle gaming issues, told the Mirror.

As of November 2, 2018, tribes shave hared $1.455 billion with the state. Of that amount, nearly $1.3 billion went to the Arizona Benefits Fund while the remaining $163.7 million was contributed to local communities.

Tribal revenues have been on the rise in the last couple of years. The quarter that ended on September 30, 2018, marked the seventh consecutive quarter of growth, the Arizona Department of Gaming reported.

According to the department, tribes operate 24 gaming facilities in the state.

Ducey was sworn into a second term in office on January 7. He did not mention tribes or Indian gaming in his inaugural address or in his State of the State address on Monday.

Ducey to contract with former chief of staff on water, gaming (The Arizona Mirror January 17, 2019)