Gaming In ( and Outside ) the Sooner State
By Chris Irwin
Oklahoma is home to one of the largest casino industries in the United States , with well over 100 tribal casinos located throughout the state . These casinos play a significant role in the state ’ s economy , supporting nearly 76,000 jobs and generating $ 1.69 billion in tax revenue and tribal revenue share payments to all levels of government , per the American Gaming Association ’ s 2022 State of the States report .
In this article , we will examine the current state of the casino industry in Oklahoma , the long history of Oklahoma gaming compacts and the future outlook for tribal gaming in Oklahoma and beyond .
Market Overview
The Oklahoma casino industry is a major contributor to the state ’ s economy , providing significant amounts of revenue , jobs and entertainment to the citizens of the state . The Sooner State is home to 142 casinos and gaming enterprises , making it one of the largest gaming markets in the United States . The industry started in the early 1990s when the state government passed a law allowing for the development of gaming facilities . This led to a surge in the number of casinos , which now range from large , resort-style casinos to smaller , local gaming centers .
The National Indian Gaming Commission ( NIGC ) reports annual revenues by region . Oklahoma is split between two separate regions — Oklahoma City and Tulsa — as seen in the map at right . Unfortunately , these two regions encompass three different states , bleeding north into Kansas and south into Texas .
By using deductive reasoning , we estimate that of the $ 6.2 billion of revenue generated by these two regions , approximately $ 5.5 billion was generated by Oklahoma in FY 2021 . This is roughly a 45 percent increase over FY 2020 , which is to be expected given pandemic-related impacts . Interestingly , this makes Oklahoma one of the top five largest gaming markets in the country , including both commercial and tribal states .
Several Oklahoma tribes have gotten into commercial gaming , with the Cherokee Nation purchasing the Gold Strike Casino Hotel in Tunica , Mississippi , and the Chickasaws owning Remington Park Racetrack in Oklahoma City
Source : National Indian Gaming Commission
26 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING 2023