Indian Gaming Increases by 4.1% in 2018: Revenue Hits Record of $33.7 Billion

Four Winds Casino – South Bend, owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.

Published September 13, 2019

WASHINGTON — The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) released the Fiscal Year 2018 Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) on Thursday. The news is good for a sector that has grown by 4 percent each of the past three years. The figures released on Thursday show FY 2018 was a record year with revenues totaling $33.7B, an overall increase of 4.1% over FY 2017.

Indian gaming revenues are based on 501 independently audited financial statements, comprised of 241 federally recognized Tribes across 29 states. The GGR for an operation is calculated based on the amount wagered minus winnings returned to players.

“The GGR calculation process is an example of the partnership between tribes and the NIGC to ensure effective regulation for a successful tribal gaming industry.” said NIGC Vice Chair Kathryn Isom-Clause. “These numbers reaffirm the industry’s health as a stable economic driver for Indian Country,” she continued.

“The annual GGR tells a positive story about Indian gaming’s economic success and the industry’s ongoing contribution to a strong economy. It also tells the story of how collaboration among tribes, industry and the regulatory communities can build a strong reputation for reliability and integrity in the GGR calculation,” said Associate Commissioner E. Sequoyah Simermeyer.

For more detailed information, refer to our National Indian Gaming Commission website.