According to the 2022 Annual Report of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), tribal casinos in the United States took in more than USD 40 billion last year. This is an increase of almost five per cent over the previous year. But what are tribal casinos, and what role do they play in the American gambling industry?

The gambling market is booming not only in Europe, but also in the United States. This is certainly due to a more liberal attitude towards some forms of gambling. For example, in January we reported on the legalisation of online sports betting in New York. Tribal casinos, of which there are currently 519 in the US, are also benefiting from the booming gambling business. Between 2021 and 2022, they increased their annual revenue by 4.9% to USD 40.9 billion. This is equivalent to around 36.7 billion euros.

Tribal casinos more successful than ever in the US

Tribal casinos are casinos run by the indigenous people and are therefore independent of any government control. The 519 tribal casinos are operated by a total of 244 different indigenous peoples. Tribal casinos are located in 29 of the 50 US states.

According to the recently published 2022 Annual Report of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), casinos on the east and west coasts of the United States were the most profitable for indigenous people. The 78 casinos in the Sacramento area of California, for example, generated nearly $12 billion in annual revenue last year alone. The 41 tribal casinos in Washington D.C. generated total revenue of around US$9 billion.

However, the highest percentage growth in gaming venues in 2022 was observed in the Phoenix area. Here revenues will increase by an impressive 15.7% from 2021 to 2022. In June 2021, in a slightly different context, the US gambling industry was already experiencing huge growth.

By the way: If the revenues of the 500 or so tribal casinos are added to the revenues of the other gambling operators in the US, the $100 billion mark will be broken for the first time in 2022 - and the trend is still rising.

What are the most famous "Indian casinos" in the USA?

Many tribal casinos in the United States are not well known. However, there are a few exceptions, most notably the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With over 3,000 slot machines, this is the largest Indian casino in the world. Approximately four million people visit this tribal casino each year.

Other popular tribal casinos include San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California; Mohegan Sun in Uncascille, Connecticut; Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut; and Island Resort & Casino in Harris, Michigan. In the summer of 2021, we at GambleJoe also reported on the opening of the World Las Vegas Resort. This is not a tribal casino, however, as it will be operated by the multi-billion dollar gaming company Genting, based in Malaysia.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/chicago-usa-gebäude-wolkenkratzer-5347435/

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