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Minnesota Tribal Casino Growth Slowing

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune: "The growth of gambling at Minnesota's tribal casinos is slowing, an indication of a maturing market where opportunities for expansion have been limited.

"In 2004, Minnesota slipped from third to fourth nationally in revenues from tribal casinos as gambling elsewhere grew strongly, according to the annual Indian Gaming Industry Report prepared by an economist who specializes in the casino industry.

"Minnesota's tribal casinos pulled in $1.3 billion from slot machines and blackjack tables in 2004. That represents about 7 percent of gambling revenue from all tribal casinos in the nation.

"Revenues grew by 1.2 percent in 2004, down slightly from the growth rate the previous year. It was unclear how much of the slackened growth could be attributable to the state gambling market nearing a saturation point, said Alan Meister, an economist with Analysis Group, a national consulting firm, who wrote the Gambling Industry Report.

"He added that another growth-inhibiting factor could be the failure of gambling proponents to build a tribal-state casino in the Twin Cities that might stimulate new revenue.

"…But Meister said a new building in a prime metro location would probably stimulate more gambling…"

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