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Minnesota Tribal Casinos Rake in $1.3 Million

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune: "Minnesota's Indian casinos raked in more than $1.3 billion in revenues last year, the third-largest total in the country, according to a new report.

"The state's gaming tribes trailed only California's and Connecticut's in revenues, part of a $16.2 billion national Indian gaming industry, according to a study by the Los Angeles-based Analysis Group.

"…The top five states, including Minnesota, accounted for 61 percent of total gaming revenue, the report said. Indian gaming grew more than eight times faster than commercial casinos.

"Despite the large numbers, revenues for Minnesota's 19 casinos run by 11 gaming tribes grew by only 1.1 percent in 2003 over 2002, the report said. Tribal casino revenues nationally rose 12.1 percent last year.

"…Alan Meister, an economist who wrote the report, attributed the sluggish growth in Minnesota to a gambling market that faces competition from commercial gambling in other states but said there appeared to be areas for growth.

"…But John McCarthy, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which represents nine of the 11 gaming tribes, disputed the report's numbers because Minnesota's gaming tribes do not open their books to release revenue figures. He said the report's figures for Minnesota revenues were likely overestimated, putting the figure closer to an estimated $700 million to $800 million a year in revenues…"

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