Indian Gaming Revs Jump

The Office of State Finance said last week that Indian casinos in Oklahoma generated $105 million for state coffers in fiscal 2009, up 23% from fiscal 2008.

Tribes pay the state between 4% and 6% of gambling profits from electronic gambling machines and 10% of table gambling profits under a negotiated gambling compact.

Payments in fiscal 2009 included $28.7 million from the Chickasaw Nation, $21.5 million from the Choctaw Nation, $12.1 million from the Cherokee Nation, and $6.1 million from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

The first $250,000 of gambling fees is allocated to the Department of Mental Health to fund programs for problem gamblers, with the remainder earmarked for public education.

Some 29 Indian tribes in Oklahoma have gambling compacts with the state.

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