Posted by Let Texans Decide
Feb 28, 2013
A new report was released this week showing Oklahoma’s Indian casinos generated $3.48 billion in revenues in 2011. That’s a 7.7 percent increase over the previous year! Oklahoma’s Indian casino growth rate more than doubled the national Indian gaming growth rate.
The casinos’ benefits to the state didn’t stop there. Oklahoma tribes produced approximately $493.4 million in nongaming revenue. That’s a 7.9 percent increase from the previous year! As the article states, casinos support jobs as well: “Indian casinos supported about 339,000 jobs and $12.3 billion in wages, and were responsible for about $1.4 billion in payments to nontribal governments.”
Oklahoma had 115 Indian gaming facilities at the end of 2011. In that same year, Oklahoma welcomed two of the nation’s six new, large casinos. One of them is just over the Texas state line on Interstate 44.
As we know, a huge percentage of the patrons at the casinos that border Texas are Texans. We’re supporting Oklahoma economic development, revenue, and jobs. It’s time for this to stop. Act now and contact your legislator to tell them Texans want to decide on expanded gaming in Texas. Let’s keep Texan’s money in Texas.
