Oklahoma tribal contributions to state reached $23.4bn in 2023
A study found that tribes directly employed more than 55,600 Oklahomans and supported 139,860 jobs.
US.- United for Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) have reported that Tribal contributions to the state’s economy in 2023 reached $23.4bn. The study found that the tribes directly employed more than 55,600 Oklahomans and supported 139,860 jobs, accounting for more than $7.8bn in wages and benefits in 2023.
According to the study, tribes spent $582m providing health services to Oklahomans, with over 3.5m unique patient visits, and delivered $351m for education programmes.
Through compacts with the state, tribes submit a percentage of their Class III gaming revenues for the exclusive right to operate gaming in the state. In 2023, tribes sent $208m in exclusivity fees, up 36 per cent from 2019..
Matt Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said: “The contributions of tribal nations to the Oklahoma’s success are substantial and enduring. Through our business enterprises and healthcare facilities, we support jobs in rural areas where economic opportunities are often limited. Tribal impact reaches far beyond employment.
“We invest in infrastructure, fund health care, champion public education and deliver programs that meet critical community needs. We honor the legacy that brought us here and remain focused on building a bright future for all Oklahomans.”
The economic impact study was conducted by Kyle Dean, professor of economics and director of the Center for Native American and Urban Studies at Oklahoma City University based on data from 19 tribal nations based in Oklahoma.
Dean said: “Tribal nations serve as a significant economic force, consistently contributing to the state’s economy with increasingly transformative impact. With over 100,000 jobs supported and an ever-expanding scope of investments, tribes help build sustainable economies and stronger communities across the state.”
Oklahoma won’t see legal sports betting in 2025
The Oklahoma Senate has adjoured with no vote on bills to legalise sports betting in the state. HB 1047 and HB 1101, sponsored by Rep. Ken Luttrell, passed the House earlier this year with strong bipartisan support, but did not get beyond the committee stage in the Senate. Senate president Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton told Fox 25 that senators could study the bills again in the summer.
HB 1047 would authorise sports betting and tether sportsbook operators to Native American tribes that have entered into gaming compacts with the state. The initial version proposed a 10 per cent tax rate for tribes offering sports betting.
