US tribal casino revenue down 20% in 2020
Tribal casinos’ gross gaming revenue fell 20 per cent to $27.8bn in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
US.- Tribal casinos in the US saw a 20 per cent drop in revenue in 2020, the National Indian Gaming Commission has revealed. Gross gaming revenue totalled $27.8bn.
The fall in revenue comes as little surprise given the context amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact could have been much larger.
National Indian Gaming Commission chairman E. Sequoyah Simermeyer said: “This GGR was expected; the unknown was just how much of an impact Covid-19 had on Indian gaming. Every year, the annual GGR figure tells a story about Indian gaming’s successes, contributions to Indian communities, and economic impacts.
“This was highlighted even more during the pandemic. Nevertheless, tribes were on the forefront of creating standards, developing new safety protocols, and sharing community resources. I foresee this decrease as only a temporary setback for Indian gaming.”
Vice chair Jeannie Hovland praised “the sacrifices of and economic refuge provided by tribes and the community impacts.”
She added: “Tribal gaming has shown resilience and commitment, and continues to develop new roads to economic stability. I look forward to seeing Indian gaming continue to lead the way in efforts to reduce the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
