Jan. 28–Tribal contributions from Indian gaming revenue to Arizona dropped steeply last quarter compared with the same period a year ago, the Arizona Department of Gaming announced today. Arizona tribes’ contribution for the quarter ending Dec. 31 was about $12.8 million, down 16.1 percent from $15.2 million in the same quarter in 2007. Contributions were down every quarter in 2008 when compared to 2007, but the most recent drop was the largest.

Under the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, tribes with casinos contribute one to eight percent of their Class III gross gaming revenue to the state, cities, towns and counties. Gross gaming revenue, or net win, is the difference between a casino’s gaming wins and losses, before casino expenses are deducted.

State and local governments use tribal contributions to pay for education, trauma care, wildlife conservation, tourism promotion, problem gambling services and the Department’s operating expenses.

Tribes send contributions to the state Arizona Benefits Fund every three months. Since the Tribal-State Gaming Compact went into effect in 2003, Arizona tribes have contributed more than $483 million to the state, cities, towns and counties.

QUARTERLY TRIBAL GAMING CONTRIBUTIONS

Quarter ending Dec. 31, 2008

Contributions: $12.8 million/–16.1 percent

Quarter ending Sept. 30, 2008

Contributions: $25 million/–9.5 percent

Quarter ending June 30, 2008

Contributions: $26 million/–7.5 percent

Quarter ending March 31, 2008

Contributions: $24.4 million/–0.8 percent

Quarter ending Dec. 31, 2007

Contributions: $15.2 million/+0.6 percent