2006 Indian Gaming figures are out.

[Okla-homey]

The NIGC reports combined gaming revenues for all US tribes of $25 billion. That represents almost 11% growth since just last year. Also, that $25B was earned in just 415 tribal gaming facilities.

A considerable amount of research suggests the industry is not even close to the saturation point and has nowhere to go but up.

Frankly, I think it's great because the tribes spend that money to help their people and they spend it locally.

[mikeelikee]

Hmmm, a total of 415 tribal gaming facilities, and Oklahoma has approximately 85 tribal casinos. So doing a little extrapolation, about 1/4 of that total was earned in Oklahoma. Dang, let the tribes fix the bridges!!

[JohnnyMack]

Meh. Gambling brought to the people in this fashion isn't good for anyone. They're eyesores on the outside, they're trashy on the inside and most of the people ****ing away money inside those places have no business doing it in the first place.

I'd be fine if they all just went away.

[Okla-homey]

Hmmm, a total of 415 tribal gaming facilities, and Oklahoma has approximately 85 tribal casinos. So doing a little extrapolation, about 1/4 of that total was earned in Oklahoma. Dang, let the tribes fix the bridges!!

Oklahoma tribes are already giving Oklahoma 6% of the action. It's up to Oklahoma on where she spends it -- right now, it's claimed to be spent on publick skools.

[picasso]

yeah, the tribes have used that money for scholarships and I'm sure other things but still does not affect members directly.
more stuff and programs but you've got to wonder if any of that money is going into someone's pocket.

[Mjcpr]

Everything supposedly goes to public skools yet they always claim poverty and we're consistently in the bottom 10 in the nation in learnin' our youngins.

What gives?

[Okla-homey]

Meh. Gambling brought to the people in this fashion isn't good for anyone. They're eyesores on the outside, they're trashy on the inside and most of the people ****ing away money inside those places have no business doing it in the first place.

I'd be fine if they all just went away.

I feel confident in stating it isn't going anywhere. That would require an act of Congress, and the donkeys who run Congress aren't likely to make any changes that would impact social services from wherever the source.

[picasso]

Meh. Gambling brought to the people in this fashion isn't good for anyone. They're eyesores on the outside, they're trashy on the inside and most of the people ****ing away money inside those places have no business doing it in the first place.

I'd be fine if they all just went away.

you mean the hot chicks in those ads and billboards aren't there???????

[jk the sooner fan]

i'm told by a couple of gambling friends, that winstar doesnt pay out diddly squat to its gamblers

not sure if thats true or not, but if it is - they better enjoy their windfall while it last because their reputation will put them out of business

[XingTheRubicon]

So, if we get 6% of every Oklahoma Injun casino, and we get 7% of every dollar of all oil and gas sales in Oklahoma....

Why do our roads, and our teacher's pay suck?

[Okla-homey]

yeah, the tribes have used that money for scholarships and I'm sure other things but still does not affect members directly.
more stuff and programs but you've got to wonder if any of that money is going into someone's pocket.

I disagree. The list of programs directly benefitting individual tribal citizens is pretty extensive, at least among the Five Tribes with which I'm most familiar.

That said, wherever vast sums are involved, I expect there is always going to be a little going out the back door. That's pretty universally true.

[picasso]

So, if we get 6% of every Oklahoma Injun casino, and we get 7% of every dollar of all oil and gas sales in Oklahoma....

Why do our roads, and our teacher's pay suck?

look no further than the crapitol in OKC.

it's been a good one for decades.

[picasso]

I disagree. The list of programs directly benefitting individual tribal citizens is pretty extensive, at least among the Five Tribes with which I'm most familiar.

how so?

please essplain.

[Okla-homey]

i'm told by a couple of gambling friends, that winstar doesnt pay out diddly squat to its gamblers

not sure if thats true or not, but if it is - they better enjoy their windfall while it last because their reputation will put them out of business

The pay-out stats are available. I think you'd be surprised how high they are.

[Okla-homey]

how so?

please essplain.

things like tuition assistance, free legal services, tribal law enforcment, tribal foster homes and orphanages, tribal courts, free housing for the elderly, utilities reimbursement for those who qualify, jobs, job training, health care, prescription meds, nutrition services, etc., etc.

[picasso]

I knew a dude at art school who was from the Pequot tribe of Connecticut. This was in '93 and they were the first tribe to do the casino thing.
Small tribe and their members pocketed some of the revenues.

Here, the money goes to the tribes which are more or less big corporations and the chiefs are the crooked CEO's. That's the case in my tribe.

[JohnnyMack]

Here, the money goes to the tribes which are more or less big corporations and the chiefs are the crooked CEO's. That's the case in my tribe.

Shocking.



Not really though.

[picasso]

things like tuition assistance, free legal services, tribal law enforcment, tribal foster homes and orphanages, tribal courts, free housing for the elderly, utilities reimbursement for those who qualify, jobs, job training, health care, prescription meds, nutrition services, etc., etc.

I've seen none of that from my tribe. I was just on their website the other day.

Same goes for the Osage.

Again, I think some of it will benefit the members directly but it's still a long way off.

[Okla-homey]

I knew a dude at art school who was from the Pequot tribe of Connecticut. This was in '93 and they were the first tribe to do the casino thing.
Small tribe and their members pocketed some of the revenues.

Here, the money goes to the tribes which are more or less big corporations and the chiefs are the crooked CEO's. That's the case in my tribe.

The way the various tribes handle their affairs varies. I submit the ones with an independent judiciary are best equipped to handle problems because tribal citizens can haul alleged crooks into their courts and get bad acts enjoined and/or the crooks locked-up. It happens with regularity in those systems.

[Okla-homey]

I knew a dude at art school who was from the Pequot tribe of Connecticut. This was in '93 and they were the first tribe to do the casino thing.
Small tribe and their members pocketed some of the revenues.

Here, the money goes to the tribes which are more or less big corporations and the chiefs are the crooked CEO's. That's the case in my tribe.

The Mashantucket Pequod's you mention do make "per-capita" payments to their citizens as they are allowed to do under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. They are also a relatively small tribe (>1000 citizens) and have the world's largest casino.