The gaming industry changed irrevocably when President Reagan signed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act on Oct. 17, 1988.
Twenty years later, tribal casinos earn more money than those in Las Vegas and Atlantic City combined.
“I believe the expectation of almost every lawmaker then was that the future of Indian gaming was going to be in high stakes bingo,” said Phil Hogen, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission.
Instead, about 90 percent of the $26 billion in Indian gaming revenue last year came from casinos. By comparison, Nevada casinos collected $12.8 billion and New Jersey casinos collected $4.9 billion.
The Indian gaming industry employs more than 700,000 workers -- more than half of them are not Indians.
Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said the law changed the landscape of the casino industry.
“I don’t think anyone ever thought the result would be as dramatic as it has been,” Fahrenkopf said.
For the complete story, please see Tony Batt, Impact Of Indian Gaming Law Changed Casino Industry, The Morning News, October 11, 2008.
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