Arizona's Indian Gaming Phenomenon

[edog743]

Casino Knight.My tribe here in wisconsin pays the state absolutely nothing on bingo revenue. As far as I know I do not think any tribe in the US pays on their bingo revenue.

[notes1]

edog, first off, from one dog loving family to another, could not agree more with your will rogers quote.  i have no idea about whether indian bingo halls pay taxes or rebates back to the states. i do know that each state has a different arrangement with the tribes, regarding their casino play. there was a huge disagreement in NYS, where the seneca indians held back millions from the state, when they thought their agreement has not been upheld. they finally settled and payments where made, but local governments, who have become addicted to the gambling revenue, suffered until those monies where paid.  the question i have is when going to a casino, outside of vegas, is the old rule of thumb, about indian casinos not being as regulated and to be avoided, still true. most of us do not go to nevada, so we need to choose where to lose our money. corporate owned vs. indian owned? it is well known i question the depth of regulation that exists and enforced.  i am beginning to believe, that when choosing a casino, it may be better to consider how well financially a property is doing. if business is good, they may be able to offer their players a better experience. 

[OTABILL]

[QUOTE=OTABILL] [QUOTE=notes1]   The legal wrangling over the proposed tohono o'odham casino in Glendale is a case in point. BTW, several casinos here collect local sales tax on restaurant tabs.

I pass by the new casino site daily. They continue to move lots of dirt, lawsuit or not. The T.O.'s could have made a huge chunk of money by providing parking and shuttle from the site to the University of Phoenix Stadium for the Super Bowl this Sunday. Local parking is going from $100-$200 per car.

As for the sales tax, it's a Tribal Tax. It's also deleted when dining on a comp.

Gila & Salt River Tribes continue to fight the T.O.'s casino, which I think is a big waste of money. They should be developing more casino loyalty by offering better VP/Slot paytables and incentives to players. As I see it, the other tribes will lose the entire West Valley when the new casino opens.

Presently, both Gila & Salt River as well as Harrah's Casinos operate buses two or more of times a day, to and from the west valley. (Fort McDowell and Camp Verde to a lesser extent).

The Peoria, Glendale, and the Sun Cities', alone will pay for the casino, and with public transportation available on the half hour, it a no brainer.

Located a mile north of the "Westgate Mall", on Northern Avenue,just east of the 101 Freeway, it's in the heart of the West Valley's Entertainment District. Two stadiums, an outlet mall, as well as upscale shopping, dozens of food venues, within a mile or two. It's gonna be a gold mine.

Here's my Ace kicker. Should the "legal wrangling" delay the opening of the T.O.'s Class 3 gaming, they could open as a Class 2 facility. NO STATE COMPACT REQUIRED! While most of us here know the difference in Class 2 and Class 3 machines, the majority of "ploppers" do not. Imagine an Arizona Casino with thousands of machines, and a giant bingo hall that the State would gain no revenue from. I don't think it would last a month before the State would be begging for a Class 3 Compact.

just my two and half cents.

[/QUOTE]

I should have said State rather than local. Actually, sales taxes at non-tribal owned businesses at casinos and other sites such as outlet malls on reservations are subject to both tribal and state taxes in Arizona.

I agree that the Gila River and Casino Arizona/Talking stick casinos would lose a significant number of customers when the tohono o'odham casino opens. That's ultimately why the other two tribes are fighting it. I think it is a stretch to say they would lose the entire west valley. That would depend on many factors. Having a significant non-smoking slot/VP section would definitely be one. Comps, promotions and customer service would be another. Only time will tell.

[Casino Knight]

Casino Knight.My tribe here in wisconsin pays the state absolutely nothing on bingo revenue. As far as I know I do not think any tribe in the US pays on their bingo revenue.

That's because Bingo is Class II gaming. As would be Class II "Bingo" machines.