Editorial: Don't bet on Oklahoma casino revenues

Thursday, July 9, 2009  

"Oklahoma's Indian gaming industry contributed more than $105 million to the state's treasury last year, up about $24 million over the previous fiscal year.

That's a revenue stream that didn't exist a decade ago and one that many states would envy. The Chickasaw tribe, owners of the large Riverwind casino and hotel south of Norman, and the WinStar casino near the Oklahoma-Texas border paid in nearly 30 percent of the tax revenues.

While the tax money allows Oklahoma to fund projects and services, it's not revenue the state should rely on. It's a tax on a form of entertainment and one that could decrease nearly as quickly as it arrived"

Get the Story:
Editorial: Texas' future gaming plans could slow revenue stream (The Norman Transcript 7/9)

Earlier Story:
Oklahoma tribes share $105M in casino revenues (7/8)