Arizona tribes not required to disclose how revenues spent

Monday, May 23, 2011  

Tribes in Arizona share a portion of their gaming revenues with local communities but they aren't required to disclose how the money is spent.

Under the Class III gaming compact, a tribe pays 1 percent for its first $25 million; 3 percent of the next $50 million; 6 percent of the next $25 million; and 8 percent in excess of $100 million. Of this amount, 88 percent goes to the state and 12 percent goes to local communities.

The amount that goes to the state is public. But the portion that goes to local communities isn't.

"The tribes can make this contribution whenever they choose as long as it is done by the end of their fiscal year," according to the Arizona Department of Gaming.

“The tribes are individual sovereign governments, and they can decide how they want to explain," Sheila Morago, the executive director of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association, told ABC15.

Get the Story:
Why? Casino revenues kept quiet by tribes (ABC15 5/23)

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