The Indian Gaming Revenue Continues To Rise | IXGAMES
Revenue for Indian gaming has nearly doubled nationwide since 2002, while wagering on sports and horse racing has declined, it was reported. Â Indian gaming revenues nationwide rose 19.2 percent in 2005 to $22.7 billion, while wagering on racing and sports declined by 7 percent, according to media reports on Casino City’s North American Almanac. 
The Coachella Valley’s six Indian casinos, providing thousands of jobs, is collectively one of the region’s biggest tourist draws, and among the largest employers in the Riverside County. Brad Polan of Boston-based Casino City attributed the drop in race wagering to a lack of slot machines at race tracks and the growing draw of slot machines at Indian casinos, The Desert Sun reported. Racetracks in California are barred from offering other forms of gambling, including slot machines. John Lang, a lobbyist representing the horse racing interests told state lawmakers in August that horse racing is the only form of gambling on the decline in California. “We’re facing unfair competition from 13 other states in this country who allow their horse racing to participate in alternative forms of gaming,” he said. The almanac ranked California second in overall gambling revenue, with $10.3 billion in revenues from horse racing, lotteries, Indian Casinos, card rooms and charitable events in 2005. The state has 86 card rooms, 15 horse tracks and 56 tribal casinos. The Casino City report, which provides research and information to the gaming industry, is a comprehensive look at gambling revenue across the nation. Bill Riley, a spokesperson for Casino City, said a separate report that focuses on Indian gaming will be released in the following week.