A new report shows some slight weakening in tribal gaming revenues. The latest figures show state revenue sharing in the first three months of this year was just under $24.1 million. That's the first year-over-year decline in the numbers in 10 consecutive quarters. But, state Gaming Director Mark Brnovich doesn't want to read too much into those figures.
“Gaming is largely dependent on discretionary income and when there’s economic uncertainty when people have less discretionary, there’s going to be less gambling,” Brnovich said. “But I don’t think we should read too much into this because it is only a one quarter decrease.”
Indian Gaming officials say sequestration at the federal level, and the increase in payroll taxes earlier this year may have contributed to the decline.