STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX
– The Native American
Caucus met recently to discuss tribal gaming in Arizona. Judy Ferreira and
Valerie Spicer from the Arizona Indian Gaming Association presented to the
caucus.
Tribal gaming
contributes to the state in a financially significant way. The revenue made in
tribal gaming facilities is shared with the state. This money contributes to
cities, towns, counties, tourism, wildlife conservation, trauma and emergency
services, and education.
Rep. Sally Ann
Gonzales, D-Tucson (District 3), appreciated the reminder of how important
tribal gaming is to Arizona.
“Tribal gaming
continues to be an economic force for all Arizonans,” Gonzales said. “The jobs
and money it contributes benefit more people than those in Native American
communities.”
In 2003, Arizona
voters passed Proposition 202 that outlined the agreements between the state and
Indian Nations that engage in tribal gaming. The proposition prohibits the state
from expanding other gaming. If such an expansion were to happen, the amount of
revenue the state would receive from tribal gaming decreases dramatically, from
as much as eight percent to as low as 0.75 percent.
The caucus discussed
legislation that may jeopardize this voter-protected agreement. SB 1515 would
allow fantasy sports league betting in Arizona. Attendees discussed this as an
expansion of gaming in the state and were told cost Arizona millions of dollars.
The bill didn’t make it through the committee process, but caucus members
expressed concern about it returning this legislative session.
Rep. Jennifer D.
Benally, D-Tuba City (District 7), discussed the significance of tribal gaming
in the state.
“Tribal gaming is
integral to the Arizona economy,” Benally said. “It’s a great example of
cooperation between the state and the Native communities. I don’t want to see
this cooperation end, so I hope efforts to undermine the gaming compact are
stopped.”
Rep. Albert Hale,
D-St. Michaels (District 7), wants the cooperation to continue to grow and
benefit both parties.
"This is money that
the Indian Nations are contributing to the state,” Hale said. “When tax revenues
are distributed, very little is returned to the Indian Nations. We need to be
sure that everyone gets their fair share.”
