Objective
In this article, we establish the most recent 10‐year and 20‐year impacts of Indian gaming related to income and employment for persons living on tribal lands.
Methods
We use 1990, 2000, and 2010 U.S. Census data for 361 native nations in the 48 contiguous states.
Results
We find that Indian gaming continues to have a meaningful impact on income, labor force participation, and unemployment between 1990 and 2010 in tribal areas, both for American Indians as well as persons of all races. A second finding is that gaming tribes with per capita payment plans account for the greatest share of improvements. Finally, the decadal impacts between 2000 and 2010 reveal a diminished trajectory suggesting effects related to increased competition and the effects of the Great Recession.
Conclusion
Indian gaming has improved living conditions for Indians and all persons residing on tribal lands. When comparing the experience between the first decade and the second decade since Indian gaming was introduced, Class III gaming improvements in the living conditions on Indian lands persisted, but on a flatter trajectory than in the prior decade. Future research is needed to disentangle the endogenous and exogenous effects that may signal a shifting landscape in the Indian gaming industry.