That will represent an increase of 1.1% from the same period in 2009. Still, there is concern that the increase may be only temporary. Most of the money will go to the education fund.
"It looks good on paper that there was an increase, but Arizona tribal casinos are still far from where they were before the recession," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "These figures will have to continue to increase over the next two or three quarters before the state can start relying on this revenue again consistently."
All of the casinos in the state run by Indian tribes pay different tax rates depending on their deals with the state. There are twenty-two tribal casinos in Arizona, and each pays between one and eight percent of their revenue to the state. The casino offer both card games and slots, and the gaming revenue has been key to the state's budget.
Arizona recently created a controversial border protection law that had many other states around the nation taking aim at the Western state. Arizona, however, has had no qualms with their casino industry, which is one of the most developed in the country. The money generated from the casinos has been used for education, tourism, and emergency services.
Gambling addiction is always a concern when states expand their casino offerings, and the revenue from the tribal casinos in Arizona has also been used to help prevent problem gambling. Advertisements and other programs have been utilized to bring awareness to gamblers about the potential for addiction.