There are 24 tribal casinos in Arizona, operated by 16 of the state’s 22 federally recognized tribal nations. The other 12% is distributed by tribes to the cities, towns, and counties of their choosing for community services and public safety programs for local governments. The funds go to the Arizona Benefits Fund on a quarterly basis, which provides funding for several areas including instructional improvement, trauma and emergency services Arizona Department of Gaming operations wildlife conservation tourism and programs for gambling education, treatment and prevention. The vast majority of tribal gaming contributions - 88% - go to the state. “I am ecstatic to see the highest levels of tribal contributions to the State following the Amended Tribal-State Gaming Compact signed by Governor Ducey last year,” Arizona Department of Gaming Director Ted Vogt said in a press release. Under the gaming compacts that tribes have with the state, all tribes that own and operate casinos in Arizona have to contribute a percentage of their gaming revenue each year to the state, and to cities, towns, and counties.
