On Friday, April 25th, the 17 member Tribes of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association unveiled a featured wrap on one of the Valley Metro light rail cars as part of an informational campaign to educate Arizonans of the benefits of Tribal gaming to the State.
After more than a decade of Tribal Gaming and nearly $1 billion later going to Arizona communities, all Arizonans have benefited. Arizona schools have received $417 million towards instructional improvement; critical trauma care centers remain open due in part to the $208 million in contributions; Arizona’s cities, towns and counties have received approximately $104 million; Arizona tourism and wildlife conservation programs thrive with nearly $60 million each.
“Arizona’s tribes have a history of sharing with Arizonans, from their profound history to their rich culture; tribes are entwined in the fabric of the State. Sharing in recent years has taken on a new form as Tribal Gaming has become a significant economic engine to all of Arizona,” said Valerie Spicer, Executive Director Arizona Indian Gaming Association.
“Since the passage of the Indian Gaming Preservation and Self-Reliance Act in 2002, Arizona’s Indian Tribes have contributed nearly $1 billion to instructional improvement for schools, trauma centers, wildlife conservation efforts, State tourism efforts, cities and towns through the Arizona Benefits Fund,” said Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. “The gaming compacts between the tribes and the state are working, and we are proud of the economic impact these have had on the State of Arizona.”
“The light rail is symbolic of the advancement and forward motion our State has achieved,” said Spicer. “I believe that Tribal Gaming rides a parallel track in advancing the future for Arizona and Tribal communities for generations to come.”
The Arizona Indian Gaming Association has a membership of 17 tribes representing more than 90% of the Indian people living on reservations in Arizona. Current membership includes: Ak-Chin Indian Community, Cocopah Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribe, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Fort Mojave Tribe, Gila River Indian Community, Havasupai Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation and Pueblo of Zuni.
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Valerie Spicer
602-307-1992
