An economist says that for the first time, revenue has fallen at Indian gambling casinos across the country, including Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun, The Associated Press reports.
Alan Meister says in the latest Indian Gaming Industry Report released Wednesday that casinos generated about $26.4 billion in 2009, down 1 percent from 2008. The decline, he said, was triggered by a recession that forced consumers to cut spending.
The report noted that 237 Indian tribes operated 446 casinos in 28 states. Revenue from food and beverages, lodging, entertainment and shopping declined 4 percent to $3.2 billion in 2009.
Meister says revenue declined at Indian casinos in Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa and Mississippi.
The highest revenue growth in 2009 was in Alabama, Alaska, Nebraska and Wyoming.
He says public policies that restrict Indian gambling helped slow the rate of revenue growth before the recession.
