Katherine A. Spilde, Ph.D.
29 Littlejohn Street l  Arlington, MAl  02474 l 202 342.5428

National Study Finds Substantial Off-Reservation Benefits

A landmark national study scientifically documents that Indian gaming has positive impacts off-reservation. [1]

Economic Benefits:

  •   “Indian casinos have substantial beneficial economic and social impacts on surrounding communities. Moreover…No evidence of harmful economic or social impacts due to Indian casino introduction is discernible in our 30 indicators of economic and social health.”

Social Benefits:

  • “On the social side, NORC data can afford a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the argument that Indian casinos-because they improve the economic fortunes and the community integrity of a heretofore underdeveloped minority can actually precipitate a net social benefit.”

Decrease in Unemployment Insurance Payments:

  •   “Not only do Indian casinos help the poorer of the tribes move ahead vis-ŕ-vis their counterparts with respect to employment, but also [our] evidence indicates Indian casino have accomplished the same for proximate non-Indian communities with respect to income maintenance programs. Casinos generally could be expected to have a 6% decrease in income from income maintenance programs, whereas Indian casino precipitate a more profound 32% decline.”

Decrease in Crime

  • “Our data indicates that communities witnessing the introduction of a proximate Indian casino experience a substantial net decline in auto theft and robbery.”



[1] “The National Evidence on the Socioeconomic Impacts of American Indian Gaming.” By Jonathan Taylor, Matthew Krepps, and Patrick Wang. Lexecon, Inc. Cambridge, MA. April, 2000. Available on-line at www.indiangaming.org/library.