"The continued growth is eye-opening considering the tribal gaming industry is still relatively young. The Indian gaming industry has doubled between 2001 and 2006, going from $12.8 billion to $25.1 billion respectively," said Phil Hogen, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). "In NIGC Region II, which includes California and Northern Nevada, the revenues have jumped from $1.7 billion in 2001 to $7.1 billion in 2006, which is an increase of four and a half times over a 5 year period" Hogen continued.

Hogen also stressed that strong federal oversight has played an important role in the growth of the industry. "The public's continued good will is a necessary element to continued growth which is why the role of the NIGC must be reaffirmed" he said.

NIGC Region V, which includes Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas saw a increase in revenues from $1.7 billion in 2005 to $2.1 billion in 2006, a 22% increase, which was the largest percentage increase regionally during 2006.

The NIGC receives annual audit reports from tribes conducting gaming operations in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. As the fiscal year utilized by tribal operations vary, compilations of annual totals are finalized in June of the following year. The NIGC's revenue numbers are based on the audit reports of 387 gaming operations. Gaming revenues represent amounts wagered less prizes paid.

In addition to regional data, the NIGC has provided a historical comparison between facilities based on revenue and a bar graph illustrating the growth in Indian gaming since 1996.

The NIGC is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

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These numbers are not too surprising as Native American tribes have eagerly sought the right to build casinos ever since they were allowed to pursue it after the Gaming Regulatory Act was passed.

The regulation paved the way for state Governors and tribes to work out a deal for casinos to open on tribal lands. The deal works out well fro both parties as the tribes get to profit as does the state, typically through high taxation.

The first tribe to get legalized casino gaming was the Seminole Indians, whose lands are in Florida.

Last December, The Seminole Tribe of Florida purchased Hard Rock International and other related entities from The Rank Group Plc for approximately $965 million. The Tribe already owned two casino resorts in south Florida -- in Hollywood and Tampa -- which opened in 2004. Now it also owns 68 Hard Rock Cafe Restaurants and retail stores, including 44 in the United States, three in Canada, 17 throughout Europe, three in Australia and one in Puerto Rico. The Seminoles also control licensing or franchise agreements for another 56 restaurants and five hotels with locations in places such as Orlando and Chicago, plus Hard Rock Live performance venues.

Another major success story is in Connecticut where there are two massive Las Vegas style casinos. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mashantuckets and Mohegans respectively, are already the two largest casinos in the world and are in the middle of major expansion campaigns which together total $1.5 billion. Together they make CT the fourth largest U.S. casino market behind Nevada ($11 billion), New Jersey ($5 billion), and Mississippi ($2.5 billion).

There are currently 562 federally-recognized Indian tribes. At present, 224 of these tribes have negotiated 249 compacts with 28 states to establish 354 Class II or Class III gaming operations.

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