Oklahoma Tribal Nations Fuel $23.4B Economic Surge with Historic Growth

A new economic study shows that Oklahoma’s tribal nations had an impact of $23.4 billion on the state’s economy in 2023. This represents a big jump in economic activity from earlier years.

Oklahoma Tribal Nations Drive Record $4.9B Economic Growth and Support Over 140,000 Jobs

The results shown at the Oklahoma History Center came from research that United for Oklahoma commissioned in collaboration with the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. The report says this latest number is the biggest growth seen in any reporting time yet. Tribal economic activity went up by $4.9 billion between fiscal years 2019 and 2023 — almost twice the increase seen from 2017 to 2019.

The report also highlights the big impact tribal nations have on jobs across the state. Tribal governments and businesses employed more than 55,600 people last year, while supporting a total of 140,000 jobs overall, including positions held by both tribal citizens and non-tribal residents. These jobs generated over $7.8 billion in wages and benefits for Oklahoma workers, which further shows how important the tribes are to the economy.

Matt Morgan, who heads the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, pointed out that tribal businesses and services play a key role in rural economies where jobs are often hard to come by. He explained that tribal nations have an influence on more than just employment, as they keep putting money into infrastructure, education, healthcare, and community projects across the state. He also highlighted that these actions show a long-term dedication to making life better for everyone in Oklahoma.

Tribal Nations’ Gaming Rights Generate $208 Million for Oklahoma, Fueling Education and Healthcare

The study highlighted significant financial support from tribes in crucial public sectors throughout 2023. Tribal governments invested $582 million in health services, which covered over 3.5 million patient visits by Oklahomans. In addition, under gaming agreements that give tribal nations the sole right to run certain types of gaming in the state, $208 million in exclusivity fees went to Oklahoma, showing a 36% rise since 2019.

From this total, more than $177 million was set aside for public education. When added to other education-related funding, tribal backing for education hit $351 million last year. Dr. Kyle Dean, a professor of economics and head of the Center for Native American and Urban Studies at Oklahoma City University, carried out the economic impact study.

Dr. Dean’s research relied on information from 19 tribes in Oklahoma. He stressed that tribal nations keep acting as a strong force in the economy. His findings showed that the size of their input helps to build tougher communities and leads to a more robust and open state economy.