A recently released Tribal Economic Impact Report from a collaboration between United for Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, noted the impact from Oklahoma-based Tribal governments derives from the programs and services they provide for their citizens and their expenditures incurred for basic government operations. The structure of many Tribal governments is like other local, state, and federal governments with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The operation of these basic government functions generates economic activity like other state and local government operations.
- Direct Employment and Wages for Oklahomans
- Oklahoma tribes employed 55,659 Oklahoma workers in 2023, paying out wages and benefits totaling $3.3 billion to Oklahomans.
- Direct Oklahoma Production
- When combining business revenues, government expenditures, and capital expenditures, Oklahoma tribes accounted for $12.7 billion in direct Oklahoma production.
- Education, Health Care, and Tribal Gaming
- Tribal Gaming and related businesses generated $7.4 billion in revenues. These revenues were used to provide programs and services for tribal citizens and non-citizens, and to promote the long-run sustainability of the tribes.
- Tribes invested $351 million for education and human capital development in the state.
- Tribes spent $582 million providing health care services for over 3.5 million patient visits in the state.
- Total Economic Impact
- When analyzed in the context of the Oklahoma economy and accounting for spillover (multiplier) impacts, we estimate that tribal activities supported:
- 139,860 jobs in the state
- $7.8 billion in wages and benefits to Oklahoma workers
- $23.4 billion in state production of goods and services