The numbers may be small by Las Vegas standards but this year the gaming tribes of Arizona can add more gaming machines to their casinos. Around 19% more, under an arrangement that allows an increase in slots and blackjack tables every five years if the population of Arizona grows. Bucking the trend for penny slots, some of the new machines will be the high-limit variety that seems to be increasingly popular.

Under tribal compacts dating from 2003 there are presently 15 gaming tribes operating 23 casinos in Arizona with 13,756 Class III machines. Another 6 tribes have no casinos but do have slot machine rights they are able to lease to other tribes. One tribe, the Hopi, has no gaming compact. By September total numbers will be able to rise to 18,158 slot machines and 3,318 card game tables.

The slot machine mix appears to vary widely. One Arizona casino says that movie themes and play that resemble video games are most popular, but at another casino it is still the traditional reels that attract the customers. One thing is certain, most of Arizona’s tribal casinos are already in the process of formulating expansion plans to accommodate the extra machines. Although the casinos do not have to give detailed financial figures, US$1.94 billion was generated in gaming revenue over the last fiscal year. (E-03.07.08)

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