How will the Casino Resort affect other area businesses?
The fear is that the offerings of the Casino Resort will be more desirable to the consumer than those of some locally owned businesses, and that those businesses will languish and close. While it is true that the Casino Resort’s direct competition might be hurt, other local businesses most likely would benefit from the revenue generated by the Casino Resort. According to a study conducted through Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs in 1997 1, tribal enterprises spent $865 million for supplies, equipment and services; they paid $51.3 million in federal employment/payroll-related taxes and $5.3 million in state employment/payroll-related taxes; and contributed $1 billion to the state’s overall economy.
