Arizona Department Of Gaming

ADG Reports $27.6 Million In Tribal Gaming Contributions To The State For Q3 Of Fiscal Year 2023

Mr. Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Resorts & Casinos, was named one of the top 23 diverse leaders to watch in the state by AZ Business Magazine. This prestigious recognition highlights his dedication to the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) and the booming gaming enterprise.

Mr. Manuel started as a line level worker 27 years ago and was one of the original employees of the enterprise. He worked his way up to various management positions including supervisor, manager, acting director and was appointed to the GRIC Board of Directors.

He participated in the internal mentorship program working in every department within the organization before being appointed CEO in 2017. He is the only GRIC member to hold the position of CEO. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, completed the Executive Development Program from the University of Nevada, and the General Managers Program at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration.

Gila River Resorts & Casinos currently operates three locations with a fourth casino, Santan Mountain, currently under construction and set to open in 2023.

And...wait for it...On May 5, Bingo returns to Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino in Laveen with a grand opening celebration!

For more information, visit PlayAtGila.com. $

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced $27,607,589 in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the third quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. This amount represents a 19.9% increase when compared to the same quarter of FY 2022. “The state of tribal gaming in Arizona continues to impress, with a near 20% increase in contributions to the state when compared to quarter three of FY 2022,” said Jackie Johnson, Director, ADG. “Since 2004, tribal gaming has contributed over $1.98 billion to the state and its cities, towns and counties. I look forward to seeing the [next release], which will undoubtedly see Arizona surpass a historic milestone of $2 billion in total tribal contributions.”

Bettors in Arizona wagered over $591 million on sports in January of 2023, according to a new report by the ADG. “We saw another substantial month of sports betting in Arizona to kick off 2023, with nearly $600 million wagered during January,” said Ms. Johnson. Event wagering privilege fees totaled over $2.8 million in the month, resulting in over $37 million in privilege fees collected by the state since the start of legal operations. Fantasy sports also had a strong month, with a new record of approximately $8.8 million in collected in-state entry fees and over $80 thousand in privilege fees collected by the state. Visit Gaming.AZ.gov for more information. $

Harrah’s Laughlin & Tropicana Laughlin Employees Donate $26,400 To River Fund

Employees of two Laughlin casino resorts have designated the area’s premier emergency services non-profit organization, River Fund, to receive more than $26,400 raised through volunteer efforts. The employees are members of the Caesars HERO program.

A large portion of the donation had been raised by employees in the Tropicana Laughlin ICE program. Following an acquisition that created the new Caesars Entertainment, both Harrah’s HERO and Tropicana Laughlin community volunteers agreed that River Fund should receive the donation under the new Caesars HERO banner.

During a ceremony at the Tropicana Laughlin, River Fund President/CEO Mike Conner and board chair Margaret Gabaldon accepted the donation, presented by representatives of Harrah’s Laughlin/Tropicana Laughlin management and HERO volunteers.

“Caesars Entertainment is committed to being good partners with our community,” said Jerry “Buddy” Jackson, the Harrah’s Laughlin/Tropicana Laughlin Director of Finance and a River Fund board member. “Our team members and leadership team in Laughlin recognize the efforts and great work of the River Fund to touch the lives of the members of our community that may need a helping hand and we are very pleased to be able to partner with such a positive and beneficial organization as the River Fund.”

Since its founding in 2010, River Fund has provided more than $3.3 million in emergency crisis and hardship assistance to area individuals, families and non-profit organizations. For more information, visit RiverFundInc.com. $