Oklahoma tribes drive $23.4 billion to state, study shows

First American tribal nations in Oklahoma contributed $23.4 billion to the state’s economy in 2023, according to Business Wire. The report, commissioned by United for Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, was released Wednesday.

The study found that tribes directly employed more than 55,600 Oklahomans and supported a total of 139,860 jobs, generating $7.8 billion in wages and benefits. They spent $582 million on health services and provided $351 million for education, including $208 million in gaming exclusivity fees. Kyle Dean, professor of economics and director of the Center for Native American and Urban Studies at Oklahoma City University, analyzed data from 19 tribal nations. “Tribal nations serve as a significant economic force, consistently contributing to the state’s economy with increasingly transformative impact,” Dean was quoted as saying.