Tribal gaming CFOs say they’re optimistic about 2023
In January, Wipfli surveyed CFOs from more than 20 prominent tribal casinos to gauge their outlook for 2023. Here’s the good news:
Tribal casinos are financially stable
Over 70% of tribal casino CFOs say their financial stability is much higher today than it was five years ago. None reported deterioration.
With record revenues of over $39 billion reported by the National Indian Gaming Commission in fiscal year 2021, and revenue expected to be even higher for 2022, it’s likely that financial stability is stronger than pre-pandemic. This means that tribes are investing in their facilities and not transferring all the profits back to the tribal governments. Investments that have led to stronger financial stability include investments in technology, paying down debt and keeping larger cash reserves on hand.
Revenue is expected to rise
Despite inflation and rising costs, the majority of CFOs expect revenue to increase in 2023. By how much? Two-thirds of CFOs think revenue could rise between 1% and 10%.
With a lot of unknowns going into 2023, it’s great news that CFOs expect a continued increase of revenue in 2023. This will help offset inflation from 2022, as casinos cannot simply raise prices like many other businesses have done to combat inflation.
Concerns are relatively minor
CFOs are trying to fund bold futures in a wild macroeconomic environment. Yet they reported few major concerns. The ongoing talent war and rising labor expenses are their biggest worries. Cybersecurity may have ranked as a moderate concern in the survey, but once a breach occurs, it becomes a high concern, so ensuring proactive actions to address cybersecurity are critical. Otherwise, for the most part, CFOs feel prepared for the challenges ahead.
Most CFOs are optimistic
More than half of tribal gaming CFOs are at least somewhat optimistic about 2023. About a third are neutral about their business outlook.
What’s in their favor? Record-high revenue from the past two years that can help them overcome pricing hikes and labor shortages. The right incentives and marketing offers continue to draw guests in. And casinos still have efficiencies to gain through supplier agreements and technology.
Wipfli can help tribal casino CFOs win in 2023
Our team of tribal gaming specialists is optimistic about your future, too. We’re here to help you increase revenue and mitigate compliance and business risks. From financial solutions and digital transformation to strategy and cybersecurity, we can help.
Learn more about our tribal gaming services.
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