Despite decreased gambling revenues from January through June, Arizona’s 23 Indian casinos ended the fiscal year June 30 with a revenue increase of 1.9 percent.

All Arizonans will benefit from the tribes’ extra $38 million, giving them an annual take of $1.982 billion.

Because of the increased profits, the state received $3.8 million extra in revenue sharing from the tribes, for a total of $96 million.

That money is doled out to school districts, trauma centers, problem-gambling services, wildlife conservation and tourism promotion, as delineated by Arizona voters in the casino enabling legislation of 2002.

The tribes also will distribute another $15 million to cities or counties, as they choose.

As the bad economy continues to hit state and local governments hard, the shared Indian gaming profits bring some relief.

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