Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star 2006

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Contributions to the state from Indian gaming operations dropped 9.5 percent in the past three months compared with a year ago, the Arizona Gaming Department announced today.

It's the third straight quarter the Gaming Department has reported a decrease in year-over-year contributions and the largest decline since 2003, when the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact went into effect, said Seena Simon, a Gaming Department spokeswoman.

Arizona's tribes contributed $25 million for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, which is down from $27.6 million in the same quarter the previous year, the Gaming Department said.

The decline in contributions indicates decreasing revenue in the state's gaming operations.

Tribal and gaming officials have said the slumping economy has led people to spend less on gambling.

Under the state gaming compact tribal casinos give 1 percent to 8 percent of their revenue from certain gambling activities to the state, with the contribution calculated on a sliding scale. The funds are used for education, trauma care, wildlife conservation, tourism promotion and other services.