Abstract
This thesis employs county-level fixed-effects panel regressions (2020-2022) to test whether counties with Class III tribal casinos (with “Las Vegas style” gaming) experienced different mortality outcomes than comparable counties without tribal casinos. Two outcome measures, Covid-19 mortality per 100,000 and total mortality per 100,00, are modeled using data from CDC Wonder, the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the National Indian Gaming Commission. Baseline models include county and year fixed effects as well as vaccination coverage. Robustness checks add state fixed effects, two-way fixed effects, and exclude vaccination coverage to provide estimates using a larger sample. Unique to this research is the focus on tribal gaming and the joint use of Covid-19 and total mortality to capture direct and indirect effects of the pandemic. Results indicate that time fixed-effects models associate casino presence with lower mortality, while specifications that incorporate vaccination controls with state or two-way fixed effects yield positive associations, implying elevated exposure risks and model sensitivity. These findings suggest caution against one-size fits-all conclusions as counties and tribal governments may improve resilience by prioritizing vaccination and health investment while accounting for the economic incentives embedding in compact and revenue-distribution structures.