09.13
Bingo and Oklahoma: Two Peas in a Pod
Oklahoma has for a long time been synonymous with Bingo. That’s because the Native bands of Oklahoma have provided Bingo sessions for generations. Guests from all of the neighboring states load up in cars and visit Oklahoma to play Bingo over the weekends.
The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was introduced after a precedent setting decision by The U.S. Supreme Court just the year prior. Since that time, twenty three of the thirty nine American Indian bands of Oklahoma have introduced bingo halls. The Chickasaw were the initial Oklahoma Native tribes to take advantage of the wagering restrictions, and today operate ten casinos of their own. Bingo is the game on which the above-mentioned gambling dens were built on. automated games such as one armed bandits weren’t permitted, since they’re believed to lead to gambling problems at a higher rate than bingo.
In recent years, Oklahoma governing edicts have altered to allow for massive Amerindian betting casinos. You’ll now find American Indian gambling halls with slot machines, video poker and black jack tables. Craps and roulette are not yet allowed in the Amerindian casinos as of yet, but that is just a waiting game. No one can authority whether having other games in the bingo parlours will do for the popularity of bingo.