03.16
Bingo in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has long been synonymous with Bingo. This is owing to the fact that the Indian tribes of Oklahoma have run Bingo sessions for decades. Patrons from many of the neighboring states pile in autos and head over to Oklahoma to bet on Bingo on the weekends.
The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) followed a landmark decision by The U.S. Supreme Court the year before. From that time, 23 of the 39 Indian bands located in Oklahoma have established gaming halls. The Chickasaw were the initial Oklahoma Native band to take advantage of the wagering restrictions, and today control 10 gambling halls of their very own. Bingo was the game on which these gambling halls were founded. computerized games like slot machines were not approved, since they are believed to contribute to gambling addiction at a higher rate than bingo.
In the past few years, Oklahoma governing edicts have changed to permit large American Indian gambling gambling halls. You’ll now find Native gambling dens with one armed bandits, video poker and chemin de fer tables. Craps and roulette are not yet approved in the Native gambling dens yet, although that is simply a waiting game. No one can determine whether having other casino games in the bingo parlors will do for the draw of bingo.