Oklahoma has long been analogous with Bingo. That’s because the Indian bands of Oklahoma have run Bingo games for generations. Patrons from each of the neighboring states pile in passenger cars and travel into Oklahoma to wager on Bingo on the weekends.
The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) became law after a precedent setting ruling by The U.S. Supreme Court just the year prior. Since that instance, 23 of the thirty nine Native tribes of Oklahoma have established gaming halls. The Chickasaw were the first Oklahoma Indian tribes to take advantage of the betting laws, and at this time run ten casinos of their own. Bingo was the game on which these casinos were built on. computerized games like slot machines weren’t permitted, due to the fact that they are believed to contribute to gambling problems at a higher rate than bingo.
In the past few years, Oklahoma governing edicts has changed to allow for big Indian gaming gambling halls. You will now find Indian gambling dens with one armed bandits, video poker and black jack tables. Craps and roulette are still not allowed in the American Indian casinos as of yet, but that is only a waiting game. Nobody can authority what having other games in the bingo houses will do for the popularity of bingo.