Oklahoma has long been synonymous with Bingo. This is owing to the fact that the American Indian bands of Oklahoma have operated Bingo sessions for many years. Patrons from each of the surrounding states pile in trucks and travel to Oklahoma to wager on Bingo over the weekends.
The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act followed a landmark decision by The U.S. Supreme Court just the year prior. From that instance, twenty three of the thirty nine Indian bands of Oklahoma have established gambling halls. The Chickasaw were the 1st Oklahoma American Indian band to take advantage of the wagering restrictions, and at this time operate 10 gambling dens of their own. Bingo was the game on which these casinos were founded. Electronic games like slot machines were not authorized, due to the fact that they are thought to contribute to gambling dependency more than bingo.
In the past few years, Oklahoma governing edicts has altered to permit large Amerindian betting casinos. You will now find Native gambling halls with slot machine games, video poker and chemin de fer tables. Craps and roulette are not yet approved in the American Indian gambling dens yet, however that is simply a matter of time. No one can say what having other casino games in the bingo parlors will do for the draw of bingo.