Bingo and Oklahoma: Two Peas in a Pod
Oklahoma has for a long time been synonymous with Bingo. That is due to the fact that the Native bands of Oklahoma have provided Bingo games for many years. Patrons from many of the neighboring states load up in vans and head over to Oklahoma to gamble on Bingo over the weekends.
The 1988 IGRA was introduced after a landmark determination by The U.S. Supreme Court the year prior. From that instance, 23 of the 39 Native tribes of Oklahoma have established gaming halls. The Chickasaw were the initial Oklahoma American Indian band to take advantage of the wagering laws, and at this time run ten gambling halls of their own. Bingo was the game on which these gambling halls were built on. Electronic games such as slot machines were not allowed, owing to the fact that they are thought to contribute to gambling problems more than bingo.
In the past few years, Oklahoma rules has changed to permit gigantic Amerindian gaming casinos. You will now discover Native gambling halls with slot machine games, video poker and twenty-one tables. Craps and roulette are not approved in the Native gambling halls yet, but this is just a waiting game. Nobody can say what having different games in the bingo parlours will do for the appeal of bingo.