Oklahoma has for a long time been interrelated with Bingo. That is because the American Indian tribes of Oklahoma have run Bingo games for years. Patrons from all of the neighboring states pile in autos and visit Oklahoma to play Bingo for the weekends.
The 1988 (IGRA) Indian Gaming Regulatory Act became law after a precedent setting decision by The U.S. Supreme Court just the year before. Since that time, twenty three of the thirty nine Indian bands of Oklahoma have opened gaming halls. The Chickasaw were the first Oklahoma Native band to take advantage of the gambling rules, and today control 10 casinos of their very own. Bingo is the game on which these gambling dens were founded. computerized games such as one armed bandits were not allowed, due to the fact that they are believed to contribute to gambling addiction more than bingo.
In the past few years, Oklahoma rules have altered to allow for gigantic Native wagering casinos. You will now see American Indian gambling halls with slot machine games, video poker and twenty-one tables. Craps and roulette are still not approved in the American Indian casinos as of yet, although that is only a waiting game. No one can say with whether having different casino games in the bingo parlors will do for the popularity of bingo.