Oklahoma has long been synonymous with Bingo. That is because the Native bands of Oklahoma have operated Bingo sessions for many years. Guests from many of the nearby states pile in vans and travel into Oklahoma to wager on Bingo for the weekends.

The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was introduced after a landmark determination by The U.S. Supreme Court the year prior. Since that instance, 23 of the thirty nine American Indian tribes of Oklahoma have established bingo halls. The Chickasaw were the initial Oklahoma American Indian band to take advantage of the gambling laws, and today control 10 casinos of their own. Bingo is the game on which the above-mentioned gambling halls were founded. Electronic games such as one armed bandits weren’t allowed, owing to the fact that they are thought to contribute to gambling addiction at a higher rate than bingo.

In the past few years, Oklahoma rules have changed to allow for gigantic Native gambling gambling dens. You will now see Native gambling dens with one armed bandits, video poker and 21 tables. Craps and roulette are not yet allowed in the Indian gambling halls as of yet, but this is simply a matter of time. Nobody can say whether having other games in the bingo parlours will do for the popularity of bingo.