A Guide To Native American Casinos In The USA

While Nevada is famous globally, the vast majority of physical casino locations in the United States are actually located on tribal lands.


Understanding the history of these venues is crucial for understanding the modern landscape of American gambling.

How Tribal Casinos Became Legal

The modern era of tribal gaming officially began with the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988.


Under the IGRA, gaming is divided into three distinct classes, each subject to entirely different levels of state and federal regulation.

Many tribes use casino profits to build massive infrastructure projects, funding local schools, state-of-the-art hospitals, and vital housing developmentsSome tribes distribute a portion of the net gaming revenues directly to individual tribal members in the form of regular 'per capita' paymentsThe success of these resorts has completely transformed the economic reality for several formerly impoverished Native American communities
Why Tribal Slot Machines Sometimes Feel Different

A common complaint from tourists is that the slot machines in certain tribal casinos feel 'weird' or behave unexpectedly.


In a true Class III Vegas slot machine, an internal Random Number Generator determines the outcome of your spin the exact millisecond you press the button.

Machine FeatureClass III (Vegas Style)Class II (Tribal Style)Outcome DeterminationInternal RNG (Independent Event)Networked Bingo Draw (Dependent Event)Visual InterfaceReels match the exact mathReels are just 'entertainment'; look for a tiny bingo card on the screen

From the massive Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut to small bingo halls in the Midwest, tribal gaming is incredibly diverse.