Bingo games were legal in those states but subject to restrictions on the size of the jackpot and how often games could be held. Tribes in Florida and Wisconsin tried to open high-stakes bingo games on their reservations. The growth of tribal casinos can be traced to the late 1970s, when Native American tribes began to operate bingo halls to raise funds for tribal purposes. The referendum was defeated by Maine voters by a two-to-one margin. In 2003 the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes of Maine held a successful petition drive to put a casino referendum on the November 2003 ballot. According to Harrah's Survey 2003: Profile of the American Casino Gambler, Native American casinos were the top casino destination for residents of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.Īlthough tribal casinos are being operated throughout much of the United States, they are not welcome everywhere. The NIGA reported in Indian Gaming that more than eighteen million Americans visited tribal gaming facilities in 2002. In 2003 more than two hundred tribes were engaged in gaming enterprises. These individuals belonged to more than five hundred federally recognized tribes.

This percentage is expected to continue to grow throughout the first decade of the twenty-first century.Īccording to the U.S Census conducted in 2000, more than four million people in the United States (approximately 1.5% of the total population) identify themselves as Native Americans.

Tribal casinos, therefore, had 38% of the casino market during 2003. Commercial casinos during that same year made $27 billion, as reported by the American Gaming Association (AGA) in 2004 State of the States: The AGA Survey of Casino Entertainment. Indian Gaming: Final Impact Analysis (2004), a report issued by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), reported that casinos operated by Native American tribes made $16.7 billion during 2003. Chapter 5 CASINOS, PART 3: NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL CASINOS

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