That stipulation led to electronic versions of the game of bingo, which eventually took the form of Class II-style slot machines, known as Bingo Games. The Class II Bingo Games would essentially be a game of bingo, with prizes drawn from the overall money wagered. Those prizes, however, would be displayed as reel results on the slot machines. On the contrary to the Class II slot machines, Class III machines can make you a big winner. To sum it up, Class II slot machines are played among some players simultaneously who battle for a single prize, while Class III machines can be played by lots of different people at different times and they all seek for the payout from a single machine. Put Stay away from Class II slot machines. This one applies specifically to the land-based world.
Slot machines seems to work on a fairly simple concept. Anyone who’s ever played one is probably quite sure that they know exactly how they work, at least on a basic level. You pull the lever or push the button and the reels spin. When the reels stop, if they land in one of a number of predetermined positions, you win something. Simple, right?
What if I told you, though, that not all slot machines work that way? Many gamblers don’t know that in the U.S. there are two different type of slot machines. They are known as class II and class III slots.
The divide between the two came about because of the U.S. federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This act establishes different classes for different types of gambling, with class II being defined as, “the game commonly known as bingo (whether or not electronic, computer, or other technological aids are used in connection therewith) and, if played in the same location as the bingo, pull tabs, punch board, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo.” Class III gaming is defined as any gaming not already labeled class I or class II.”
The basic result of this law is that in most jurisdictions where gambling is legal and regulated, you’ll find class III slots and games. In Indian casinos, however, they can only offer games based on bingo. So whether you realize it or not, if you’re playing slot machines in an Indian casino, you’re actually playing bingo.
Of course this split doesn’t refer to USA online money slots.
The Birth Of Class II Slot Machines
Class Ii Slot Machine Strategy Tactics
Originally, Indian casinos did just what the law stated. They offered bingo in large warehouse-type halls. These bingo games were generally high stakes, offering much bigger risks and rewards than typical bingo games held all over the country. Still, it was only bingo. The games just didn’t provide the excitement that many gamblers were looking for. Eventually, the Indian casinos decided that if they were going to survive and thrive they needed to find a way to recreate the real Las Vegas experience.
The Hard Rock properties operated on Seminole land in Florida worked especially hard to devise a way to bring the slot machine experience into casinos where slot machines were technically illegal. They enlisted the help of engineers who had previously worked with some of the biggest class III slot machine production companies to design a backend system that would keep them within regulations. At the same time, they needed to work with slot manufacturers to design machines that would work with their new system.
The Inner Workings Of Class II Slot Machines
Today, class II and class III slot machines look virtually identical. The giveaway that you’re playing on a class II slot machine is the presence of an LED bingo card in the corner of the screen that shows results with each spin.
The reason that little bingo card is there is because that’s what is really determining whether you win or not. You’re not actually playing a slot by yourself the way you would in a Vegas casino. You’re playing along with a pool of players, in a game of bingo.
The Vice President of Operations at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino explains how it works like this, “We have a 20-millisecond window, and anyone (in the casino) pushing the Play button during that window is put in the game for that common ball draw. It must be at least two players, but the maximum is unlimited. If it is a minimum of two, one of them gets a bingo—a winning pattern.”
So, in reality, it is the bingo draw that determines if you win, not the reels. The symbols that land on the reels are really just reporting the bingo results in a way that replicates the class III slots. They are not based on an individual random number generator unique to that machine like their class III counterparts. Now, cleverly and perfectly disguised, we have a class II game that replicates the results and experience of class III gaming.
Class II Slots Vs. Class III Slots
Some people feel that class III slots are somehow “more fair” to the player because they are standalone machines that deliver results based on their own random number generator. In reality, however, the payout percentages on both types of machines are basically identical.
The class II systems can be programmed to replicate the payout combinations and rates of any class III machine. Just like there are certain odds of any one winning combination hitting on a class III slot machine, there are certain odds of any winning combination occuring in a bingo game. The programmers can match the different bingo results with the hit rate and payout scheme of any class III slot to replicate results exactly.
The bottom line is that neither type of slot is “more fair” than the other. Players will get the same odds and payouts on both type of machines. The only difference is in how the results are determined. Think of it as two roads that both go to the same destination.
To find out more about slot machines and how they work, check our Slots Guide page. Meanwhile, here are the best online casinos to play slots. Btw, online, all slots can be considered Class 3 slot machines.
Best Online Casinos to Play Slot Machines
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Introduction to Oklahoma Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Oklahoma slot machine casino gambling consists of 131 American Indian tribal casinos, casino resorts, travel centers, and “gasinos” along with two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines.
No theoretical payout limits have been set for tribal casinos in Oklahoma. In addition, no return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Oklahoma*
The minimum legal gambling age in Oklahoma depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 18
- Poker Rooms: 18
- Bingo: 16
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
In November 2004, Oklahoma residents approved a State-Tribal Gaming Act through a referendum. This vote enacted a model tribal gaming compact allowing tribes to use new gaming machines and card games. Based on this generic model, 31 tribes negotiated state-tribal compacts with the state of Oklahoma.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Oklahoma
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Oklahoma if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s state-tribal compacts regulate tribal gaming in Oklahoma. However, the state of Oklahoma provides oversight under these compacts, which is the legal responsibility of Oklahoma’s Gaming Compliance Unit.
Based on the Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit Annual Report 2018, Oklahoma’s casinos prefer offering more Class II games due to Class III games requiring up to an extra 6% of revenue to the state.
The state also collects exclusivity fees from Class III machines. In 2015, 57% of all gaming machines in Oklahoma were Class III games.
Casinos in Oklahoma
As of mid-2019, 31 American Indian tribes operated 131 facilities offering Class III gaming through tribal-state gaming compacts with the state of Oklahoma. These locations include two racetracks offering pari-mutuel wagering and slot machines.
The largest casino in Oklahoma is also the largest casino in the world. This WinStar World Casino and Resort has 7,400 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino is Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Durant with 4,300 gaming machines.
Class Ii Slot Machines Strategies
Commercial Casinos in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has no non-tribal, commercial casinos.
Tribal Casinos in Oklahoma
The 106 largest tribal casinos in Oklahoma, including two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, are:
- 7 Clans Casinos – Chilocco Gasino in Newkirk, 106 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- 7 Clans Casinos – First Council Casino Resort in Newkirk, near the border to Kansas.
- 7 Clans Casinos – Paradise Casino in Red Rock, 82 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- 7 Clans Casinos – Perry Casino, 65 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- 7 Clans Casinos – Red Rock Gasino, 82 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Ada Gaming Center – East, 85 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Ada Gaming Center – West, 85 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Apache Casino Hotel in Lawton, 86 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Artesian Hotel Casino Spa in Sulphur, 84 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Black Gold Casino in Wilson, 112 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Border Casino in Thackerville, 124 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Buffalo Run Casino & Resort in Miami, 89 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Casino Oklahoma in Hinton, 55 miles west of Oklahoma City.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – Ft. Gibson, 80 miles east of Tulsa.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – Grove, 100 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – Ramona, 30 miles north of Tulsa.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – Roland, 175 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – Sallisaw, 160 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – South Coffeyville, 70 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – Tahlequah, 83 miles southeast of Tulsa.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – West Siloam Springs, 85 miles east of Tulsa.
- Cherokee Casino & Hotel – Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, 30 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Chickasaw Travel Stop – Davis West, 75 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Chickasaw Travel Stop – Wilson, 112 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Chisholm Trail Casino in Duncan, 79 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Broken Bow, 235 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Durant, 150 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Grant, 200 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Idabel, 240 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – McAlester, 130 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Pocola, 195 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Choctaw Casinos & Resorts – Stringtown, 163 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Cimarron Casino in Perkins, 60 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Comanche Nation Casino in Lawton, 86 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Comanche Red River Hotel Casino in Devol, 125 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Comanche Spur Casino in Eldon, 75 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Comanche Star Casino in Walters, 25 miles southeast of Lawton.
- Creek Nation Casino Bristow, 60 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
- Creek Nation Casino Eufaula, 135 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Creek Nation Casino Holdenville, 75 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
- Creek Nation Casino Muscogee, 50 miles southeast of Tulsa.
- Creek Nation Checotah Casino, 120 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Downstream Casino Resort in Quapaw, on the border of Oklahoma with Missouri and Kansas.
- Duck Creek Casino in Beggs, 35 miles south of Tulsa.
- Gold Mountain Casino in Ardmore, 100 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Gold River Casino in Anadarko, 60 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Golden Pony Casino in Okemah, 72 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Goldsby Gaming Center in Norman, 21 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Grand Casino Hotel Resort in Shawnee, 38 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Grand Lake Casino in Grove, 80 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Catoosa, on the outskirts of Tulsa.
- High Winds Casino in Miami, 89 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Indigo Sky Casino & Resort in Wyandotte, 90 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
- Ioway Casino in Chandler, 40 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
- Kickapoo Casino Harrah, 31 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Kickapoo Casino Shawnee, 38 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Kiowa Casino Carnegie, 94 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Kiowa Casino Hotel Red River in Devol, 125 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Kiowa Casino Verden, 57 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Lucky Star Casino Canton, 60 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
- Lucky Star Casino Clinton, 85 miles west of Oklahoma City.
- Lucky Star Casino Concho, 35 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
- Lucky Star Casino Concho Travel Center, 35 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
- Lucky Star Casino Hammon, 120 miles west of Oklahoma City.
- Lucky Star Casino Watonga, 70 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
- Lucky Turtle Casino in Wyandotte, 90 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
- Madill Gaming Center in Madill, 122 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Native Lights Casino in Newkirk, 106 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Newcastle Casino in Newcastle, 19 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Okemah Casino, 72 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- One Fire Casino in Okmulgee, 45 miles south of Tulsa.
- Osage Casino Hotel Bartlesville, 50 miles north of Tulsa.
- Osage Casino Hotel Hominy, 44 miles northwest of Tulsa.
- Osage Casino Hotel Pawhuska, on the outskirts of Tulsa.
- Osage Casino Hotel Ponca City, 50 miles northwest of Tulsa.
- Osage Casino Hotel Sand Springs, on the outskirts of Tulsa.
- Osage Casino Hotel Skiatook, 17 miles north of Tulsa.
- Prairie Moon Casino in Miami, 89 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Prairie Sun Casino in Miami, 89 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Quapaw Casino in Miami, 89 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Remington Park Racing Casino in Oklahoma City.
- River Bend Casino Hotel in Wyandotte, 90 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa.
- Rivermist Casino in Konowa, 75 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Riverwind Casino in Norman, 12 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Sac and Fox Nation Casino in Stroud, 60 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
- Saltcreek Casino in Pocasset, 50 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
- Seminole Nation Casinos – Seminole Nation Casino in Konawa, 60 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.
- Seminole Nation Casinos – Trading Post Casino in Wewoka, 60 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Southwind Casino Braman, 106 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Southwind Casino Kanza in Braman, 106 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Southwind Casino Newkirk, 106 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- The Stables Casino in Miami, 89 miles northeast of Tulsa.
- Stone Wolf Casino in Pawnee, 106 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, 55 miles west of Oklahoma City.
- Texoma Casino in Kingston, 130 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- The Black Hawk Casino in Shawnee, 40 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Thunderbird Casino Norman, 21 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Thunderbird Casino Shawnee, 38 miles east of Oklahoma City.
- Tonkawa Gasino, 91 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Tonkawa Hotel & Casino, 91 miles north of Oklahoma City.
- Trading Post Casino Pawnee, 57 miles northwest of Tulsa.
- Treasure Valley Casino & Hotel in Davis, 75 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- Washita Casino in Paoli, 52 miles south of Oklahoma City.
- WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, 124 miles south of Oklahoma City.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Oklahoma slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Oklahoma is:
- North: Colorado Slots and Kansas Slots
- East: Arkansas Slots and Missouri Slots
- South: Texas Slots
- West: New Mexico Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Oklahoma.
Our Oklahoma Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Oklahoma? If so, join our new Oklahoma slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Oklahoma. Join us!
Payout Returns in Oklahoma
No theoretical payout limits are legally set by Oklahoma’s state-tribal compacts. Further, no return statistics are publicly available.
Summary of Oklahoma Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Oklahoma slot machine casino gambling consists of over a hundred tribal facilities with electronic gaming machines existing as casino resorts, casinos, convenience stores, travel centers, bingo halls, and more.
Gaming regulations come from a generic tribal-state compact, used by 31 tribes in Oklahoma to legalize Class II bingo-style and Class III Las Vegas-style gaming. It does not include theoretical payout limits nor require that tribes make return statistics publicly available.
Annual Progress in Oklahoma Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, Bordertown Casino and Arena closed when the Eastern Shawnee Tribe decided to reassess its business plans and close the facility in December 2019. Also, the Texoma Gaming Center in Kingston became the Texoma Casino.
In early 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt of the State of Oklahoma demanded the state’s tribes update their tribal-state compacts. At issue was an attempt to improve the state’s gaming revenue by increasing income from exclusivity payments for monopoly casino rights. Ultimately, Oklahoma’s tribes united against the Governor, resolving the “bitter feud.”
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Ohio Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Oregon Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC