California, Oklahoma, and compacting: not an easy process

Saturday, February 24, 2024 9:57 AM
  • United States
  • California
  • Oklahoma
  • Jill R. Dorson, US Bets

When you walk into an Indian-owned casino in California, you won’t hear balls dropping onto roulette wheels or fast-paced whoops and groans at the craps tables. Rather, you’ll see a roulette-style wheel filled with cards and a far slower-paced crowd at the craps table.

Ball and dice games are not currently legal in California’s Indian casinos, so the tribes have found workarounds to offer games similar to those found in neighboring Nevada. In order to offer gambling at all, tribes in many states, including California and Oklahoma, are required to compact with their state governments.

The process is time-consuming and nuanced.