Tribes in Montana Expand Class II Gaming

A number of tribes have decided that the negotiation of Class III or casino-style gaming compacts with the state presents difficulties that compel them to turn to Class II gaming, primarily bingo, instead. (Under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribes do not have to enter into a tribal-state compact to operate Class II games, as long as they are permitted under state law and public policy.)

For instance, faced with state obstacles to compact renewal that would expand their Class III gaming operations, tribes such as the Confederated Salish and Kootenai in Montana have considerably expanded their Class II operations. Montana ranked last in the U.S. at $15.4 million in gaming revenue in 2006. See more here in the Billings Gazette.