• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Professor Slots

Master casino slots. Win your way to success!

Master casino slots. Win your way to success! 
Get my Free Report Revealing…

  • ArticlesStrategies & More
    • Casinos
    • Learning
    • Reviews
    • Strategies
    • Tribal Gaming
  • State-By-StateAn Online Resource
    • Summary Article
    • Every Article
  • PodcastEpisodes
  • Consultant1-Hour, 1-to-1
  • ResourcesLearning to Win
  • AccountYour Access
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • Downloads
    • Bookings
    • Orders
    • Account details
    • Lost password

Getting to Know Common Legal Gaming Classifications

February 3, 2020 By Jon Friedl - Professor Slots

Introduction to Legal Gaming Classifications

Accepted legal gaming classifications are available to state gaming boards to restrict which class of slot machines can be used in a casino or other gaming area, specifically Class I thru III.

All 3 classifications are in limited use by states for non-tribal casino operators but are fully in use at all Indian gambling establishments.

Get My Free Report Revealing…

At this time, only Hawaii and Utah continue to prohibit all three classifications of gaming.

Keep Reading … or Watch Instead!

Or … Listen Instead!

Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Amazon Audible | Gaana | Stitcher | Pandora | iHeart Radio | Tune-In | SoundCloud | RadioPublic | Deezer | RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!

Classes I thru III (Legal Gaming Classifications).
Classes I thru III (Legal Gaming Classifications).

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)

The first federal gaming structure for Indian gaming was established in 1988 with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, enacted as a U.S. federal law. The stated purposes of the Act include:

  • Providing a legislative basis for the operation/regulation of Indian gaming
  • Protecting gaming as a means of generating revenue for the tribes
  • Encouraging economic development of these tribes
  • Protecting the enterprises from negative influences, such as organized crime

Get My Free Report Revealing…

The Act establishes three classes of games with a different regulatory scheme for each:

  • Class I
  • Class II
  • Class III

Class I Gaming

Class I gaming is defined as

  1. Traditional Indian gaming as part of tribal ceremonies and celebrations
  2. Social gaming for minimal prizes

Regulatory authority over this class of gaming falls to Tribal governments and is not otherwise subject to IGRA’s requirements.

Class I - Tribal Ceremonies (Legal Gaming Classifications).
Class I – Tribal Ceremonies (Legal Gaming Classifications).

Class II Gaming

Class II gaming is defined as the game of chance known as bingo, aided or not aided by any electronics, and other games similar to bingo if played at the same location.

It also applies to games played exclusively against another player rather than against the house or a player acting as a bank.

Get My Free Report Revealing…

Tribal governments are the primary legal entity responsible for regulating Class II games on its lands, as long as

  • The state in which the Tribe has located permits such gaming for any purpose
  • The Tribal government adopts a gaming ordinance approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission

Tribal governments are responsible for regulating class II gaming with Commission oversight. The Act specifically excludes slot machines or electronic facsimiles of any game of chance from the definition of class II games.

Class II - Bing-style gaming (Legal Gaming Classifications).
Class II – Bing-style gaming (Legal Gaming Classifications).

Class III Gaming

Class III gaming is generally referred to as casino-style gaming. It has a broad definition and includes all forms of gaming not specifically called out as Class I or II.

Games commonly played at casinos clearly fall into the Class III category, including

  • slot machines
  • blackjack
  • craps
  • roulette
  • wagering games
  • electronic facsimiles of any game of chance

Get My Free Report Revealing…

As restricted by the IGRA, before a Tribe can lawfully conduct Class III gaming, these conditions must be met:

  • The particular form of Class III gaming the Tribe wants to conduct must be permitted in the state the Tribe is located.
  • The Tribe and state must have negotiated a compact approved by the Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary must have approved regulatory procedures, a so-called Tribal-State Compact.
  • The Tribe must have adopted a Tribal gaming ordinance approved by the Chairman of the Commission.

The regulatory scheme for Class III gaming is complex, with key functions for approval authority resting with several organizations at the federal, state, Commission, and Tribal levels.

Class III - Vegas-style gaming (Legal Gaming Classifications).
Class III – Vegas-style gaming (Legal Gaming Classifications).

Summary of Legal Gaming Classifications

Accepted legal gaming classifications are available to state gaming boards to restrict which class of slot machines can be used in a casino or other gaming area, specifically Class I (tribal ceremonies), Class II (bingo), and Class III (everything else). Here’s a list of specifically-named games with their associated Class.

Get My Free Report Revealing…

All three classifications are in limited use by states for non-tribal casino operators but are fully in use at all Indian gambling establishments. At this time, only Hawaii and Utah continue to prohibit all three classifications of gaming.

Related Articles from Professor Slots

  • Common Slot Machine Casino Gambling Definitions
  • Learn How to Play Slot Machines – A Primer for Beginner Slots Players

Other Articles from Professor Slots

  • Previous: State Gaming Regulations and What You Need to Know
  • Next: 7 Advantages of Players Clubs for Playing Slots

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC

Get My Free Report Revealing…

Primary Sidebar

Book Your Consultation...

My Most Popular Articles

  1. Can You Guess Who Controls Slot Machine Odds?
  2. Online Resource: State-By-State Series
  3. Choosing Slot Machines
  4. Oklahoma Slot Machine Casino Gambling
  5. 3 Easy High Limit Slots Tricks (Winning Strategy 6)
Get My Free Report Revealing...

Podcast

Listen to Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen to gaana Listen on Spotify Listen to Stitcher Listen to Pandora Listen to iHeart Radio Listen at TuneIn Listen on SoundCloud Listen to RadioPublic Subscribe on Deezer Listen via RSS

Show Your Support

Give the Professor a Spin!

YouTube Channel

Watch on YouTube

My Book on Winning at Slots

Gambling Tools (Commissions Earned)

As featured on:

ABC27 Evening News Report
  • Articles
  • State-By-State
  • Podcast
  • Consultant
  • Resources
  • Account

Policies

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Responsible Gambling
  • Customer Service Pledge

About

  • Professor Slots
  • Jon Friedl, Ph.D.

Contact Info

Jon Friedl, LLC
707 Miamisburg-Centerville Road #305
Dayton, OH 45459 USA

Voicemail/Text:
702-90-SLOTS (702-907-5687)
Email: jon@professorslots.com

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Copyright 2016-2021, Jon Friedl, LLC

We assume that you are happy to receive all the cookies that your browser settings allow.Dismiss