History
In many ways, North Dakota is the last place where you’d expect to see a thriving gambling industry. However, its low population density shouldn’t distract from the location’s rich Indian heritage, which has inspired the development of five tribal casinos in the state. But where did it all begin?
The Spirit Lake native casino in St. Michael was the first to open its doors in North Dakota in 1994.
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1977-1987
ND was relatively slow to legalize many forms of gambling in the US, with 1977 finally seeing the state legislature pass a bill to allow charitable gambling. Regulated by a five-member commission, this grants licenses on an ad-hoc basis, allowing various games like bingo and poker for the purpose of raising funds. Just 10 years later, horse and dog racing wagering was legalised in the state, with pari-mutuel gambling being permitted from 1990 onwards.
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1992 – 2004
After the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed into law, the state of ND signed its very first tribal gaming compacts in 1992. Further compacts were negotiated and agreed in 1999 and 2013, allowing for the creation of five major licensed Indian casinos and smaller gambling hubs throughout the state.
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2004 – Present
Lottery gambling was legalized back in 2002, with the first draws held less than two years later in 2004. This draw is unique in that it only participates in multi-state lotteries rather then hosting its own unique event, and at present there are no plans to create a standalone lottery that’s exclusively available to residents in ND.