NIGC Reverses Stance On One-Touch Bingo Classification

The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has proposed a rule that will classify one-touch bingo as Class II gaming, reversing its previous position. One-touch bingo is a networked electronic game in which the player must only press one button to wager and play. This rule confirms that Class II Indian gaming facilities, which do not require a tribal-state gaming compact, will be able to offer machines that more closely resemble slot machines. NIGC will accept comments for 60 days before promulgating a final rule.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) defines Class II bingo as a game, played electronically or otherwise, (1) for prizes, including money prizes, (2) in which the player "covers" numbers to match numbers "drawn" by the system, and (3) in which the game is won by the first person to cover an arrangement of numbers. Existing Class II electronic bingo machines require two button presses: one to "cover" the numbers and another to wager and play. In 2008,