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Wind Creek Casino in Alabama, property of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, holds 1,600 electronic bingo games.  Alabama has been notoriously known as one of those states with the philosophy that “if they look like slot machines and sound like slot  machines, then they are probably slot machines.”

However, though slot machines and electronic bingo games look very similar, there is a great difference between the two devices.  Electronic bingo games are considered class II games.  Traditional casino games like poker, blackjack, roulette, and slot machines are all class III games.

Poarch Band Tribal Chairman, Buford Rolin said, “We have a class II gaming facility at present, because that is what the law allows. The governor did visit us about eight weeks ago, and admired the hotel. I didn't push it.”

Rolin is hoping that the tribe can negotiate some sort of compact or agreement with the Alabama governor allowing the tribe to usher in class III gaming. 

“Hopefully in the future we can add those games,” Rolin said.

“The not-too-distant future.”

According to PCI Gaming, the company assisting the tribe in managing their new casino, the main difference between electronic bingo games and slot machines is that slot machines are independent.   Players face off against slot machines in game of chance.  On the other hand, with electronic bingo, the games are linked in groups by computers.  This means players are competing against the computer and several other players.  Although legally there is still much debate about the difference between slot machine and electronic bingo machines.

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