Archive for January, 2026

Bingo in New Mexico

New Mexico has a complex gambling background. When the IGRA was signed by Congress in Nineteen Eighty Nine, it seemed like New Mexico might be one of the states to get on the Indian casino bandwagon. Politics assured that would not be the situation.

The New Mexico governor Bruce King announced a working group in 1990 to draft an accord with New Mexico American Indian bands. When the panel arrived at an accord with 2 important local bands a year later, the Governor declined to sign the agreement. He would hold up a deal until Nineteen Ninety Four.

When a new governor took office in 1995, it appeared that Native gambling in New Mexico was now a certainty. But when the new Governor signed the compact with the Amerindian tribes, anti-wagering groups were able to tie the contract up in the courts. A New Mexico court ruled that the Governor had out stepped his bounds in signing a deal, thus denying the government of New Mexico hundreds of thousands of dollars in licensing revenues over the next several years.

It required the Compact Negotiation Act, passed by the New Mexico legislature, to get the process moving on a full contract between the Government of New Mexico and its American Indian tribes. A decade had been burned for gaming in New Mexico, which includes Amerindian casino Bingo.

The not for profit Bingo business has gotten bigger since Nineteen Ninety-Nine. That year, New Mexico charity game operators acquired only $3,048. This number grew to $725,150 in 2000, and passed a million dollars in revenues in 2001. Non-profit Bingo revenues have grown steadily since that time. 2005 saw the greatest year, with $1,233,289 grossed by the providers.

Bingo is apparently popular in New Mexico. All kinds of providers look for a slice of the action. With hope, the politicos are done batting around gaming as an important issue like they did in the 90’s. That’s probably wishful thinking.

 

Iowa Casinos

There are numerous casinos in the state, the majority on anchored riverboats. The grandest of the Iowa gambling halls is the Meswaki Bingo Casino Hotel, an Indian gambling hall in Tama, with 127,669 sq.ft. of gambling room, 1,500 slots, thirty table games, such as 21, craps, roulette, and baccarat, and several varieties of poker; also three eatery’s, bimonthly productions, and betting classes. A further large American Indian gambling den is the Winna Vegas, with 45,000 square feet, 668 one armed bandits, and fourteen table games. Furthermore, the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs never closes, with 38,500 square feet, 1,589 one armed bandits, 36 table games, and four eatery’s. There are many other popular Iowa gambling dens, including Harrah’s Council Bluffs, with 28,250 sq.ft., 1,212 slots, and 39 table games.

A smaller Iowa casino is the Diamond Jo, a water based gambling hall in Dubuque, with 17,813 square feet, 776 slot machines, and 19 table games. The Catfish Bend Riverboat, in Fort Madison, with 13,000 sq.ft., 535 slot machines, and 14 table games. One more Iowa river based casino, The Isle of Capri, is available all day and night, with 24,939 sq.ft., 1,100 slots, and 24 table games. The Mississippi Belle II, a 10,577 square foot riverboat casino in Clinton, has 506 slot machines, 14 table games, live shows, and Thursday blackjack tournaments.

Iowa casinos provide a great amount of tax money to the commonwealth of Iowa, which has permitted the bankrolling of a good many state wide projects. Tourism has increased at a fast percentage accompanied with the requirement for companies and an increase in jobs. Iowa gambling dens have been instrumental to the advancement of the market, and the excitement for gaming in Iowa is widespread.