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Tribal Gambling has Roots

LARAMIE, Wyoming – As reported by the Casper Star Tribune: "American Indian casinos have been called 'the new buffalo' because of the economic independence they bring to impoverished tribes. But gambling is not new to Indian culture.

"Shared games of competition, with material consequences, have great social and ceremonial significance to most North American Indian tribes.

"'Traditional Indian gaming is part of the Arapaho culture,' said William C'Hair of the Arapaho Language and Culture Commission

"Games can also involve bets.

"'When one side no longer has any need for something that the other side wants, they wager it' C'Hair said. 'The other side matches it with something of equal value. After the game, the winner gets the articles.'

"…There were many more games of skill that incorporated betting, including foot races, broad jumps, high jumps, shinny, stick tossing, horse polo, mock kick battles, foot ball games, snow snake, and double ball.

"Upon contact with white men, Indian people adapted other games of chance. In the Southwest, the Apache made cards from bark or untanned deerskin and played Spanish monte, which is also known as three-card monte or three-card stud…"

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