What is the difference between Class II and Class III gaming?
In the IGRA, Congress included the definition of Class II gaming as follows: bingo; when played in the same location as bingo – pull tabs, lotto, punch boards, tip jars, instant bingo, other games similar to bingo; and non-house banked card games authorized or not explicitly prohibited by the state in which the tribal operation is located. All other games are Class III, except for certain social or traditional forms of gaming. Class III games include, but are not limited to the following: baccarat, chemin de fer, blackjack, slot machines, and electronic or electromechanical facsimiles of any game of chance. The NIGC Office of General Counsel reviews games on request by a tribe or a game developer and issues advisory opinions on whether they are Class II or Class III.
