They are now dealing cards at several Oklahoma Indian casinos

Thursday, January 27th 2005, 10:04 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Card games including poker and blackjack became legal at some Indian casinos in Oklahoma Thursday with the publishing of federally approved agreements between the state and tribes to expand gambling.

The agreements, or compacts, are between the state and the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Comanche Nation, Miami Tribe and the Cherokee Nation.

Oklahoma voters approved a measure in November that permitted the state to compact with tribes for non-house backed card games and electronic bingo games that work more like Las Vegas slot machines. Voters also approved electronic games at three pari-mutuel horse tracks, two of which are tribally owned.

In exchange for the new games, the compacts give the state a share of the gaming profits and some oversight.