- The Muscogee Nation launched the first reservation-wide mobile casino app on January 15 using GPS technology across 11 counties under existing Oklahoma law.
- Players must be 21, verify identity with ID and selfie, and collect their first jackpot in person at tribal casino locations.
- The app attracted 800 to 1,300 users initially, with all revenue supporting tribal programs, while sports betting remains unavailable.
TULSA, Okla. — The Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises activated a reservation-wide mobile gaming application on January 15, allowing users to access Class II bingo-style games through their smartphones while located anywhere within tribal land. The MNGE app represents the first implementation of geofenced mobile gaming across an entire Native American reservation in the United States.
After this debut, Oklahoma's state gambling laws have not altered. Federal Indian gaming statutes and current tribal-state gaming compacts govern the Muscogee Nation's operations. No new state legislation was needed, but the tribe did get a Class II gaming determination from the National Indian Gaming Commission and got legal opinions from their Attorney General's office and outside counsel.
The program uses geofencing technology to create a digital perimeter that corresponds to the limits of the Muscogee Nation reservation, which span eleven counties, including parts of Tulsa. Users' GPS whereabouts are continuously tracked by the system. When location services are turned off or devices leave the reservation area, gaming features automatically turn off. The geofenced area is home to almost 1.5 million people.
Registration and Operational Details
Authentication for each app session requires a password, PIN, or facial recognition scan. Initial registration involves scanning official identification and submitting a facial photograph, with age verification set at 21 years minimum. A player's first jackpot must be picked up in person at any of the Muscogee Nation's casinos in Oklahoma. However, unless the jackpot is extremely large, winnings are processed immediately after that initial verification.
The app offers between 20 and 30 Class II electronic bingo titles across different price points including penny games, five-dollar games, and ten-dollar games. What's missing are Class III options like sports betting, traditional slot machines, and table games including poker and blackjack. Sports wagering continues to be prohibited statewide in Oklahoma, and any future authorization would require new compact negotiations between tribes and the state.
Following the app's launch, 800 to 1,300 users registered, according to CEO Pat Crofts. The full amount of money made via the mobile platform is used for social programs for tribe members and governmental operations in the Muscogee Nation. According to gaming industry analysts, the Muscogee Nation is now among the best legal casinos using mobile platforms in the Native American gaming market due to its technology rollout.
The app operates through Everi's Vi platform, which includes payment processing, anti-money laundering compliance systems, and loyalty program integration.