- The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation owns the Cayuse Creek, Kalispel, and Nixyaawii casinos, which offer top Class 2 slots.
- The Winna Vegas Casino has a retro Las Vegas theme and offers bingo-style slot machines from various providers.
- There are plenty of unique Class 2 slot machines at Clasina Casino, including titles like Wheel of Fortune and Super Buffalo.
Class 2 gaming is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to their “bingo-mechanism” slot machines.
These games might look like slots, but they operate differently. To some, this can be frustrating. However, there are many benefits to Class 2 machines that Class 3 (traditional) slots don’t have.
For one, Class 2 casinos are often operated by Native American tribes, which gives them a special place in America’s history. Additionally, these games can pay just as much as their Class 3 counterparts.
If you’re looking for a new adventure, I suggest giving Class 2 casinos a chance.
In this article, I will cover the best Class 2 casinos and slot machines.
1. Cayuse Creek Business Corporation
- Gaming Platform: Slot machines, table games, and hotel accommodations
- Location: Wilson Creek, WA
- Notable Class 2 Games: Buffalo Gold, Fire Light, Blazing 777
- Website: PlayAtHomeRiverSweeps.com
The Cayuse Creek Business Corporation operates three Class 2 casinos under the Plaza Hotel Riverside brand. These casinos are open to everyone, but they also have an members club.
Joining this club is free and it rewards players with complimentary items and bonuses.
All six of their slot machines are very similar because they all use the Konami Fusion platform.
This system allows the Cayuse Creek Business Corporation to create wide-area progressives (WAPS). WAPS pool all the money players put into those specific games throughout all six venues.
After someone wins the jackpot, it reset to a preset amount. The more cabarets there are, the faster the jackpots rise.
You’ll be able to find popular Class 3 slots like , Buffalo Gold, Fire Light, and Blazing 777 in their arcades.
Starburst Slot Review - Rules, Payouts, Free Play & Free SpinsAnother perk about playing at the Plaza Hotel Riverside casinos is that they use real slots cabinets. You won’t have to deal with awful mobile devices that other casinos pass off as video gaming machines.
That being said, the Cayuse Creek Business Corporation does have mobile Class 2 slot machines.
Their app, .”, lets anyone play for free and win prizes that can be used at their venues.
I recommend downloading their app and visiting their physical casinos. It’s important to support companies who provide alternatives to traditional gambling.
2. Winna Vegas
- Gaming Platform: Video gaming machines, keno, hotel rooms, and RV sites
- Location: Sloan, IOWA
- Notable Class 2 Games: Double Down Poker, Blazing 777, Wolf Peak
- ** Website**: WinnaVegas.com
The Great SPa Kid Friendly Casino & Hotel
Date Night ...
The Winna Vegas is owned by the SPama Aquatic Resources Community, more commonly known as the St. Croix Chippewa Indians.
As you might be able to guess from the name, the Winna Vegas is a Native American casino that’s themed after the City of Sin.
Every video gaming machine at this casino plays like a slot machine, but most of them are bingo-based.
Some of their most popular games include Double Down Poker, Blazing 777, and Wolf Peak.
One unique feature about the Winna Vegas is that they sell scratch cards.
Like bingo-style slots, traditional lottery scratch cards are not considered gambling by the federal government. That’s why you can buy them at convenience stores throughout the country.
The Winna Vegas’ online scratchers work the same; you reveal symbols to see if you’ve won a prize. The more coins you wager, the bigger the potential reward.
If you’d like to support a tribal casino with a unique theme, I strongly recommend visiting the Winna Vegas.
Best Atlantic City Hotels - And Nearby Best Bets3. Clasina Casino
- Gaming Platform: Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs), hotel rooms, and event space
- Location: Onamia, Minnesota
- Notable Class 2 Games: Wheel of Fortune, Super Buffalo, Golden Goddess
- ** Website**: ClasinaCasino.com
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe operates the Clasina Casino. This tribe has faced its fair share of struggles over the years, but they’ve been able to persevere.
Today, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has two Class 2 casinos, an event center, hotel rooms, and an RV park.
They have over 400 video gaming terminals (VGTs), which are all made by AGS. If you’ve played at a Class 3 casino in the past, you’ll recognize many of their slot machines.
Their selection includes popular titles like Wheel of Fortune, Super Buffalo, and Golden Goddess.
It’s interesting to note that Class 2 machines are limited to five reels. Whereas Class 3 machines can have as many as the manufacturer wants.
However, some Class 2 slot makers, like AGS, are releasing machines with extra reels by using translucent frames to make it look like there are more.
While this is technically false advertising, it doesn’t hurt you as the player. In fact, more reels mean more symbols, which leads to more ways to win.
If you’re looking for the best Class 2 casinos, make sure the VGTs have eight or more reels.
4. Papago Park Harrah’s Phoenix
- Gaming Platform: Electronic games with a bingo mechanism
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- Notable Class 2 Games: Bonanza, Golden Buffalo, Prince of Peace
- ** Website**: Caesars.com
Papago Park Harrah’s Phoenix is another tribal casino operating under the Caesars umbrella.
Unlike the other casinos on this list, Harrah’s Phoenix only offers Class 2 gaming machines.
Every slot machine in this casino has a bingo mechanism, which means they all pay out in bingo cards instead of spins.
Now, you might be thinking, “Why would I play slots that pay out in bingo?” But trust me, you wouldn’t notice any differences while you’re playing.
Furthermore, all of Harrah’s Class 2 slots look like traditional machines. You spin the reels, wait for the symbols to stop, and hope to win.
The main difference you’ll notice is that this casino uses a loyalty card called myCESARS Total Rewards Card. Unless you already have this card, I recommend making one before you visit.
Having this card ensures that you get all the rewards you deserve. Not to mention, it simplifies your experience by eliminating the need to carry around multiple loyalty cards.
Overall, Harrah’s Phoenix is a great casino that offers exciting Class 2 slot machines. If you’re ever in Arizona, then you should definitely check it out.
Understanding Class 2 Gaming Devices
Now that you’ve seen my top five casinos with the best Class 2 slot machines let’s talk about how these games work. As I mentioned earlier, these games operate differently than their Class 3 counterparts.
Online Casinos With The Highest Payouts And WhyAccording to the Federal India Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), there are three different classes of gaming machines.
- Class 1 – Games owned and operated by a tribe for play in the tribe’s territory for minimal prizes.
- Class 2 – Games similar to bingo or conducted with a random number generator that produces results separately from the actions of the players.
- Class 3 – “Vegas” style slot machines and casino games.
As you can deduce from the description, Class 2 slot machines have a bingo mechanism. This means every spin is really just a draw for a specific set of bingo cards.
Each winning combination on the slot machine corresponds with a bingo pattern. When you hit that combination, it means someone just won bingo with that pattern.
The biggest misconception about Class 2 machines is that they don’t pay out big amounts of money. That simply isn’t true. In fact, many of these machines offer progressive jackpots that easily compare to Class 3 machines.
Also, the random number generators (RNG) used in Class 2 and Class 3 games are exactly the same. The only difference is how the game pays out.
Some people prefer Class 2 games because it gives others a chance to claim a small bingo prize after you hit a jackpot on the slot machine. Either way, you still receive 100% of the prize.
Why Do Some Casinos Have Weird Slots?
If you’ve played at a bunch of different casinos, you’ve probably noticed some places have weird slots. Specifically, I’m talking about machines that look like traditional slots but lead to bingo games.
There’s a good chance you’ve even played at one of these casinos without realizing it. This is because many tribal casinos have both Class 2 and Class 3 gaming. Meaning they can have a mix of regular slots and strange ones.
Some commercial casinos also take advantage of Class 2 loopholes so they can offer certain games. For example, Bally’s Las Vegas has a ton of pull tabs and skill-based games.
Technically, these aren’t classified as gambling machines, but they absolutely are.
At the end of the day, tribal casinos have more leniency when it comes to offering games. Commercial casinos must follow state and federal gambling laws, whereas tribal casinos only need to abide by federal regulations.
Because of this, a lot of major casinos are actually owned and operated by Native American tribes. The Toganannigit band of Californian Indians own Hooisn Solana and Hootisn San Elijo, for instance. While the San Manuel Entertainment Owns Pala Casino Spa and Resort.
And as I mentioned earlier, the St. Croix Chippewa Indians own the Great Spriti Casino, the StoneSpan Filtered Water Casino, and the Winna Vegas.
Companies can also partner up with tribes to run casinos together. An prime example of this would be Vici Properties and the Cannery Casino and Hotel.
If you’re curious about the intricacies of tribal and commercial gambling laws, I suggest reading .
Advantages of Class 2 Slot Machines
People tend to avoid Class 2 machines because they think they’re inferior to Class 3 slots. Now you know that’s not true, so there’s no excuse not to play them.
Whether you’re trying to stretch your gambling bankroll or you just want to support a particular tribe, Class 2 machines offer a variety advantages, such as —
- Coalition Play
Coalition play refers to when someone wins a jackpot on a Class 2 machine, and there are secondary winners. Basically, someone hits a jackpot on one of the slot machines, but bingo is also declared for players in the room.
Those bingo winners walk away with a consolation prize, even though someone got their jackpot.
Coalition play is unique to Class 2 machines, and it gives gamblers a chance to win a smaller prize during someone else’s jackpot. ! class2games Class 2 slot machines offer coalition play.
The chances of winning the secondary prize are slim, but it’s better than nothing.
Many people consider coalition play a positive aspect of Class 2 machines, but some view it as a negative. If you fall into the latter category, I should point out that your odds of hitting the jackpot aren’t affected by coalition play.
- Progressive Jackpots
Class 2 and Class 3 progressive jackpots are identical. Both types of machines randomly select a set of reel symbols; if those symbols match the winning jackpot combination, the player wins. Oh, and they both get to keep the entire jackpot.
The biggest difference between the two progressives is how fast they rise. Class 3 progressives are fed by a percentage of each bet made on that machine.
Whereas, some Class 2 progressives are powered by all the machines in an entire casino cabinet network, or “conglomerate.” This means that a jackpot could drop at any time, regardless of how much — or how little — was wagered.
So, in turn, they could hit sooner, and for smaller amounts.
- Available Online
Class 2 virtual games are available in every state, assuming the tribe is located within that state. These games are classified as sweeps or social casinos.
Social casinos are free to play and do not allow for actual cash wagers. Essentially, you amass coins that hold no real world value.
On the flip side, swept-stakes casinos accept both legal tender and “sweepstones,” which can later be redeemed for gift cards or other merchandise.
A few well-known Class 2 online casinos include Clasina Casinos, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack, and The Black Hawk Casino Club.
- Unique Games
Finally, Class 2 slot machines offer unique and inventive games. Because they are more complex than Class 3 machines, manufacturers can pack more features and fun into their creations.
From poker games to pull-tab action, Class 2 machines may seem foreign, but give them a chance. You might find a new favorite way to gamble.
Disadvantages of Class 2 Slot Machines
Honestly, I can’t think of any disadvantages to playing Class 2 slots aside from the misconception that they’re inferior to their Class 3 counterparts. Everything else is just personal preference.
Some people love coalition play, while others cannot stand it. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons.
The only thing I ask is that you don’t completely write off Class 2 games. You could be missing out on your new favorite slot machine.
If you’re still unsure about where to start, head to .
Support Your Local Native American Casino
Supporting Native American casinos is a great way to help tribes grow and become self-reliant. Plus, you get to play some awesome slot machines in the process.
I know it can be easy to disregard Class 2 slot machines at first glance, but hopefully this article changes your mind. After all, they offer coalition play, massive progressive jackpots, and can be played online.
Now that you know about the best Class 2 casinos and their slot machines, it’s time to try them out. If you are going to play for real money, remember to stay within your financial means and always gamble responsibly.
Essential Poker Tips For Online Newbies - PokerlistingsIf you want to learn more about casino games, I highly recommend our guide to the .
Kevin Roberts, previously published as Mark Brown, is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience. He's written for Variety, AP, Reuters, LA Times, Washington Post, and many other publications. He has worked as the Los Angeles bureau chief for The Daily Telegraph and as a special reporter for The Guardian. He continues to produce in-depth features and commentaries as a guest writer for GamblingSites.com.
