Do All Native American Casinos Charge for Alcoholic Drinks?

I recently went to a casino run by Native Americans. They charged me for a beer, even though I was gambling. Is this customary at all Native American casinos? In Las Vegas, there’s no charge as long as I am gambling.

Yes, you don't get charged for drinks in most places in Las Vegas, but the gambling city isn't a nation or among the "500 Nations" that constitute Native American sovereignty (574 recognized tribes, to be exact).

The vast majority of tribal casinos operating in 28 states sell alcohol. Some don't. In order for them to sell alcohol, most compacts with states require them to apply for liquor licenses. And most of those licenses prohibit giving away alcohol for any reason.

The tribes can, if they're so inclined, try to negotiate a different set of rules to govern alcohol in their casinos. But most aren't inclined to do so. First, why give it away when people will pay for it? The only reason we can see is it's a legacy from the old days, though even in Vegas, the casinos are making inroads into rescinding that policy.

Second, some Native casinos won't serve alcohol at all, in recognition of the affliction of alcoholism in Native populations. In order to limit the exposure of their own members to alcohol, they opt out of the business altogether.

But it's safe to say that if you're in a Native casino, even if you're gambling, you'll be paying for your booze.

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[email protected] Aug-05-2023

Free Booze in LA

All Louisiana's casinos offer comped drinks to players, as do (based on card tier) Florida's tribes.

CLIFFORD Aug-05-2023

pop coffee tea

FREE self-serve at ones I have been to + no smoking.  Me thinks this is a better deal than Lost Wages?

siwst852 Aug-05-2023

No free boozein FL

 	[email protected] you are mistaken I am an Icon with Unity/Hardrock and I pay for alcohol. In fact a glass of wine was a ridiculous $16 at the bar. Only $8 on the floor. VP was also min.$1 ugh

[email protected] Aug-05-2023

Liquor Sales

It's pretty safe to say that you can expect to pay for everything that they can think of to bill for at a tribal casino.

Ray Aug-05-2023

kind of an arrogant thought

The way the question is worded you would think that drinking for free was a right that you have because you gamble. It's not just tribal casinos. It's illegal in both Illinois and Indiana to not charge for alcoholic drinks. And there are no tribal casinos in Illinois.

Larry Meginnis Aug-05-2023

Western NY

Seneca Niagara and Seneca Allegany near Buffalo NY both have free drinks.

Larry Stone Aug-05-2023

connecticut

foxwoods and mohegan sun in ct have free drinks

AZmaddog Aug-05-2023

Illinois, Indiana, and Arizona

Ray is correct on the liquor policy in the Illinois and Indiana casinos. I'll add the fact that a customer cannot pay for alcohol using his/her comp account, even with a meal.   All casinos in Arizona are Native American.  There are no free drinks, but you can pay for them off of the comp account.

RichM Aug-05-2023

Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina

Ohio and Indiana don't allow casinos -- as a general rule -- to give free drinks on the floor or allow people to use comp dollars or even discretionary comps to buy them at restaurants or bars. But, they can give free drinks at events and can provide wrist bands for attendees to have free drinks at casino floor bars for the duration of such defined events. Rising Star just has one of those events a couple of weeks ago.

Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina doesn't give free drinks on the floor, even for Seven Stars, but they do allow people to use comp dollars and discretionary comps to pay for them at restaurants and at bars on the casino floor. The Laurel Lounge bar gives Seven Stars members a discount. Cherokee is permitted to give free drinks at events (no idea if they're allowed to give wrist bands during events for free drinks on the floor -- I've never seen them do that).

RichM Aug-05-2023

OH, IN and NC

Ohio and Indiana don't have tribal casinos (one is tribal-owned, but isn't on tribal land, so it follows the same laws as non-tribal casinos).

Harrah's Cherokee is owned by a Cherokee tribe.

Gill Strand Aug-05-2023

Read [email protected] comment. Does that mean that MGM Resorts now owns all Tribal Casinos?😊

[email protected] Aug-05-2023

Seminole's Black X Card.

siwst852,over the past few years, as being Wild Card Elite, Black X Card got you comped drinks on the floor, as well as both X & Elite, in the Private Elite High Limit slot area, X Card's get Top Shelf Comped drinks in X VIP Lounge, next to private slot room.  Also their Tampa property, has lounges for both X & Elite.

Kenneth Aug-05-2023

NM Casinos

NM casinos neither serve or allow ANY alcohol on the gaming floor - this includes tribal

David Miller Aug-05-2023

I Would Ask

 As a suggestion - if going to a casino that is not in Vegas, before ordering a drink I would (and do) ask if there is a charge for the drink if I am playing a game. This simple act can and would amswer your question.

Donzack Aug-05-2023

Tax and casino income

I’d like to see the tax revenue on all the liquor sales in states saying comping liquor is illegal in their state. And after the law was passed while a smile,nod and wink were exchanged between casino corporations and lawmakers, I’d like to know the liquor income for the corporations. They could at least discount the drinks.

Question of the Day - 05 August 2023

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