Bone Games, Bingo, and Casinos: Thinking About Gambling Through an Indigenous Lens

Bone Games, Bingo, and Casinos: Thinking About Gambling Through an Indigenous Lens

Recently I saw an announcement for the Suquamish Renewal Coastal Jam & Powwow that will take place partly at the Clearwater Casino Resort.

That made me pause.

Like many people exploring Indigenous traditions and ancestry, I sometimes find myself feeling conflicted about gambling. I dislike casinos and the modern gambling industry, yet I also know that games of chance have existed in Indigenous cultures for centuries.

In fact, family stories say that my great-great-great grandmother, Mary Ann Maranda dit Le Frise, was very skilled at the Bone Game.

That makes the conversation more personal.

Traditional Games Were Not the Same as Casinos

The Bone Game is an ancient Indigenous guessing game played across many regions of North America. It involves two teams, hidden bones or sticks, drumming, singing, and intense observation. Skilled players learn to read body language and anticipate their opponents.

Yes, sometimes people wagered items during the game. But historically these wagers were often things like blankets, food, tools, or horses. The game was also social and ceremonial. It brought communities together through music, laughter, and competition.

It was very different from modern gambling systems built around profit.

Colonization Changed the Story

Ironically, colonial governments often tried to suppress Indigenous cultural practices. Ceremonies such as the Potlatch were banned for decades under the Indian Act.

Traditional games were sometimes discouraged or outlawed as well.

At the same time, other forms of gambling gradually became normalized in colonial society. Churches and community organizations introduced games like bingo as social events and fundraisers. Many children encountered bingo in schools, youth clubs, and church halls.

Later, governments themselves began operating lotteries through organizations like the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

So the message became confusing: traditional games were restricted, yet state-run gambling was promoted.

Why Some Tribes Operate Casinos Today

For many Indigenous nations, casinos eventually became one of the few economic tools available for generating revenue and supporting their communities.

Casinos can fund:

• healthcare services
• housing programs
• education and scholarships
• language and cultural revitalization.

For some nations, these businesses provide a degree of economic independence after centuries of economic restrictions.

Still, not everyone feels comfortable with gambling culture, even within Indigenous communities.

A Personal Reflection

My ancestor being known as a strong Bone Game player reminds me that Indigenous cultures were never static or simplistic. Communities played games, competed, laughed, and gathered together.

But it also reminds me that there is a difference between traditional social games and modern commercial gambling industries.

It is possible to respect the cultural traditions while still questioning the systems that exist today.

Exploring family history sometimes raises complicated questions. But those questions are important. They help us understand how traditions evolved and how colonial systems reshaped them.

And sometimes they remind us that our ancestors were far more complex and interesting than history books ever recorded.