Gaming age raised to 21

Friday, June 3, 2005 | 9:51 a.m.

TULSA, Okla. -- Gamblers now must be 21 to enter the gaming portions of the Cherokee Nation's casinos in the state.

The Tahlequah-based tribe raised the age limit from 18 after the five-member Cherokee Nation Enterprises board voted for the change in May. The new limit took effect Wednesday at all Cherokee Nation-owned facilities, including the flagship operation in the Tulsa suburb of Catoosa and major casinos in Roland and West Siloam Springs.

Tribal spokesman Mike Miller said that increasing the age to gamble made good business sense.

"We've grown up a bit out here in Catoosa," Miller said. "As such, we looked at industry standards, especially in Las Vegas, and decided we wanted to adhere to those standards."

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