Howdy-
I live near Missoula and my wife and I love to gamble. So here's the deal here in Montana. Gambling is legal so yes you have a LOT of casinos...all small ones. Reason is, the state only allows 20 machines in an establishment. So just about any of the small casinos you go to, they'll be multi-game machines. Machines that will have multiple types of games (reel, keno, etc.) all in one machine. Someone mentioned in another thread the $800 machine max. While that is true, that is the max that the machine can pay. But people win $1000....$2000 or more. I worked with a guy that worked at one of the "Lucky Lil's" casinos. So the "machine" pays $800...and then the casino will give you the rest. I THINK this also helps as you don't ever reach the IRS $1200 point where you have to claim it. Since the machine technically paid you $800 and then the rest came from them. Something like that.

As far as "big" casinos, they are tribal ones. The biggest in Montana is right near Missoula - Gray Wolf Peak. That's where we usually go. There's a little over 300 machines. These are Class 2 - they all rely on a bingo balls server. You'll even see it at the bottom of the machine from time to time. "Please wait. Fetching balls from bingo server" or something like that. No table games...just slots. They do occasionally swap out slots so there are some newer ones there. Pretty good player's club programs. Usually every two weeks you get some free play and drink/meal coupons. The same tribe also has a big one in Polson, MT. Kwataqnuk Resort and Casino. Sits right on Flathead Lake. (gorgeous!). The casino is inside the hotel, although by the end of this summer, they should have the new casino built. It'll be away from the hotel across town, but much more roomier. Kwataqnuk's new casino will also house around 300 or so machines. The casino inside the hotel tends to be crowded and a little cramped. Both casinos allow smoking. You can get alcohol as well. Plus the usual "serve yourself" soda machines. If you've ever watched Yellowstone, most of the casino shots were shot at Gray Wolf Peak...there was even a scene where the chief was going to a rally and it was at Gray Wolf Peak...they didn't even change the name or anything for the show. Plain as day.

So there's your 2 "decent size" (for Montana anyway) casinos. That's where we go for some close fun, otherwise we go to Coeur D'Alene Idaho and/or Spokane, WA.
I am not sure about the other casinos here... I know there several (like 6 maybe) other Tribal ones in other areas of the state but I've not heard much about them.

Michael in MT