This ban lasted for many years.ġ930 There was an official bill-push to legalize gambling to some extent in this year, but it fell flat and never came to pass and thus gambling remained illegal.ġ988 In 1988 laws were officially passed to allow Indian tribes to facilitate gambling operations. 1901 The McGill act was passed in 1901 as a blanket ban on all forms of gambling as it is defined by the state.