INDIAN GAMING TRADESHOW BRINGS INDUSTRY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE
The Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention concluded on Thursday after almost a whole week of events and celebrations focused on the Indian gaming industry, its professionals, industry experts, tribal leadership, and gaming employees at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. The event drew over 7,000 attendees, record-breaking sponsorships, and sales. On Sunday, March 26, the Executive Board discussed an array of gaming and legislative issues and updates. A yearly conference favorite, the IGA golf tournament, was hosted on March 27th at the Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan Hotel and Casino. This year the Chairman’s Golf Classic is a fundraiser for the continuing support of Tribal Education in partnership with the Native Forward Scholarship Fund, which is the largest direct scholarship provider to Native students in the U.S. Golf Tournament sponsors included KeyBank, ABBIATI, TTCA, Whitehat Gaming, ICE London, Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, Sparket, IlummiNative, Novomatic, Konami, the Seneca Resorts & Casinos. At the Convention Center, a full day of conference sessions took place, focusing on topics related to Class II gaming, including the history, business, and regulation of Class II gaming. The Association
of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) and the University of Phoenix sponsored the sessions. The day concluded with a case study with the Pokagon Band Gaming Commission and the Four Winds Casino. Attendees ended the day with the official Chairman’s Welcome Reception at the House of Blues in San Diego. The reception was sponsored by WOW Lottery, BMM, AGEM, Ainsworth, RG24seven, Big Cyber, Everi, Rymax, and the Pechanga Band of Indians. Tuesday’s agenda included the IGA membership meeting; IGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. welcomed the membership by opening with his annual Industry address. He shared, “We have been through a lot these past three years. We’ve suffered loss but have done much to help each other. Indian Country and our industry have shown remarkable perseverance. Thanks to your work, I proudly report that the State of the Indian Gaming Industry is powerful.” Stevens also shared the frontline work the IGA continues to do in Washington, D.C., “The Tribal Government gaming industry’s comeback is a resounding affirmation of your work and our resilience. But you know that we cannot rest. We must do more to continue to protect and strengthen tribal sovereignty.” The Indian Gaming Association held annual elections for the
10 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - 2023 FIRST HALF EDITION
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