EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT JASON GILES Muscogee (Creek) Nation
W elcome to beautiful Southern California! The Indian Gaming Association visits San Diego for the first time in four years and after two pandemic interrupted shows. We are excited to be in San Diego and look forward to our return in 2025. I want to thank the City of San Diego and everyone at the San Diego Convention Center for their constant attention and updates throughout these years. Their constant outreach proved invaluable to our planning and has helped make San Diego one of Indian Country’s favorite destinations. In last year’s report, I listed the challenges coming out of the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding the gaming industry. These uncertainties weighed heavily on the Association, but we made adjustments, both financially and administratively, and our advocacy work remained strong. The overriding goal during these uncertain times was to protect our number one asset, our dedicated staff working on Indian Country’s behalf in Washington, D.C. Working with the Finance Committee and Treasurer, the Association embarked on aggressive cost-saving measures over the last two years. Due to these cost-saving measures and a successful off-cycle July Tradeshow in 2021, and a strong showing in Anaheim last year, the Indian Gaming Association starts 2023 in a great position. We also hope to finish the last part of our Headquarters expansion, a state of the art “Tribal Leaders’ Lounge” in the downstairs part of Association’s building. The Lounge will be available for all of Indian Country to come and relax between meetings on Capitol Hill, or bring visitors to a little slice of Indian Country in Washington, D.C. As we begin 2023, there is a lot of legislative and regulatory work ahead with regard to Tribal tax laws, gaming regulation, and protecting our Tribal Governments from a new wave of overbearing State demands on tribal gaming. I am proud to serve Indian Gaming in a role that helps to bring
14 INDIAN GAMING - ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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