Many new state-of-the-art products and services will be showcased at the upcoming Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention held April 8-11 in Anaheim, CA. Here we highlight some of the most innovative companies exhibiting, and the products/services they offer.
Bergman Walls & Associates
John Hinton, Principal / Director of Native American Projects
bwaltd.com
IGA Booth #1508
SPOTLIGHT: Who says small properties cannot be fun, exciting, and even educational for patrons? For the Elwha River Casino in Port Angeles, WA, BWA’s 12,000 sq. ft. expansion project doubles the venue’s size, with an expanded gaming area, new entertainment, and outdoor dining.
The expansion area was limited, so flexibility was key. Spaces were programmed to provide multiple functions and ease of adaptability – something we are also seeing in larger facilities to help manage budget and maximize space engagement. The Elwha property features a new 2,000 sq. ft. multi-function restaurant and lounge space that includes a platform for live entertainment and dancing. The same space spills to the outdoors in nice weather, doubling the capacity of the restaurant and entertainment area. On nights with entertainment scheduled, the restaurant can transform into a night club venue after dinner. The Salmon Bake structure adjacent to the covered dining area serves as both an event space and a teaching space for the tribe and guests.
Subtle Elwha tribal elements are incorporated throughout the property design, creating opportunities for patrons to learn about tribal culture. Facility signage even includes the tribe’s traditional language. The design elements help promote the tribe’s cultural traditions and establish and strengthen enterprises that help the tribe to provide their families with education, healthcare, and housing while also giving back to the community.
SUCCESSES: BWA has been elevating several other Indian Country properties, many with the same flexibility objectives. At Swinomish Casino in Anacortes, WA, the property’s sportsbook blends into the main casino and spills energy onto the floor and was designed to be rented or used as an event space during non-peak sporting event times.
By creating flexible spaces at these and other casino gaming properties in Indian Country, BWA has provided facility operators with options that generate more profitability and excitement for patrons seeking entertainment and hospitality offerings beyond the traditional gaming experience. In turn, these properties are becoming more upscale regional destinations where guests want to play and stay longer and spend more money.
COST
Jeffrey Sheiber, VP of Sales
cost-inc.com
IGA Booth #1523
SPOTLIGHT: COST, a longstanding associate member and dedicated supporter of IGA, is excited once again to be exhibiting at this year’s premier industry conference. On display will be examples of our specialty construction and fabrication skillset, ranging from naturalistic and architectural water features, artifact reproductions, sculptures, column wraps, aquariums, faux trees, decorative metal, to themed finishes.
SUCCESSES: Our creations can be viewed at entertainment and cultural venues, as well as additional amenities that serve to immerse guests in the rich tribal traditions. COST recently enjoyed collaborating with industry professionals JCJ Architecture and Penta Building Group on the Agua Caliente Cultural Center, which included Oasis Trail in Palm Springs, CA. The project allowed COST to work alongside the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to promote and to showcase their rich traditional ways. The canyons make up the tribe’s ancestral land. COST was afforded the opportunity to help build replicated landforms and tribal landmarks including: 18’ tall Tahquiz Falls, Seven Sisters stream, Tranquility Garden pond and stream, Murray Canyon, and West Fork Falls.
As casinos continue to age and evolve, it is critical to seek out improvement for growth while looking to enhance the guest and destination experience. For over 67 years, COST has enjoyed working with dozens of tribal nations coast to coast to help their facilities continue to maintain a fresh look and perspective. COST’s 144,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant on 65 acres just outside of Milwaukee, WI, allows service to both coasts. Our long and extensive history in the industry has prepared us well in replicating some of the most exacting details required by local authorities, biologists, naturalists and curators. The attention to detail and precision by our seasoned artisans is what has made COST an industry leader for so long.
Cuningham
Brett K. Ewing, Principal
cuningham.com
IGA Booth #1605
SPOTLIGHT: Cuningham is an integrated design firm providing architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning services. We choose to address society’s most pressing challenges through our work, emphasizing ecological and social well-being in everything we do. Cuningham is trusted by sovereign nations throughout the country, as well as gaming and entertainment industry leaders such as MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Caesars Entertainment, Universal Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering. With offices across the U.S., Cuningham professionals push the boundaries of design every day to create a more resilient future.
Our approach leverages expertise across entertainment, healthcare, education, residential, and commercial spaces to help tribal clients diversify their offerings to appeal to the next generation of customers and maintain self sufficiency in their communities for decades to come. Because designing for climate resiliency is at the heart of our work, we also help clients deliver nature positive outcomes that regenerate ecosystems.
SUCCESSES: Cuningham is working with the Spokane Tribe of Indians to design and implement a comprehensive economic development master plan that includes the existing casino, a hotel, convention center, dining, entertainment center, and a cultural center on their 145-acre site on U.S. Highway 2 in Washington State.
Central to this plan is a casino expansion and a new, soon-to-open 176-key hotel. The casino improvements include over 20,000 sq. ft. of new gaming space, a sportsbook, an entertainment space called Spokane Live, entry with a striking porte-cochere, a dedicated poker room, and dining venues.
Cuningham worked with the tribe to bring meaningful elements of their rich history into the design, such as brightly colored carpet patterns representing the importance of water and salmon to the tribe’s ancestors. The emphasis on culturally relevant design extends to the new hotel, where the building’s façade visually represents the tule grass that is historically used in weaving projects.
Our recent collaborations with other tribal clients extend throughout California and the Pacific Northwest, including work for the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe, Ione Band of Miwok Indians, Colville Confederated Tribes, Squaxin Island Tribe, and the Nez Perce Tribe.
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI)
Joe Bunevith, VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs
gaminglabs.com
IGA Booth #1430
SPOTLIGHT: Representatives from GLI will be discussing GLI’s broad range of services for regulators, operators, and suppliers. Also showcased in our booth will be the new Kobetron Link tool, which links GLI’s Verify+ to IRIS. With Kobetron Link, regulators can now use Verify+ to signature software that is either going into an EGM or going into their software inventory and Verify+ can sync those signatures to IRIS. This enhances tribal operations because it cuts down on the amount of time an IRIS customer would spend manually entering component information into IRIS. It also prevents an IRIS user from installing the wrong component on an EGM inside of IRIS. Kobetron Link uses the software signature to uniquely identify the component being installed in the EGM or added to the inventory Vault. Representatives from Bulletproof will also be on hand at the GLI booth to assist with all gaming cybersecurity inquiries.
Additionally, GLI will be discussing how its government relations team can assist with new gaming regulations by advising on best practices and pitfalls to avoid. The team leverages its knowledge, relationships, and extensive toolbox to work with regulators to develop new gaming regulations for today’s technologies. Similarly, as technology evolves, regulations and licensing requirements need periodic review. GLI can provide a full review and advise on best practices to consider implementing or catching any loopholes.
GLI also provides third-party analysis of your regulations and operations and provides insight on best practices that streamline and create efficiencies, as well as support in the audit and field inspections process.
Additionally, GLI enhances tribal operations by providing independent analysis of new wagering technologies, identifying if what is being proposed fits within existing regulatory structure. Plus, GLI can advise on steps regulators might need to take to expand existing regulations to enable the jurisdiction to adopt proposed new technologies.
HBG Design
Dike Bacon, Principal
hbg.design
IGA Booth #1513
SPOTLIGHT: HBG Design is excited for IGA 2024 and will be showcasing several new casino designs and impressive non-gaming amenities, including large-scale conference and event venue experiences and luxury spas and pools tailored for the market. Conference attendees are invited to HBG’s two speaking sessions. “How to Build a Successful Project: Where the Heck Do You Start?” on Wednesday, April 10th will feature Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Chairwoman Rebecca Richards and a case study of the highly successful Four Winds Casino Hotel and Spa in South Bend, IN. HBG will also be exploring “Casino Resort Design Trends” in a session on Tuesday, April 9th.
As a leading Top 5 national design firm in the gaming/entertainment and hospitality industry, HBG Design and our 100 architects, interior designers, and project delivery professionals in Memphis, San Diego, and Dallas, are dedicated to guiding innovation and integrating well-conceptualized experiences into every project we create for our clients and their guests.
SUCCESSES: HBG Design is pleased to announce that hospitality and entertainment design veteran, Ray Mabry, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, has joined the firm as HBG’s new Dallas Office Leader and Principal. Ray’s 24-year architecture career has taken him across the country and around the world as a design leader, working for the last 20 years with HKS Architects, Dallas. Ray serves HBG Design clients as Principal-in-Charge and Project Manager and is forging new frontiers for HBG, nationally and regionally.
Within the Dallas/North Texas resort market, a new star has emerged on the event entertainment scene – Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, OK, for the Chickasaw Nation. This cutting-edge, 6,500-seat venue design by HBG offers a symphony of acoustics, aesthetics, and operational excellence, setting a new standard for live entertainment in the region. WinStar’s Session House Gastropub connects Lucas Oil Live with the resort’s newly opened 16-story, 304-key Spa Tower and full-service, European-style WinStar Spa. Guests will also enjoy WinStar’s five-acre Cascades pool complex for sun-soaked outdoor entertainment, featuring seven architecturally expressive bar and cabana structures, all designed by HBG Design.
JCM Global
Dave Kubajak, SVP of Sales, Marketing & Operations
jcmglobal.com
IGA Booth #736
SPOTLIGHT: JCM Global has worked closely with Native American operators from the beginning. Those partnerships have yielded incredible successes for operators of all sizes, standalone and enterprise.
Two recent stories highlight JCM’s commitment to its Native American gaming customers. The first involves JCM’s PromoNet, a promotional couponing system that properties use in different ways. Some properties utilize PromoNet for traditional promotional couponing, and others also use it to track and manage drink comps. Two recent installs highlight PromoNet’s adaptability. The 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians own and operate Spotlight 29 Casino and Tortoise Rock Casino. Through PromoNet, they found that the types of offers customers want and value vary dramatically between the two properties, although they are relatively close to each other in drive time. Using PromoNet’s data, Spotlight 29 and Tortoise Rock were able to adapt their offerings to best suit players at their properties and increase coin-in. These experiences illustrate how PromoNet can be successfully used to both help plan and execute strategy.
The next success story involves JCM’s TITA solution, a table game system that brings TITO and debit transactions to the table. JCM actively works with each customer and adjusts the way TITA works to fit customer needs. For example, in a recent install at Cache Creek Casino Resort, the customer needed to modify how dealers use TITA to simplify the dealer sign-in process. JCM modified the technology to enable a badge swipe log-in process and shepherded the revisions through GLI to obtain all appropriate certifications. The modification made it even easier for dealers to use TITA, while maintaining the system’s integrity.
JCM will feature PromoNet and TITA at IGA, as well as a comprehensive suite of solutions bringing a complete technology roadmap for today and well into the future. JCM’s award-winning bill validators featuring best-in-class technologies include iVizion® and UBA Pro®, both of which are proven to offer the highest levels of security and acceptance.
JCM’s Gen5® and CouponXpress® printers are the industry standard and give casino operators the flexibility and power they need to communicate accurately and directly with players through TITO tickets and promotional coupons.
JCM’s system solutions include Fuzion®, which offers a full suite of features including BLE mobile wallet connectivity, real-time peripheral performance data, proactive drop/fill alerts, real-time asset monitoring, and more. JCM will also feature the ICB® Intelligent Cash Box system, the patented PromoNet® couponing system, and CountR’s TITA™ table game funds access solution.
JCM will also show the innovative DSS Clear™ and DSS TV Pro™ Digital Signage Solutions. DSS Clear was named one of the “Most Innovative New Technologies” on display at G2E 2023.
SUCCESSES: Native and commercial casino gaming operators rely on solutions from JCM Global to boost security, increase efficiencies, and enhance the guest experience.Earlier this year, the famous Ascend Sportsbook at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort became even more exciting with a new LED sports ticker from JCM. Stretching more than 48 ft. at the sportsbook’s entrance, the ticker is the perfect way for every casino guest to keep up on all the scores from their favorite teams. The installation was the latest in a long string of indoor and outdoor DSS installations JCM has completed at tribal casinos across the U.S.
Quick Custom Intelligence
Andrew Cardno, Co-Founder & CTO
quickcustomintelligence.com
IGA Booth #136
SPOTLIGHT: We are showing three products at IGA – version AGI54 of the QCI Enterprise Platform, QCI Player, and QCI Connect. These three products are used by over 8,000 users globally and apply to player development, marketing, gaming operations, and finally, connecting to your patron with a dynamic digital experience. We will be announcing two special projects in our booth at IGA – stay tuned.
SUCCESSES: Over the last year, QCI has upgraded the QCI Enterprise Platform in over 100 tribal resort properties, including 50 new tribal resorts. Our collaborations span a diverse array of tribal nations, showcasing our versatile approach to integrating innovative solutions tailored to each partner’s unique needs and operational scale.
We are proud of our ability to adapt and cater to the distinct requirements of each of our tribal nation partners. In the case of Choctaw Nation, we have worked with Walter Allen and the player development group to provide sophisticated real-time tooling for their entire player development team across 22 properties. This engagement underscores our expertise in supporting large-scale operations and enhancing the gaming experience at one of the world’s most extensive gaming
properties.
At Buffalo Run Casino & Resort, our focus has been on leveraging a sophisticated data warehouse environment to offer a comprehensive suite of tools aimed at marketing and player development. This approach has enabled Buffalo Run to optimize their strategies and achieve significant advancements in their operational goals.
For Seminole Hard Rock in Florida, we are able to highlight the work we’ve done with Dan Ingster and his team for gaming optimization, implementing strategies and technologies designed to elevate the gaming experience.
An integral part of our partnership with tribal nations is the educational component provided through QCI College. With an extensive curriculum and now the associated textbook, we are empowering our partners with the knowledge and skills to maximize the benefits of our cutting-edge technology platform and drive their success.
Our commitment to innovation, tailored solutions, and education has been instrumental in forging strong partnerships across Indian Country. We are honored to contribute to the growth and success of our tribal partners, bringing our technology and expertise to help them achieve their strategic objectives.
Relay
Chase Martin, Enterprise Account Executive
relaypro.com
IGA Booth #1404
SPOTLIGHT: At IGA 2024, we will demonstrate how the tools you use for communication can significantly enhance both safety and guest experience. Relay is a next-generation radio designed to elevate casino communications, safety, and operations in a small, compact and durable design. Tribal casinos face unique communication challenges. Operational and security teams often oversee various businesses and facilities spread across extensive distances. Traditional radios with limited range and channels struggle to meet these demands. Relay utilizes cellular and Wi-Fi networks, ensuring seamless communication throughout your facility without the need for expensive infrastructure. Relay devices are intelligent, location-aware, and equipped with a built-in panic button. This empowers your security team with enhanced visibility, control, and the ability to improve response times and compliance. Visit our booth to explore our latest enhancements, including solutions for overcoming language barriers and streamlining security processes.
SUCCESSES: Relay worked with Muckleshoot Casino Resort in the Northwest when they recently added 401 guestrooms, an expanded gaming floor, a rooftop steakhouse, events center and more. These additional amenities made it imperative for the Muckleshoot team to communicate seamlessly across all areas of the resort. With the addition of a new hotel, it was critically important to go beyond compliance by providing staff with a panic button and an improved way to communicate during any type of situation. Relay uniquely combines a panic button and communication feature into one small and discreet device that complements the elevated aesthetic of Muckleshoot Casino Resort. Muckleshoot executives also prioritized the ability to communicate with their teams at any time via the Relay app on their mobile devices.
Rymax
Paul Gordon, Sr. Vice President of Sales
rymaxinc.com
IGA Booth #1532
SPOTLIGHT: Rymax increases its brand portfolio every year, and we have exciting new brands such as Fjällräven, Manscaped, Lindt, Spanx, Save The Duck, Kurt Geiger, Havaianas, Think Royln, Traeger Grills, and more that add to our over 20,000 products.
Rymax has the most eclectic lineup of brands that appeal to all demographics in the casino industry, driving increased play and initiating trial. In addition, we have spent considerable money and resources to deliver a best-in-class online option for loyalty programs. Our clients use our platform in the financial, pharmaceutical, transportation and casino verticals. It is secure and customizable by the client in the look and feel of their site, seamlessly integrating it into the casino’s website. For tribal operations, we can deliver a robust catalog of branded products and a vehicle that is in tune with today’s player’s behavior with ease of operation and real-time reward options. Loyalty efforts are paramount to success in the increasingly competitive casino landscape.
SUCCESSES: Our success in Indian Country is steeped in our 20+ year association with IGA and the casino operators throughout the country. We recognize that player loyalty programs need to be different in local markets versus destination markets. We also realize that the reward is only as good as the delivery and customer service of that experience. Their players are part of a community, and their loyalty is reflected in the player gifts, shopping spree experiences, and themed giveaways. We provide differentiation in crowded markets and brands that connote the quality of the casino’s brand and image. We also ensure that our casino clients are given access to our marketing redemption data and trends. The local economy and the geography of the casino need player loyalty that speaks to the player’s needs and resonates with them all year long.
We are proud to support Indian Nations and IGA, and look forward to building upon our success for many years to come.
Sbarro
Jonathan Karam, VP of Development & Franchise Operations
sbarro.com
IGA Booth #1324
SPOTLIGHT: Sbarro will be the place for tribal leaders, their teams, and all attendees to visit for their choice of an authentic XL New York pizza-by-the-slice. We look forward to sharing a slice or two with attendees and talk about why Sbarro is the perfect gaming companion for those seeking a quick, on-the-go meal while enjoying their time in your casino.
SUCCESSES: We hear from our gaming industry partners that our brand’s success in their venues is often driven in part by our instant brand recognition. We are an internationally celebrated brand with more than 60 years serving slices in more than 700 restaurants in 30 countries. In addition, we recognize every inch of square footage in a casino is valuable real estate, so our flexible floorplans offer operators a solution that best fits their needs in the available space. Whether that need is for a compact, kiosk-style restaurant or for a larger restaurant that includes dining space, we have the floorplan to fit anywhere. Another way we help drive profit for our partners is through our 5-day-part menu that includes breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner and late-night. Our menu offers breakfast solutions and then easily transitions into our traditional XL New York slice program and full Italian meals display. This affords each restaurant the ability to serve the impulse dining occasion with either a meal for one or a whole group any time of the day.
We encourage tribal casino operators considering new food and beverage options to consider Sbarro and choose us because we are the brand both you and your guests already love. Seeing a familiar brand creates an instant connection with your guests and will drive that impulse purchase occasion. We are the original XL New York pizza brand, and we are a perfect fit for those seeking a high-quality meal on-the-go.
TBE Architects
Luke Jumper, President / Senior Project Manager
tbearchitects.com
IGA Booth #288
SPOTLIGHT: At TBE Architects, we focus on our clients’ visions and pain points. With over 50 years of experience, we’ve learned that a close collaboration with our clients and stakeholders is paramount. This ensures that every project is a true reflection of their dreams and values. This truth has led to numerous success stories, particularly in Indian Country where we have had the privilege to work with 123 tribes and First Nations.
SUCCESSES: We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is a success story we are particularly proud of. Working with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, we designed a state-of-the-art gaming experience, a garden courtyard atrium with origin story details of the Yavapai People, a 270-seat buffet with a private dining area, and an award-winning new steakhouse complete with an outdoor terrace. Once sports betting was legalized in Arizona, we returned to the property to design a new sportsbook. Our connection with the wonderful people at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort continues even with our project at its completion.
One of our most current projects in Indian Country is at 4 Bears Casino Resort in North Dakota. This resort project includes a seven-story hotel addition with 90 guest rooms, a new front entrance, a reception area, and a redesigned gaming floor. As we witness the progress of construction each week, we are filled with excitement as our client’s ideas, realized in TBE’s designs, are brought to life.
In addition to the 4 Bears Casino Resort, TBE Architects has also had the honor of partnering with the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana on their property, the Coushatta Casino Resort. This multi-phase project touches nearly every part of the property, beginning with an entertainment tent, the veranda at their golf course, and a completely reimagined bingo hall, showcasing the tribal culture with two feature walls. Some guests will begin to see a new 204-key hotel tower taking shape along with other existing transformations impacting the gaming floor and back-of-house operations. These projects not only highlight our design expertise, but also our commitment to supporting tribal sovereignty and financial independence for Native communities.
With each new project, we aim to continue our legacy of excellence in casino and hospitality design and create spaces that not only inspire, but also empower Native communities for generations to come.
TribalHub
Mike Day, Founder & Executive Officer, TribalHub and Steering Committee Member, Tribal-ISAC
tribalhub.com / tribalisac.org
IGA Booth #817
SPOTLIGHT: TribalHub is the largest community of technology-minded leaders from tribes across the country. As a membership organization, we unify and empower executives at tribes and tribal enterprises. The services available through TribalHub membership provide both individuals and groups in this community the ability to be better equipped to make informed decisions in technology, to gain knowledge and insights, and to receive valuable peer connections to help their organizations excel.
TribalHub also partners with the Tribal Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Tribal-ISAC) who provide their own set of valuable resources. The Tribal-ISAC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit for tribes, by tribes. They are committed to improving the overall security posture of tribes, emphasizing cybersecurity, including all-hazard threats and risks. Services provided by the Tribal-ISAC foster a collaborative environment for tribes to share and mitigate threat information, share best practices, and serve as a conduit for security information sharing.
SUCCESSES: For 25 years, TribalHub has been building a nationwide community and network for leaders and decision-makers within tribal governments, gaming and hospitality enterprises, and health facilities. This community has since become the largest network of technology-minded leaders from tribes across the country, with countless stories of impact spanning over two-plus decades.
In just this past year, the Tribal-ISAC has sent hundreds of reports curated for tribal nations and their enterprises to help members stay on top of important and high-priority topics regarding cybersecurity. Tribal-ISAC was also appointed as a member of the National Council of ISACs and was recognized by FEMA, DHS, and CISA in the 2023 Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (TCGP) as a recommended membership organization and resource to support a tribe’s cybersecurity plan.