OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) will host its 30th Annual Conference and Tradeshow at the Oklahoma City Convention Center July 14-16. Nearly 3,000 attendees, including tribal leadership, gaming executives and professionals, hospitality professionals and vendors, all coming together to do business, learn from one another, network and enjoy all downtown Oklahoma City has to offer.
“We’ve made a vast amount of progress over the past 30 years, and there’s much more to come,” said Matthew L. Morgan, OIGA Chairman. “OIGA was formed in 1986, two years before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed. Our Conference and Tradeshow looked very different than it does today. All of it – the vendors, the sessions, the networking – fit in one conference room. We’ve certainly grown since then, but something important has remained the same: the feeling you get when you are at an OIGA conference. The tribal gaming industry in Oklahoma creates good-paying jobs in cities and towns across our state. It develops infrastructure like roads and internet access. It drives tribal philanthropy and investment in education, funds government programs, drives economic development and provides for the well-being of tribal citizens and the community at-large. I am profoundly grateful for the tribal gaming industry and proud of all the good it brings.”
Long known affectionately as ‘the biggest little show in tribal gaming,’ the Conference and Tradeshow begins on Monday morning with the annual John Marley Golf Tournament at Lincoln Park Golf Course (sold out), an event which raises educational scholarship funds for individuals who work in our tribal gaming industry and their dependents. The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association established the John Marley Scholarship in 2008 to provide educational opportunities for OIGA member employees and their families. The John Marley Scholarships are dedicated to the search for knowledge and providing scholarships for eligible individuals to attend accredited colleges, universities, and trade schools in Oklahoma or other states. Since 2014, OIGA has awarded more than 70 scholarships.
The conference begins Tuesday at 8:30am with the keynote address given by Paul Speirs-Hernandez. His topic: “It’s Time to Say the F Word Again – (Fun)!” The morning will continue with conference sessions, followed by a ribbon cutting and the opening of the tradeshow floor at noon, where a buffet lunch will be served at multiple stations. At 1:00pm, scholarships and awards including the Chairman’s Award and Modern Day Warrior Awards will be given during a presentation on the tradeshow floor.
Conference sessions have been strategically planned with topics and tracks for professionals in every facet of gaming and ancillary industries. Foundational subject matter ideal for younger professionals just starting their careers, or people new to gaming will include topics like “History of Oklahoma Tribal Gaming,” “Responsible Gaming,” and a roundtable forum discussion from tribal leaders.
Other session topics include:
Tribal Leadership Discussion: As tribal businesses face economic fluctuations, market disruptions, and evolving consumer behaviors, leaders must demonstrate adaptability, empathy, strategic vision, and transparent communication to instill trust, and motivate teams. This panel will delve into these leaders’ methods in staying on course.
Navigating the New Administration: Tribal governments are actively involved in steering through the changing landscape of federal policies to best serve the interests of their communities and enterprises. What have we learned, and what are we looking out for?
Disaster Preparedness & Mother Nature’s Wrath: Run the checklist. Risk assessment, emergency response plan, infrastructure resilience, supply chain, communications, and recovery.
United for Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association Economic Impact Study Review: Dr. Kyle Dean, professor of economics, will review the results of the study, speaking to the significant contributions by tribal nations to the Oklahoma state economy.
Sport Betting Negotiations: The complexities of negotiating within the bounds of the IGRA, taking measure of the interests of the state and varied stakeholders. What not to leave out, what not to forget, and how do you get there.
Wednesday morning will be packed with more conference sessions, followed by lunch on the tradeshow floor when it opens at noon.
About Tribal Gaming in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, of the 38 federally recognized tribes, 33 operate governmental gaming operations in accordance with the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). That framework requires that any revenues from gaming operations be used for five core purposes: funding tribal operations; providing for the general welfare of the tribe and its members or citizens; promoting tribal economic development; donating to charitable organizations; and helping to fund operations of local government agencies. The amount of good Oklahoma’s tribes have done – and continue to do – has changed the state, improving the lives of all Oklahomans.
All Oklahomans benefit from jobs created by tribal governments and businesses. Tribal nations have put more than 113,000 Oklahomans to work, in good-paying positions in industries and initiatives made possible by revenues generated by gaming. The gaming industry itself employs many thousands of people, but so do tourism, transportation, healthcare, technology, government services and more. The benefits go far beyond jobs.
Community support from tribes keeps Oklahoma’s non-profits thriving. All Oklahomans benefit from tribal philanthropy. The state’s non-profits have received more than $61 million in support from tribal donations and sponsorships.
