- Levi Rickert, Native News Online
The largest Indian gaming organization in the country decided to drop “National” from its title because the “NIGA” acronym was considered offensive if misinterpreted or mispronounced.
A name change was announced at the National Indian Gaming Association’s 2022 Tradeshow and Convention at the annual membership meeting in Anaheim, Calf. on Wednesday.
The new name of the organization is now the Indian Gaming Association (IGA). Established in 1985 as a non-profit organization, the board of directors approved the name change last year and has been working on all legal matters related to changing the name.
“This has been in the works for a long time. In the old days, people put together this amazing organization and will live with a lot of energy. The acronym just was not comfortable in the world we live in,” Ernie Stevens, Jr., chairman and spokesperson of the IGA said to Native News Online.
