Tribal gaming’s emergence in Las Vegas and the looming expansion of sports betting in California and Florida take center stage in July at the National Indian Gaming Association’s annual conference and trade show.
Between 5,000 and 6,000 people are expected to attend the show, which takes place July 19-23 at the new Caesars Forum Conference Center. NIGA had 7,000 people attend its 2019 show in San Diego. Its April 2020 show was canceled due to COVID-19.
There will be plenty to celebrate and highlight at this year’s show, as tribal gaming continues to rebound from the pandemic. Crowds are returning in greater numbers with the rise in vaccinations and a decline in COVID cases across the country.
“To be the first conference and trade show is exciting,” said Victor Rocha, conference chairman. “We get to define the narrative coming out of the pandemic — what the issues are and what’s important — instead of someone telling us. We get to talk about ourselves.”
There’s a new story to tell, Rocha said.
In May, the San Manuel Band of Indians in Southern California reached a deal with Red Rock Resorts to become the first Native American tribe to own a Las Vegas casino with their purchase of the Palms Casino Resort for $650 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year for the 700-room resort that’s been shuttered since March 2020.
In March, Connecticut’s Mohegans became the first tribe to operate a casino in Nevada by taking over operations at the newly opened Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. It was previously operated as the Hard Rock Hotel-Casino.
Rocha said the moves show that the “good-old-boys club has changed” and that tribes are showing their ability to grow along with the industry. None of it is a surprise for Indian Country, he said.
“It’s really an interesting time,” Rocha said. “Tribes are confident in their ability as entrepreneurs. The gaming industry is exploding and tribes are in the right place and time to take advantage of the opportunities. Vegas is an important step for tribal gaming. It shows it has matured as an industry and that tribes have become very successful entrepreneurs and do gaming well.”
More is on the way, Rocha said.
Last month in California, tribes were finally successful in putting a measure on the November 2022 ballot that would allow tribes and horse tracks to offer sports betting.
Florida has approved a compact between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminoles that allows the tribe to offer sports betting. It requires approval by the U.S. Department of Interior.
“Tribal gaming has not only survived, but is starting to thrive again,” Rocha said. “We were knocked back on our heels, but everyone is recovering a lot faster than anticipated. The Roaring Twenties have begun. The starter’s gun has fired and everyone is scrambling to get out of the gate.”
This marks the 35th year of the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, the largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country. Casino gaming and technology companies will exhibit (350 are currently registered) during the trade show and panel sessions will present experts on the latest technology, health and safety measures, and sports betting. Attendees will learn about the latest trends and how to run a better and efficient business, Rocha said.
The conference will take up about 250,000 square feet of convention space, allowing for social distancing and safety. The conference considered requiring vaccinations, but opted not to do so. Rocha suspects many attendees will voluntarily wear masks, though they won’t be required.
“Registrations are blowing up and floor space is almost gone,” Rocha said. “The response has been really amazing. Everyone is ready to get back to business, and we feel really fortunate that we’re the first gaming trade show after the pandemic.”
The conference and trade show will be held in conjunction with the Reservation Economic Summit scheduled at the same time at Bally’s Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas on the Strip. Rocha said that was intentional, in an effort to drive attendance, even though both events require separate tickets.
NIGA cancelled its 2020 trade show in San Diego only two weeks before the April conference. Rocha said they could see it coming, but it was still shocking after putting in all that preparation. They considered joining forces with the American Gaming Association’s Global Gaming Expo last October before that show, too, was canceled.
NIGA started preparing for the July show as far back as November. They immediately knew Las Vegas was the best choice: So many manufacturers and other companies in the industry are based there and it’s a prime destination for people to travel to from outside Nevada. They hoped the vaccine would bring the pandemic under control by July, and it has, Rocha said.
“We took a crap shoot and got it right,” Rocha said. “It could have gone south, but it’s just the opposite. We are very fortunate. Vegas is the right place for us.”
To register, go to https://www.indiangamingtradeshow.com/563/indian-gaming-tradeshow-registration.htm.
