by Matthew L. Morgan
Each summer, we at OIGA look forward to welcoming colleagues and friends, industry leaders, tribal leaders and countless others who make ‘the biggest little trade show in Indian Gaming’ the special tradition it’s become. This year, we are back in sunny Oklahoma City, August 12-14, with most of the Conference and Trade Show taking place in the beautiful Oklahoma City Convention Center and adjoining Omni Hotel.
As you arrive, be sure to enjoy the surrounding amenities. Oklahoma City seemingly becomes more vibrant each year. Directly across from the convention center is beautiful Scissortail Park. The lower portion of the park, over the bridge to the south, is now open with pickleball courts and rentable equipment. Downtown, Bricktown and Midtown are all within a few blocks of the Convention Center and offer a wide variety of dining and entertainment spots, coffee shops, shopping and more.
We’ll kick off the conference portion of our event Tuesday morning with the keynote address given by Paul Speirs-Hernandez. His topic is one that many of us will find compelling. Entitled “Look Up: 5 Benefits of Putting Down Your Phone and Picking Up Your Potential,” his presentation will take us through five key areas of our lives that will benefit from more of your attention and focus. After that, the morning will be filled with more conference sessions, followed by the ribbon cutting and opening of the trade show floor at noon, with a buffet lunch served at several stations on the floor.
Our high-quality conference sessions have been strategically planned with topics and tracks for professionals in every facet of gaming. Foundational subject matter ideal for younger professionals just starting their careers, or people new to gaming, will include topics like “The Evolution of Tribal Gaming in Oklahoma,” “Responsible Gaming,” and a roundtable forum discussion from tribal leaders.
More seasoned gaming professionals, or those in specialized areas of the industry, will enjoy “What’s in Your Wallet,” an exploration of wallet options catering to the diverse needs and preferences of players; and “Sports Betting Analytics and Beyond,” ideal for those who have already – or who plan to – add sports betting to their entertainment offerings. Now six years in, there is a large body of data available to analyze and use to aid in decision making. Another important topic area is safety. We are pleased to introduce a new session this year, “Travel Safety Guidelines for Women Business Travelers,” highly important, especially for women who travel alone for business. “Addressing Human Trafficking” is a topic of ongoing and critical importance in our industry. Each year, we continue the conversation, learning more as we go.
There will be plenty of socializing, celebration and fun this year, too. After Monday’s John Marley Golf Tournament and Welcome Party, we’ll continue our Tuesday tradition of honoring the 2024 scholarship recipients, and also our Chairman’s and Modern Day Warrior awardees. Tuesday afternoon, our much-loved ‘Walk Around Happy Hour’ is from 3-5 p.m. On Wednesday, it’s more great sessions all morning, and lunch and networking on the trade show floor starting at noon.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share a little bit about the reason we are all able to come together and enjoy OIGA’s Conference and Trade Show each year. The industry we have built together is nothing short of amazing. From humble bingo halls established more than 30 years ago, Oklahoma’s tribal gaming has – thanks to the visionary leadership and hard work of many of you – become a powerful economic driver and job provider for thousands of Oklahomans in big cities, small rural communities and everywhere in between. Our industry enables tribes to offer community support to non-profits and educational institutions, scholarships to students and social programs like early childhood education, and safe senior housing to our members and citizens along with non-tribal citizens of our state. I am profoundly grateful for tribal gaming and proud of all the good it brings us, and I look forward to catching up with all of you over the course of our event.
Matthew L. Morgan is Chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. He can be reached by email at [email protected].
