by Ernest L. Stevens, Jr.
Indian Gaming 2025 will be held at the San Diego Convention Center March 31 – April 3, 2025. As the largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the nation, the event promises to be an extraordinary opportunity for attendees to gain insights into the latest trends and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Indian Country.
This year marks the Indian Gaming Association’s 40th anniversary. In 1985, a handful of tribal leaders established the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) with the vision of giving Indian Country a united voice before Congress and the executive branch, and educating legislators and the public about the benefits of Indian gaming to Native communities and our mostly rural neighboring communities. IGA’s member tribes united behind the mission of protecting tribal sovereignty and promoting Indian gaming to develop tribal economies. Our organization stands firm behind these core principles. It is our continued honor and duty to safeguard the status of Native nations as separate sovereign governments, and the inherent rights of tribes to use Indian gaming to develop and strengthen tribal economies.
IGA’s Annual Membership Meeting sets the tone for the work conducted by our association and our member tribes in Washington, D.C., throughout the year. The 119th Congress opened on January 3, 2025, ushering in Republican control of the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, and President Trump’s return for a second term in the White House.
Tribes and tribal organizations have many goals and priorities for the coming year, but all of Indian Country today is focused on the impacts of the wide range of executive actions that were issued in the wake of President Trump’s inauguration. These actions, that range from remaking agencies, freezing federal funds and firing federal employees, elevate and highlight the importance of our work in Washington, D.C. The highlight of our Annual Membership Meeting will be a Tribal Leaders Policy Roundtable that will focus in large part on the many challenges facing Indian Country in the new Congress and with the administration.
Some are concerned that these actions may lead to questioning the governmental status of Indian tribes and federal programs designed to meet the government’s solemn obligations to Indian Country. To IGA and our member tribes, any attack on the U.S. Constitution’s recognition of Indian tribes as governments is misguided and baseless. The status of Indian tribes as separate sovereign governments is grounded in history and the founding legal documents of this nation.
Upon its formation, the United States acknowledged the sovereign authority of Indian tribes and entered into hundreds of treaties to establish commerce and trade agreements, form alliances, and preserve the peace. Through these treaties, Indian tribes ceded hundreds of millions of acres of tribal homelands to help build this great Nation. In return, the United States promised to provide for the education, health, public safety and general welfare of Indian people. The U.S. Constitution specifically acknowledges these treaties and the sovereign authority of Indian tribes as separate governments. The Commerce Clause provides that “Congress shall have power to … regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.” By its very text, the Constitution establishes the framework for the federal government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes.
The federal government has fallen far short in meeting these solemn obligations. However, as we have done with every incoming administration and swearing in of a new Congress, it remains our job to share this history, educate decision makers, and hold them accountable.
Our strategy to achieve this goal is to build relationships within Congress and the Administration and to partner with our sister organizations to blanket Washington, D.C. in a united advocacy effort.
To this end, we have built a strong foundation. For more than two decades now, Indian Country has consistently worked with lawmakers regardless of political party. We now have champions of Indian Country and tribal sovereignty in leadership positions throughout Congress. We will work with them and through them to clarify that nothing in the recent executive actions impacts the constitutional and foundational principles of tribal sovereignty and the separate governmental status of Indian tribes.
In these early months, we have also united with other national and regional tribal government organizations to hold all elected leaders to account. Our unified advocacy efforts are reminding them of the history and constitutional standing of Indian tribes and their solemn obligations to Indian Country. We are bringing every available resource to the table to fiercely protect tribal sovereignty and the continued inherent right of tribal governments to provide for their communities.
While the executive actions will be a major focus of Indian Gaming 2025, the tradeshow and convention will also continue to serve as a vital platform for tribal leaders and gaming professionals to come together to engage with new ideas and strategies that will shape the future of our industry. The convention will feature a comprehensive educational agenda with sessions including:
Leveraging Online Gaming for Tribal Growth: A deep dive on March 31, tailored for tribal leaders and gaming professionals. This session will impart actionable insights on navigating online gaming and sports betting.
Tribal Energy Summit: Scheduled for April 2, this full-day event will showcase topics such as Economic Innovation, Sustainability, and Sovereignty in Action.
Additionally, IGA will launch TribalBond, an innovative initiative designed to facilitate meaningful connections between tribal gaming executives and solution providers through a dynamic “speed networking” format focused on unique industry needs.
With over 350 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services, this year’s exhibit hall will provide ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. Attendees can also look forward to various celebration events, including the Chairman’s Leadership Awards Luncheon, Sovereign Warrior Celebration, and the Chairman’s Golf Classic.
Digital Play Summit returns April 2-3, featuring educational sessions on sports betting and iGaming, further enhancing the convention’s comprehensive program.
For more information about the 2025 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention and to register online, visit www.indiangamingtradeshow.com.
Ernest L. Stevens, Jr. is Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association. He can be reached by calling (202) 546-7711 or visit www.indiangaming.org.