OIGA to host 30th annual Tribal Gaming Conference and Tradeshow in Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) will host its 30th Annual Conference and Tradeshow from July 14 to 16 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. The event is expected to draw nearly 3,000 attendees, including tribal leaders, gaming executives, hospitality professionals, and vendors.

“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. "I am profoundly grateful for the tribal gaming industry and proud of all the good it brings.”

Founded in 1986, two years before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed, OIGA has grown into a central force in the tribal gaming sector, advocating for tribal sovereignty and economic progress, Morgan noted.

“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,” said Morgan. “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 conference kicks off Monday with the sold-out John Marley Golf Tournament at Lincoln Park Golf Course. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for employees in the tribal gaming industry and their families. Since 2014, OIGA has awarded more than 70 scholarships through the John Marley Scholarship program.

The main conference begins Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. with a keynote speech from Paul Speirs-Hernandez titled “It’s Time to Say the F Word Again – (Fun)!”.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and the official opening of the tradeshow floor will follow at noon, along with a buffet lunch and presentations of scholarships and awards, including the Chairman’s Award and Modern Day Warrior Awards.

Sessions throughout the conference are designed for professionals at all levels, with foundational topics such as the history of Oklahoma tribal gaming, responsible gaming, and leadership roundtables for those new to the industry.

More advanced sessions will include discussions on how tribal leadership is adapting to economic changes, how tribal governments are navigating shifts in federal policy, and best practices for disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. 

Additionally, Dr. Kyle Dean will present findings from the latest OIGA Economic Impact Study, highlighting the contributions of tribal nations to Oklahoma’s economy. Additional sessions will focus on the complexities of negotiating sports betting agreements under the IGRA.

The conference concludes on Wednesday with a full morning of sessions and a final lunch served on the tradeshow floor at noon.