Tribal Jackpot
IGA Makes Triumphant Return to San Diego
By Jess Marquez
Tribal gaming took center stage at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention 2023 , which returned to pre-Covid attendance rates as exhibitors and operators alike flocked to the San Diego Convention Center to see the latest and greatest innovations that the Indian gaming industry has to offer .
The record success of the U . S . gaming industry would not be possible without the role of tribal entities and operators , whose revenues from 2022 are expected to set a new record when they are released later this year .
In many ways , the sector has grown nearly to that of its commercial counterparts , with new and improved casino-resorts , expanded offerings and new business ventures in premium markets such as Las Vegas .
Thus , it came as no surprise that this year ’ s Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention was packed wall-to-wall with exhibitors , tribal representatives and patrons eager to show and discuss the latest innovations in and around the world of Indian gaming .
Gene Johnson
Jeremy Tyra
Sequoyah Simermeyer
Day One : Crazy About Class II
The Foundation of Class II Gaming and its Continued Success One of the most unique aspects of Indian gaming is the utilization of Class II gaming , which has served as an invaluable tool for tribes everywhere . This year ’ s show kicked off with an entire day of sessions dedicated to the ins and outs of Class II , starting with a history lesson from Gene Johnson , executive vice president of Victor Strategies , as well as Judith Shapiro from Big Fire Law and Policy Group .
The duo noted that Class II served as the entry point into Indian gaming for numerous tribes , given the fact that no state compact is needed to operate the games . Shapiro broke down the formation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act ( IGRA ) in the late 1980s , and how it was ( and still is ) imperfect , but did give tribes a lot of freedom to expand and regulate Class II technology .
Next , Jeremy Tyra , partner at Kyprock Capital and CEO of C2S Gaming , explored how the Class II sector has evolved from humble beginnings to big business .
He pointed out that the definition of Class II gaming permits tribes “ maximum flexibility ” to utilize “ modern methods of conducting Class II games ,” which has served as a boon from an industry standpoint . More flexibility means more products , ultimately resulting in more business opportunities .
Of course , no discussion of the Class II sector would be complete without regulatory considerations , which were delivered by Sequoyah Simermeyer , chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission ( NIGC ). Simermeyer detailed how Class II is unique to the Indian gaming industry because it falls in between the Class I tier , which are unregulated games , and Class III , which applies to commercial games .
The day concluded with a presentation from representatives of the Pokagon Band Gaming Commission , the regulatory arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians .
San Diego Convention Center
Day Two : Sights and Sounds
Trends to Come for the Rest of 2023 Day two began with a discussion about the trends that will grow throughout the rest of the year and beyond — first up was the proliferation of cashless payments . Lindsay Slader , managing director of Geo- Comply , joked that making any large-scale changes in the industry is “ like steering the Titanic ,” in that it ’ s very difficult and takes a lot of time , which is why cashless isn ’ t as widely accepted in gaming as it is elsewhere .
Under the Knife : Operating Properties Through Expansion , Construction Tribal operators have expanded and remodeled like never before in recent years , and in most cases the existing property has remained operational throughout the process . In this session , contractors and operators gathered to discuss the challenges of navigating this tightrope .
The Ins and Outs of Alternate Standards Alternate standards and how to achieve them were big points of discussion for the NIGC , and a host of commission representatives gathered the second day of the conference to discuss how tribes can apply for them .
Logan Takao-Cooper , staff attorney for the NIGC , offered some recent examples of approved alternate standards and how the language was adapted for each . All of the examples listed included mobile phones , tablets or other electronic devices not in circulation at the time of IGRA .
Trends to Come for the Rest of 2023
52 Global Gaming Business MAY 2023