It’s hard to believe, but we are just a few months away from the 2025 Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference and Trade Show, now in its 30th year. We’ll be in Oklahoma City this year, July 14-16. After three decades and much progress, our ever-innovative, still-growing industry continues to help make Oklahoma a better place for all Oklahomans.
The tribal gaming industry in Oklahoma creates good-paying jobs in cities and towns across our state. It expands public and private opportunities by adding infrastructure like roads, power, and internet access. We drive investment in education, government programs and services, and economic development that ensures the well-being of our communities. We prioritize giving back through our philanthropic giving that supports programs across the state.
It’s a vast amount of progress over the past thirty years that has been so life-changing for so many, and there’s much more to come. OIGA was formed in 1986, two years before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed. For those too young to remember our earliest days, our conference and trade show looked very different than it does today. All of it—the vendors, the sessions, the networking—fit in one conference room. We’ve certainly grown since then, but something important has remained the same: the feeling you get when you are at an OIGA conference and tradeshow event.
I am so excited about this year’s events, and I invite you to be a part of our memorable conference and spectacular trade show at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Our John Marley Scholarship Golf Tournament happens on Monday morning, and the welcome reception and poker and blackjack tournaments will be held on Monday evening. Tuesday morning will be dedicated to a wide array of educational sessions. The trade show floor will open at noon on Tuesday for maximum networking, and instead of the formal luncheon, our awards and scholarship recipients will be presented on the trade show floor stage with a more casual meal. Wednesday will be filled with more educational sessions and fun on the trade show floor.
Since the very beginning, prosperous business relationships have led to deep friendships and vice versa. When you’re with us, you’ll definitely feel it. We’ve earned our nickname, The Biggest Little Show in Tribal Gaming, and I look forward to seeing you all there!
