The 35th National Indian Tradeshow & Convention is the first large-scale event of its kind in Las Vegas since the shutdown from the pandemic.
Between 5,000 and 6,000 people are expected to attend the show at the new Caesars Forum Conference Center between July 19 and 23. According to the event’s website, the tradeshow and convention will be a celebration of strength, self-reliance, and success aimed at tribal leaders and casino executives. The convention also will be a chance for attendees to renew friendships and learn about the latest gaming innovations and developments.
The conference places an emphasis on education, with many informative sessions geared toward gaming and tribal concerns.
“The Future of Gambling: A Conversation with the Innovators” (July 20, 11 a.m.) will be moderated by Daniel Sahl, director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Center for Gaming Innovation, and feature discussions about skill-based gaming, esports, cryptocurrency, and cashless.
“Casino Operations in a Post-Pandemic Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?” (July 20, 9 a.m.) will discuss operational and regulatory adjustments, including enhanced health and safety protocols and employee health and welfare, as byproducts of COVID. The session will be hosted by Pokagan Band Gaming Commission Executive Director Dave Vialpando.
The emergence of sports betting will be a trendy topic, with multiple sessions scheduled.
Gene Chayevsky, president & CFO of BMM Testlabs, will host “The Future of Sports Betting Tech and Regulations” (July 20, 9 a.m.), a tutorial on how tribal operators can keep pace with the changing landscape of sports betting technology.
“Tribal Sports Betting: Meet the New Stakeholders” (July 20, 2 p.m.), hosted by Valerie Spicer, founder partner of the Trilogy Group, will be an introduction to new players in the sports betting landscape.
“Roadmap to Sportsbook Success: How Choctaw Did it in 90 Days” (July 22, noon) will detail how the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians launched the nation’s first independent and tribally owned and operated sportsbook in less than 90 days. Erica Clemons Moore, director of public relations at the Pearl River Resort in Mississippi, is the moderator.
Cashless and digital technologies are also buzzwords at this year’s convention.
“Casinos and the Digital Revolution: A New Way of Doing Business” (July 20, 2 p.m.) will feature representatives from Konami, Sightline Payments, Gaming Laboratories International and NRT Technology discussing how they delivered a unique connected cashless, experience. Tamara Hansen, director of sales for the NRT Technology, is the moderator. The evolution of cashless gaming will be examined in “Going Cashless: Digital Wallets for Gaming and Beyond” (July 20, 3 p.m.). Brendan Bussman, a partner with Global Market Advisors, will lead discussions on the benefits of new cashless gaming technology.
“The Marketing of Influence” (July 21, 2 p.m.), moderated by J. Carcamo & Associates President Julia Carcamo, will examine the growth of home-grown influencers who attract thousands of followers to TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
