NIGA’s Indian gaming tradeshow and conference scheduled for July in Las Vegas

February 16, 2021 12:12 PM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports
February 16, 2021 12:12 PM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports

The largest annual conference and tradeshow dedicated to tribal gaming is moving to Las Vegas this summer after its 2020 event was canceled due to the pandemic.

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The National Indian Gaming Association said Friday was bringing the conference to the Caesar’s Forum Conference Center on the Strip from July 19-23. The conference and tradeshow will be held in conjunction with the Reservation Economic Summit, scheduled for the same dates at Bally’s Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas on the Strip.

In a statement, the Washington D.C. based trade organization predicted the combined events could bring more than 10,000 attendees.

The annual NIGA tradeshow and conference is normally held in San Diego. Last year’s event was canceled just as COVID-19 forced states and tribal governments to close nearly 1,000 casinos in 43 states in an effort to slow the spreading virus.

NIGA leaders said they decided to re-schedule April’s planned event because of the continuing pandemic.

Moving to Las Vegas will allow more time for the vaccine rollout and hopefully further declines in the COVID-19 infection rate, NIGA said in the statement.

The tradeshow focuses on gaming equipment products dedicated to tribal casino operations while the conference covers issues important to Indian gaming operations. The addition of the Reservation Economic Summit, which is sponsored by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, adds to the programming.

NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. said the organization’s goal is to conduct a full access tradeshow in Las Vegas.

“Our two great organizations have a long history of coming together to support one another,” Stevens said. “In this unique year, the joint venture helps coordinate our two shows in one venue (Las Vegas), and allows for the maximum amount of time for our attendees to secure vaccinations and safely travel.”

Stevens said NIGA and RES are “finalizing the details” that will allow the tradeshows “to work through the COVID-19 precautions and provide a safe environment.”

Caesars Forum, a 550,000-square-foot conference center, was completed last year at a cost of $375 million but has sat largely unused as the pandemic all but halted Las Vegas’ convention, meetings, and tradeshow business. Caesars Forum was expected to be unveiled to a national audience last April when it was scheduled to the site of the three-day NFL Draft. The event was postponed.

Las Vegas convention attendance fell 74% to levels last seen in 1991 as COVID-19 disrupted travel and led to a prohibition on mass gatherings. Las Vegas ended the year with nine straight months of zero convention and meeting delegates. However, the large World of Concrete tradeshow is scheduled for the Las Vegas Convention Center in June and Nevada’s last week set a time for an easing of capacity restrictions over the next few months.

Caesars Forum is located behind Caesars Entertainment’s Linq Promenade, a shopping, dining, and entertainment district. The Linq includes the 550-foot High Roller, currently the world’s largest observation wheel. The facility is adjacent to the Caesars-owned Linq Hotel and Flamingo Las Vegas.

Stevens said the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention would present almost all aspects of its normal tradeshow. The organization is planning to utilize a 250,000-square-foot tradeshow with more than 350 companies. The event will include the annual membership meeting, conferences, workshops, an Indian gaming commissioner certification series, and Native American arts and crafts booths.

Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.