Living up to its nickname once again – ‘the biggest little show in gaming’ – the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association’s (OIGA) 27th annual Conference and Trade Show is returning on August 9-11. Expected to draw around 3,000 vendors, visitors and guest speakers, this year’s event is to be held at the Cox Business Convention Center in downtown Tulsa.
Coming off of last year’s somewhatsubdued event in Oklahoma City – which was celebrating an industry still reeling from the pandemic and beset withproblems stemming from the Deltavariant – this year’s event in Tulsa is expected to be a return to form.
OIGA representative Sheila Moragostruck an appropriately upbeat tone when commenting on this summer’s event: “We are thrilled to tell you thatOIGA’s 2022 Conference and TradeShow, taking place August 9-11 in Tulsa, will be back at full throttle, with an energized trade show floor, exciting conference sessions, and some new twists designed to take everyone’s experience up a notch or two.”
Things are going to transpire slightly differently this year. The doors will open early, for one. This will allow for an expanded program, “for maximum networking” explained Morago. She went on, “and instead of the formal luncheon,our awards will be presented on the tradeshow floor stage, with a more casualmeal. Thursday will be filled with more sessions and fun at the trade show.”
Furthermore, doors will stay open later on that first day to accommodate a “blowout welcome party” in addition to poker and blackjack tournaments to be held on the show floor. For early arrivals,too, there will be the trademark John Marley Golf Tournament held on Tuesday morning.
“We’re taking everything you loveabout the party: the food, bars and fun– and maybe even some karaoke – and creating a fun, new way to celebrate” said Morago.
Expect the tradeshow floor tobe flush with vendors from all walksof the industry: gaming machine manufacturers, casino equipment companies, food service and hospitality professionals, architects and local crafts people. The state’s representative business entity – Made in Oklahoma – will have its own corner of the floor forthe fifth straight year.
The whole event will celebrate what is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant gaming regions in the nation. Tribal players come front and center in the Sooner State, which has a diverse arrayof casino operators – not to mention the numerous ancillary companies thathelp the industry thrive. Expect themto be out in full force in Tulsa this coming August.
