TUCSON, Arizona – October 25, 2016 – The Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA) hosted the 2016 AIGA Expo at the Casino Del Sol Resort & Conference Center, in Tucson, Arizona, October 23 – 25, 2016.
More than 250 tribal gaming professionals and representatives joined the AIGA member tribes for the annual event with three days of conference activities, including the fifth annual Desert Classic golf tournament, conference workshops & sessions, discussions & forums, the tradeshow and expo and the Chef’s Challenge.
This year’s Expo theme “Celebrating Tribal Gaming and Beyond,” provided the conference foundation of discussion.
Indian gaming leadership kicked off the expo & conference as part of the opening general session. Valerie Spicer, Executive Director of AIGA, welcomed the participants with additional remarks presented by Pascua Yaqui Tribal Chairman Robert Valencia, AIGA Chairman Louis J. Manuel, National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Chairman Jonodev Chaudhuri and National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr.
The AIGA Expo was also honored to include United States Senator John McCain (R-AZ), who spoke to the history of tribal gaming importance of economic development and issues central to Arizona tribes.
Valerie Spicer Quote “The Expo affords us a wonderful first-hand opportunity to speak to the advances in the industry and to the benefits that Tribal gaming brings to many.”
The Discussion Forum included a great gaming related track of discussion which included topics ranging from the Election 2016, the Future Contenders in the Industry, Diplomats for Business Change, the Evolution of Regulatory, the Industry Perspective, and a general session Tribal Leaders Forum, looking at the Tribal Gaming and Beyond.
The AIGA Expo 2016 sponsors included the host sponsor, Casino Del Sol Resort & Conference Center, Presenting Conference sponsors Navajo Gaming and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Trade Show sponsor Ak-Chin Indian Community, Presenting Chefs Challenge sponsor, Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment and the presenting Golf sponsor, The Penta Building Group.
