New Mexico tribes to host annual conference

Tuesday, February 20, 2007  

The New Mexico Indian Gaming Association is hosting the 10th annual Southwest Gaming Conference and Expo this week.

The event takes place Wednesday and Thursday at Sandia Resort and Casino, owned by Sandia Pueblo. Over 300 tribal representatives from the Southwest and other parts of the country are expected to attend.

"On behalf of NMIGA we welcome all the tribes, organizations and attendees. We worked hard to develop an exciting conference filled with timely and relevant information. While it is important to understand our industry we must be very astute in dealing with the federal and state governments which are reflected in our roundtable discussions," said Charlie Dorame, the chairman of NMIGA and the governor of Tesuque Pueblo.

The joint host of the conference is the Arizona Indian Gaming Association. It starts at 8am on Wednesday and ends at 4:30pm on Thursday.

For the full agenda, see below.

Southwest Indian Gaming Conference & Expo
Sandia Resort and Casino, Albuquerque, NM
February 19 - 23, 2007

Monday, February 19, 2007
9:00 AM Regional Association Executive Directors Meeting
1:00 PM Golf, Spa and Shopping
6:00 PM Regional Association Reception

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
11:00 AM Shotgun, Tee-off, Santa Ana Golf Course if Bad Weather Bowling @ Santa Ana
6:30 – 8:00 PM The 10th Annual SWIGC Welcome Reception~ Food from the Southwest Chefs & the Awarding of Golf Prizes

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
8:00 AM Attendee Registration Begins ~ Ballroom Foyer ~ Sandia
8:00 AM Vendor Breakfast – Associate Member Programs
9:00 AM Opening Ceremonies, Opening Remarks
9:30 AM Coffee Break
9:45 AM Regional Updates
10:30 AM Breakout Sessions

1) Indian Preference Programs: Developing Policies and Practices That Work
2) Table Games: Operations from the Ground Up
3) How Casino Prepare , Respond and Recover from All Hazard Risks

NOON Keynote Luncheon
1:30 PM Breakout Sessions

4) NIGC: Internet Gaming and Other NIGC Issues
5) HR: How Does the New ERISA Plan Affect Your Operations
6) Presentations of The 2006 Gambling Study Report by the Responsible Gaming
Association of New Mexico and the Arizona Youth Survey on Gambling Activities.
7) Slots: How Gaming Content Will Drive the Industry

3:00 PM Afternoon Break
3:15 PM Breakout Sessions

8) Financial Statements: What are your Financial Statements Telling you that you are not Hearing?
9) Customer Relations Round Table Discussion
10) F&B: Save Money and Stop the Leakage
11) IT: Counting on Technology to Run your Casino

4:00 PM Expo Opens
5:00 PM Reception on Expo Floor
6:30PM Expo Closes

Thursday, February 22, 2007
9:00 AM Breakout Session

11) Roundtable Discussion: The Three Majors: How do National, State, and Tribal Regulators Communicate and Work Together,
13 The 110th Congress: How will it affect Indian Country
14) PR: Meet the Press. A true Questions and Answers session
15) Marketing Table Games

10:30 AM Continental Breakfast on Expo Floor
11:15 AM Breakout Sessions

16) Ticket In/ Ticket Out Scams
17) HR: Dispute Resolutions
18) Marketing: Creating the Best Promotion Ever
19) Class II for Dummies

12:30 PM Lunch on Expo Floor
2:00 PM Ice Cream Break and Prizes on Expo Floor
3:00 PM Expo Entertainment Begins ~ Join Vendors and Attendees for a 10th Anniversary Celebration on the Expo Floor.
3:00 PM General Session: 2008 Elections: How the Indian Vote Matters on the State and National Level and How do we keep the momentum going?
4:30 PM Conference Comes to a Close