More than 500 people are expected to attend the 8th annual Northwest Indian Gaming Conference and Expo next week.

The conference takes place July 14-16 at the Little Creek Casino Resort, owned by the Squaxin Island Tribe. Attendees will be able to participate in more than 18 panel discussions and see more than 90 exhibitors.

Featured speakers include Washington attorney general Rob McKenna. "We appreciate the interest he has shown in tribal issues since becoming attorney general. Mr. McKenna doesn't always agree with us, but he has taken the time to learn about our issues, and he listens and respects our views," said Ron Allen, the chairman of Washington Indian Gaming Association and chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.

In the past, most of the conference participants represent tribes from Washington. But tribes from Oregon, California, Oklahoma, Idaho and Montana, along with First Nations from Canada, also attend.