6:30 - 8:30 PM Opening Night Reception
Monday, March 26th
8:30 - 9:30 AM Continental Breakfast
9:30 - 10:45 AM Surveying the New Political Landscape
Ron Allen, Vice President, National Congress of American Indians; Jana Mckeag, Vice President of Government Relations, VCat and Columnist for Indian Gaming Business; Tom Rodgers, President, Carlyle Consulting;
10:45 - 11:00 AM Networking Break
11:00AM - 12:00PM INDIAN GAMING IN THE NEWS
It's a simple fact of life that the media uses the most sensational and
lurid elements of an issue to help sell newspapers and depictions of Indian gaming in the media are no exception. Despite the fact that most Indian gaming operations are clean, well-run establishments, the media is quick to jump on even the most tenuous charges of illegal or illicit conduct at Indian casinos and bingo halls. Take a recent series of articles in the Boston Globe, for example, which have brought back to life old charges of corruption and ineptitude in the Indian Gaming industry, charges that give great comfort to enemies of Indian Gaming. This session will address the causes of the media's unflattering and unrepresentative coverage of Indian gaming, and how tribes can combat these depictions through public education and media outreach.
Kyle Nayback Director of Congressional and Public Affairs, National
Indian Gaming Commission; Victor Rocha , California Indian Gaming News; Katherine Spilde, Ph.D.,
Director of Research, National Indian Gaming Association
12:00 - 12:15 PM Networking Break
12:15 - 2:00 PM Luncheon with Keynote
Luncheon Keynote: Richard Milanovich, Tribal Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
2:00 - 2:15 PM Networking Break
2:15 - 3:15 PM CALIFORNIA: THE NONGAMING SOLUTION
For the first time in the history of U.S. Indian gaming, Indian tribes
not participating in gaming stand to gain financially as a result of
successful tribal gaming operations. As part of the California compact,
non-gaming tribes will receive up to $1.5 million in gaming dollars
annually, allowing them to pay for much-needed reservation services.
Already, $34 million has been collected from California's Native American gaming entities to benefit non-gaming tribes. How will these tribes use the funds? What are the reasons these tribes opted not to participate in gaming? How will this policy change the way of life for Native Americans in California? This session will explore the relationships between the Golden State's gaming and non-gaming tribes.
The Non-Gaming Solution: Matt Connor, Editor, Indian Gaming Business Greg Elvine-
Kries, Legal Assistant, Albietz Law Corp, Anthony Pico, Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians; Mark Nichols, Chief Executive Officer, Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
3:15 - 3:30 PM Networking Break
3:30 - 4:30 PM THE EXPANSION OF GAMING IN CALIFORNIA - IS IT POSSIBLE?
With the establishment of Indian gaming in California, rapid growth of
the market is inevitable. Nearly every Golden State tribe is
contemplating a casino if they don't already have one, with some
considering a move onto trust lands in urban areas. Tribes with
established casinos are quickly expanding or opening second properties.
Meanwhile, the state's card clubs and racetracks aren't sitting still,
with recent initiatives launched to bring casino-style gaming to those
venues. This session will look at where the greatest potential for growth
exists in the California market, how that growth might come about and
what new marketing challenges an expanded market will present.
Michael Lombardi, President, Lombardi Consulting and Columnist for Indian Gaming Business; Fritz Opel, VCat