Cuts in federal funding and contracts, along with concerns about tariffs and the economy, cut into the attendance of last week’s Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, the conference chairman said Monday.
The Indian Gaming Association released totals that showed 7,500 people attended the four-day conference in San Diego, about 100 more than attended the 2024 show in Anaheim.
At the start of 2025, conference organizers expected about 9,000 people to attend, similar to the number achieved in 2023 when the show was last held in San Diego. But the Trump administration created financial uncertainty for the tribes and prompted some, especially smaller tribes, not to send members or send smaller contingents. In addition, the last-minute rush of additional vendors didn’t materialize, conference Chairman Victor Rocha said.
“Things were picking up. Then the Trump tariffs (were implemented) and business folks started freaking out about the economy. It slowed down at the very end when we normally expect a lot more pickup,” Rocha said. “We actually saw less activity. We expected a bigger rush and didn’t get it.”
Rocha said there was a lot of uncertainty when the federal government cut back on funding for tribal healthcare and education.
“A couple tribes I spoke with were dealing with energy and had government contracts (for oil services). When they were canceled, they decided not to come,” Rocha said. “The tribes were hit from a million different directions. Even so, we’re very satisfied with what we did on the tradeshow floor, educational sessions, and our digital summit.”
Rocha pointed out that federal agencies, including representatives from the National Indian Gaming Commission, weren’t allowed to attend at the last minute as well. The conference had to set up Zoom, so they could speak at some sessions to give the tribes needed information.
“With tribes being so intermeshed with the federal government, it’s put a chill across Indian Country. People were waiting for the other shoe to drop and boy, has it dropped.”
Rocha said IGA’s conference caught the front end of the current economic and government landscape and predicted it will be tougher for global gaming conferences throughout the year. “We dodged a bullet, but others won’t be so lucky unless things change between now and then. This uncertainty will hurt the industry.”
“Someone from one of the slot machine companies said they’re going to have to raise prices with a tariff fee. Slot machines are built with the world economy just like the American automobile.”
Rocha said those building tribal casinos are also dealing with tariffs; their construction costs are increasing because of materials coming from Canada and Mexico.
Despite attendance falling, Rocha said the conference went over well for those who were there. He said the IGA loves holding the conference in San Diego and will return to the city in 2026 before a one-year stop in Las Vegas in 2027. They return to San Diego in 2028 before going back to Las Vegas in 2029, because the San Diego Convention Center isn’t available. They return to the southern California city in 2030.
“San Diego is our spiritual home and it feels great to be there,” Rocha said. “Everyone who was at the conference absolutely loved it and the sessions were packed.”
The biggest takeaway from the show was what Rocha called “a very pro-business environment” with deals getting done. “While foot traffic was down, the quality of attendees was up.”
Sports betting operators FanDuel and DraftKings exhibited at the conference for the first time and brought former NFL players Rob Gronkowski and Chad Johnson to the floor.
“The place was overflowing and there were football and jerseys,” Rocha said. “I made a concerted effort to have conversations about sports betting and online gaming, prediction markets, and sweepstakes in addition to floors and slots and table games. It was a very forward-looking conference on the business of technology and gambling.”
