Here's a peek at some of the topics that will be discussed this week during the tribal track.
Tuesday, November 14
• The Next Wave: Staying Competitive -- After the boom, what comes next? Most tribal casinos around the U.S. now face competition in one form or another, including VLTs, commercial casinos, racinos, poker rooms or other tribal gaming operations. The panel includes John Guevremont from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut.
• Seeking Clarity: What Exactly Is Class II Gaming? - Phil Hogen, the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, will defend the agency's controversial proposal to redefine Class II games. Critics Teri Poust, a former NIGC official, and Judy Shapiro, a Washington attorney, will participate.
• Organizing Workers: Labor Laws and Unions in Indian Country - The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals recently heard arguments in a labor law vs. sovereignty case that is being watched everywhere. Panelists include Jackie Johnson, the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians.

Wednesday, November 15
• Beyond Gaming: Economic Opportunities in Indian Country - Panelists like Deron Marquez, the former chairman of the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians, will discuss how gaming has led to the growth of other Indian businesses and industries.
• Off-Reservation Gaming: The Straw that Breaks the Camel's Back? - Another hot topic but one that died on the House floor this week when a bill to restrict off-reservation casinos was killed. Paul G. Moorehead, a former Senate Indian Affairs Committee staffer, will moderate.
• Get Out the Vote: Mid-Term Elections and Their Impact on Indian Gaming - A timely panel on how the Democratic takeover of Congress will affect tribal issues in the 110th Congress. Mark Van Norman, the executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association is the moderator.
• Regulatory Review: NIGC Update - Phil Hogen and Chuck Choney of the NIGC and Tracy Burris and Liz Homer will discuss the agency's agenda for 2007.

Thursday, November 15
• Media Matters: Indian Gaming & The Press - Join Victor Rocha, the proprietor of Pechanga.net and Mark Trahant, the editorial page editor for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, for a discussion on how Indian gaming is tretaed in the press.
• Future of Indian Gaming: Will D.C. Stop the Growth? - Another timely panel on legislative efforts in Congress that could restrict Indian gaming. Panelists include Virgil Moorehead, the chairman of the Big Lagoon Rancheria, a small California whose efforts to open an off-reservation casino have been thwarted, and Jacob Coin, who works for the San Manuel Band, which opposes off-reservation gaming.

Conference Program:
Global Gaming Expo

Relevant Links:
Global Gaming Expo - http://www.globalgamingexpo.com
National Indian Gaming Commission - http://www.nigc.gov
National Indian Gaming Association - http://www.indiangaming.org

Related Stories:
Federal appeals court hears labor law dispute (11/07)
Case blocking out-of-state casino dismissed (11/06)
Michigan tribe gets land-into-trust date in 2007 (11/03)
Most California tribal money goes to Republicans (10/27)
Appeals court limits NIGC's role in Class III gaming (10/23)
Bush signs Internet betting ban into law (10/16)
Court delivers gaming victory to Idaho tribe (10/12)
Tribal gaming still faces challenges in Congress (10/09)
State, tribes argue over sovereign immunity (10/05)
NIGC's Class II rules come under fire from tribes (09/20)
Editorial: Pombo's RIGHT Act fails to live up to its name (09/14)
Controversial IGRA bill fails on House floor (9/13)
IGRA bill up for big vote on House floor (9/12)
Indian gaming act amendments face time crunch (07/31)
House committee approves IGRA amendments (7/27)
NIGA opposes Rep. Pombo's IGRA amendments (7/27)
Tribal gaming revenues reach $23 billion (7/12)
Bush administration pushes Class II gaming proposal (06/20)
IGRA amendments sent to Senate floor (6/16)
Report cites impact, growth of tribal gaming in California (06/01)
NIGC releases draft of casino licensing regulations (05/19)
Indianz.Com launches Casino Stalker to track casinos (05/15)
Group's list inflates off-reservation gaming proposals (04/20)
Gaming tribes support Section 20 IGRA regulations (4/11)
BIA expects more off-reservation gaming applications (4/6)
Tribal gaming industry due for some changes (3/30)
IGRA amendments up for critical committee vote (03/29)
Tribal gaming industry due for some changes (3/30)
BIA sets meetings for Section 20 regulations (3/28)
Off-reservation casino sites still in question (3/16)
BIA sets timetable for new gaming regulations (03/01)
Indian gaming law proposal undergoes big changes (02/28)
Senate panel presses BIA on gaming regulations (02/02)
BIA takes stab at land-into-trust for gaming rules (2/1)
Senate panel delves into gaming again for 2006 (01/25)
California tribes spar over gaming machine distinctions (01/24)
Lobbying reform, gaming high on Congressional agenda (01/20)
McCain cites 'obligation' to non-Indian patrons of casinos (09/27)
NIGC asks Congress for authority over Class III gaming (09/22)
NIGC takes narrow reading of Class III court decision (09/01)
Court rules NIGC has no authority for Class III rules (08/25)
NIGC's Class III effort faces legal challenge (05/06)
Senate panel supports NIGC on Class II rules (04/29)
Senate panel urged to move with caution on gaming (04/28)
Changes to casino rules on Bush agenda for 2004 (01/09)
Colorado River Tribes settle dispute with NIGC (09/03)
Controversial tribal casino rules finalized (06/27)
Objections to casino rules overruled (6/14)
Tribes seek limited federal role (6/13)
Tribe's land approvals questioned (6/11)
NIGC overturns gaming decision (6/6)
Authority of NIGC placed in doubt (5/10)
Authorities seize tribal records (5/7)
Tribes complain about gaming rules (4/29)
Disputed gaming policy advanced (3/22)
Gaming commission ignoring Norton order (1/28)
States object to proposed gaming policy (9/20)
NIGC takes a gamble on new regulations (7/26)

Live from Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas