Southern Gaming Summit Explores State Of The Industry

BILOXI, Miss. (April 23, 2009) — Senior executives from four prestigious casino/resort companies will convene in a general session at the 16th annual Southern Gaming Summit to discuss the state of the industry. The Summit is the country’s largest regional gaming conference and trade show, and will be held May 6-7, 2009, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center here.

In the general session, scheduled for the first day of the Summit, moderator Jon Lucas, President and General Manager of IP Casino Resort Spa will lead a discussion that includes Virginia McDowell, President and Chief Operating Officer of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.; John Payne, President of the Central Division of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.; and Tim Wilmott, President and Chief Operating Officer of Penn National Gaming, Inc.

“Everyone is concerned about how the economy has affected gaming, and rightly so,” said Lucas, who is also president of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, co-producer of the Summit along with BNP Media. “Our distinguished panelists will explore how the gaming industry has weathered the economic downturn and what the prospects are for growth as the business cycle turns in the coming months.”

Some of the topics to be addressed in this very timely general session include how casino resort operating and marketing decisions have been affected by the economy; how the experiences in the Gulf Coast region compare to other gaming jurisdictions; how changing consumer behavior could permanently impact the gaming industry; and what the industry might do differently to minimize future economic disruptions.

A second general session will be held on May 7, and it features the return of popular Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, who will provide the Summit’s keynote address.

In all, a cast of more than 80 expert speakers headline a deep conference program covering topics that are extremely important in today’s economic environment, with a focus on operational issues, customer service and marketing at a time when all of these areas must be emphasized to keep the gaming industry growing. Sessions also include such topics as the political and financial outlook for the gaming industry, gaming’s economic impact, corporate social responsibility, cruise ship gaming and Internet gaming.

In addition to an exceptional conference program, the Summit includes plenty of networking opportunities, not only on the exhibit floor but through the Taste of the South reception and other events for attendees. More than 100 companies will showcase their products and services in the exhibit hall, from some of the largest vendors in the gaming and hospitality industries to small boutique vendors specializing in hands-on service.

Clearly, the Summit’s unique mix of education, networking and southern hospitality make it a necessary event for anyone doing business in or interested in developing business in the region. It’s no wonder that vendors are responding with exhibit booths, sponsorships and advertising opportunities to reach this dynamic audience; contact Lesley Grashow at grashowl@bnpmedia.com for more information.

Complete conference details are at www.sgsummit.com.

Media Contact: Beverly Martin, Executive Director, Mississippi Casino Operators Association; WINMCOA@aol.com or (228) 388-0087.