Southern Gaming Summit features leading industry executives

BILOXI, Miss. (April 20, 2010) — An exclusive roundtable discussion and a top keynote speaker are just two highlights of the 17th annual Southern Gaming Summit, set for May 5-6, 2010, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center here. The Summit is the largest commercial gaming trade show held outside of Las Vegas, and provides an unmatched local voice for the industry.

The Summit’s keynote speaker is Jan Jones, Senior Vice President of Communications and Government Relations for Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. She will be featured at a general session on Thursday, May 6, at 11:30. Also included in that session will be a special presentation of the Mississippi State of the States report, and the Mississippi Casino Operators Association (MCOA) will award a University of Southern Mississippi scholarship to Angela Ladner, currently an administrative assistant to Mike Cray, Director of Casino Operations at Isle of Capri Biloxi.

The Executive Roundtable general session will take place on Wednesday, May 5, at 11:30 a.m. Several leading gaming executives will candidly discuss the latest issues and concerns in the industry:

•    Paul Alanis, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Silver Slipper Gaming, LLC
•    R. Scott Barber, Regional President, Mid-South Operations, Harrah's Entertainment
•    Virginia McDowell, President and Chief Operating Officer, Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.
•    Anthony Sanfilippo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.

They will be led through the discussion by Tess Ingram, General Manager of Lighthouse Point Casino and Chair of the MCOA, co-producer of the Summit along with BNP Media Gaming Group.

“These outstanding industry leaders have graciously offered to share their knowledge and insights about the state of the gaming industry today and where it is headed,” said Beverly Martin, executive director of the MCOA. “The future depends how the economy recovers and how consumers might have permanently altered their gaming and leisure behavior, and there is no better group to discuss these issues.”

The Summit, which is further enhanced by the addition of BingoWorld, the world’s largest bingo conference and expo, is expected to draw a large crowd for its 2010 renewal. Still more than two weeks out, the number of registered attendees is rapidly approaching 2,000, representing some 450 different gaming operators and companies. Nearly 150 vendors have signed on as exhibitors, and all of these numbers are expected to increase significantly before the event.

Southern Gaming Summit and BingoWorld both feature excellent educational opportunities designed to provide something for everyone; all conference attendees may choose from sessions in both programs. The trade show floor is 30 percent larger than last year’s Summit, and of course the legendary social events are headlined by Taste of the Casinos – Ignite Your Senses, which will include incredible entertainers, amazing costumes and unparalleled performances that will leave everyone breathless.

In all, 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. With this dynamic audience, it’s no wonder that vendors are still reaching out with exhibit booths, sponsorships and advertising opportunities; 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.