Page 4 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Winter, 2023

Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association
Hall of Fame 2023 event is Celebration of Gaming
Official Newsmagazine of the Mississippi Gaming Industry
SUMMER 2023 Volume XX Issue 2
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Copyright, 2023
Mississippi Gaming News
(MGN) is owned and published by M2 Media Corp., 12268 Intraplex Parkway, Gulfport, MS 39503. MGN is produced in cooperation with the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association. The contents of MGN are copyrighted. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
By Larry Gregory
The Southern Gaming Summit (SGS) has meant so much to our industry and our state for what it has provided since 1994. And now, the oldest gaming conference and trade show is evolving.
Many may remember that during the early years the SGS was held in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. The main event
SGS proved to be beneficial. Although the SGS is evolving, as all
things do, we still want to carry on what has become the most well-attended event each year — the Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame. The Hall of
Fame, which has honored such notable gaming legends as Si Redd, Jack Binion and William Boyd, along with industry manufacturers, regulators and leaders, will continue its legacy by recognizing individuals who are important to Mississippi’s gaming story — individuals who exemplify the best qualities both personally and professionally. Their legacy is Mississippi’s success.
I am excited for the 2023 class of honorees: Chevis Swetman of The Peoples Bank; the Engelstad Family Foundation; former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour; and Bobby Moak, former state representative and chairman of the gaming committee. They will be honored on June 29 at a special event, a Celebration of Gaming, at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi.
And, for all those who looked forward to the golf tournament each year, we will be hosting an event in Tunica later this fall. This will give our operators a day of fun on the links and a chance to build working relationships with invited guests from the business community. And, the tournament will provide Tunica a great opportunity to show what it has to offer as a gaming destination.
Although the lights and noise may not be around this year from the showroom floor of the SGS, there will still be excitement and fun with our two best events, the Hall of Fame and the fall golf tournament. Visit sgsummit.org for more details. The Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association will continue to watch how the economic uncertainty of hosting regional shows like this evolves. And while we are uncertain about the future of the SGS, we would all like it to continue.
Larry Gregory is the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association. He can be reached at lgregory@msgaming.org.
was the Taste of the Gulf Coast dinner. Attendees from around the country experienced true Southern hospitality
and fantastic culinary creations from area casino restaurants.
Larry Gregory
The show itself was large and in charge. There were seminars, guest speakers, lots of exhibits, networking opportunities, fun events and more. We had new slot machines and table games spread out on the showroom floor for all to see. Lasting relationships and wonderful memories were formed, making the SGS something special.
But, over time the manufacturers began seeing that it was not advantageous to haul those heavy machines across the country. And, due to the stressors on the economy over the past few years, it became apparent that SGS couldn’t match its earlier successes.
I remember when Hurricane Katrina changed the landscape of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but it did not stop the determination we had in producing the next SGS. As they say, the show must go on. The tradition of having the SGS was crucial to our industry and state, and we decided we would move the location up north to Tunica.
We had attendees from across the country showing up to support us. Those relationships from the early years of the
4MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS SUMMER 2023