Over 2,000 leaders of the gaming industry will gather today at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi, Miss., for the 20th annual Southern Gaming Summit, including top executives, regulators, suppliers and industry experts serving commercial and tribal casinos and bingo and charitable operations nationwide.

The Summit will offer high-level keynote and conference sessions, showcase the latest products and services and a broad range of networking opportunities and entertainment. Highlights include:

• An opening day keynote speech by Gary Loveman, CEO and president, Caesars Entertainment. Prior to his speech, Loveman will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Frank Fahrenkopf, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA), who will retire June 30.

• An Expo Show Floor that will feature over 125 exhibiting companies offering new products and services from leaders in the industry. Show floor attendees will be able to win grand prize giveaways including a Caribbean cruise and up to $1 million in cash on Wednesday May 8 and Thursday May 9 respectively.

• An Executive Roundtable general session on Thursday, May 9. Chett Harrison, vice president and general manager, Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis will lead a discussion of current strategic and operational initiatives, legislative and regulatory priorities, as well as the near- and long-term outlook for gaming in the Gulf Coast, regionally, nationally and globally with R. Scott Barber, regional president, Mid-South Operations, Caesars Entertainment; Joe Billhimer, executive vice president / COO, MTR Gaming; Chris Gibase, senior vice president, operations, Boyd Gaming Corporation; Jim Hoskins, general manager, Golden Nugget Biloxi and Jon Lucas, president, Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield Park, Ohio.

• A Southern Gaming Summit conference program that features 16 breakout sessions, including operator-driven panels on the topics of slot profitability, marketing, Asian table games, information technology and security.

• The Summit's companion show, Bingo World Conference & Expo, will offer nine breakout sessions, including a bingo managers’ roundtable plus its popular Bingo U workshops. All Southern Gaming Summit & Bingo World conference attendees will have access to the full program.  

Dates/Hours:

Wednesday, May 8
8:00 am - 5: 00 pm: Registration Open
8:00 am - 9:00 am: Continental Breakfast
9:00 am - 1:00 pm: Conference Sessions, including Lifetime Achievement Award presentation and Keynote Address
11:30 am - 5:30 pm: Exhibit Floor Open
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Southern Gaming Summit/Bingo World Opening Night Party

Thursday, May 9
8:00 am - 4: 00 pm: Registration Open
8:00 am - 9:00 am: Continental Breakfast
9:00 am - 11:15 am: Conference Sessions
1:30 am -12:30 pm: General Session: Executive Roundtable
11:30 am - 4:30 pm: Exhibit Floor Open