Mid-Year Conference: September 8-10, 2025 | Mystic Lake Casino, MN
Tradeshow & Convention: March 30-April 2, 2026 | San Diego, CA

2025 Mid-Year Conference Agenda

Mystic Lake Casino Conference Agenda

Mid-Year Conference & Expo educational sessions are a great opportunity to hear the latest updates, insights, and strategies to improve your operation. This year's agenda will follow the theme:
 



Built to Endure: Strengthening Tribal Gaming in the Age of Disruption

Tribal gaming is facing a perfect storm of disruption—federal policy shifts, economic pressure, emerging gray markets, and the intensifying battle over sports betting. Built to Endure brings together tribal leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to chart a path forward. From defending sovereignty against unregulated threats to shaping the future of sports betting in states like Minnesota, this year’s conference focuses on resilience, innovation, and securing tribal gaming’s place in a rapidly evolving landscape.

 

Monday's Theme:
(Sept 8th, 2025)

Under Pressure: Indian Country in the Crosshairs of Federal Policy

From sweeping federal budget cuts to mounting trade tariffs, Indian Country is facing a wave of economic disruption. Tribal governments are contending with slashed funding for critical services - health care, education, law enforcement - while tribal gaming operations struggle with rising costs tied to construction, technology, and supply chains. This event examines how these pressures threaten tribal sovereignty, violate federal obligations, and put long-term economic stability at risk for Native nations across the country.
 

Tuesday's Theme:
(Sept 9, 2025)

Pushing Forward: The Fight to Legalize Sports Betting in Minnesota

Minnesota stands at a critical juncture as efforts to legalize sports betting continue to face political, economic, and tribal sovereignty challenges. This discussion explores the forces shaping the debate, from tribal leadership and racetrack opposition to legislative gridlock. As neighboring states move ahead, Minnesota must decide whether to act — or risk losing ground in the evolving gaming landscape.


 

Wednesday's Theme:
(Sept 10th, 2025)

The Threat From Within: Tribal Gaming Under Attack

The greatest threats to tribal gaming are no longer at the gates — they’re already inside. Sweepstakes gambling, offshore crypto casinos, and prediction markets are eroding tribal markets from within, weakening sovereignty and siphoning revenue. Without action, the foundations of tribal gaming could be permanently compromised. The clock is ticking.


 

2025 Full Conference Schedule

*Conference Agenda is subject to change

Please click on the dates below to navigate to the schedule for each day.

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01:00 PM
  1. 60 mins
    Tribal casinos are expanding, renovating, and investing in infrastructure,  but skyrocketing costs for steel, aluminum, and imported materials are disrupting those plans. This session explores the real-time effects of tariffs on tribal development projects and offers strategies for mitigating risk while continuing to build.
02:00 PM
  1. 60 mins

    Rising costs across labor, supplies, and energy - fueled by economic uncertainty and shifting trade policies - are pressuring tribal casino operations. This session explores how to balance guest expectations with efficient staffing, smart procurement, and cost control. Learn strategies to protect margins without sacrificing the service standards your customers rely on.

03:00 PM
  1. 60 mins

    From federal trade policy to shifting economic conditions, tribes face mounting financial pressures that demand difficult choices. This session explores how policy changes are affecting tribal budgets, operations, and long-term planning—and how tribal governments can respond with strategic decision-making to protect their economies and sustain essential services and programs.

04:00 PM
  1. 60 mins

    Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan discusses the strategies and priorities shaping Minnesota’s next chapter. As the state faces new economic, social, and technological challenges, we explore how leadership, collaboration, and innovation will drive growth, strengthen communities, and position Minnesota for long-term success in an increasingly competitive regional and national landscape.

01:30 PM
  1. 60 mins

    Minnesota’s potential sports betting market doesn’t exist in isolation. This session examines how neighboring states like Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois have shaped the regional landscape, what lessons Minnesota can draw from their experiences, and how cross-border competition - along with the state’s robust pull tab market - could influence the future of gaming within Minnesota’s borders.

02:30 PM
  1. 60 mins

    This session explores the tribal-driven vision for sports betting in Minnesota, where sovereignty and strategic partnerships are central to market design. We’ll examine how the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association’s framework protects tribal interests, promotes responsible gaming, and could serve as a national model for future tribal-state sports betting agreements.

03:30 PM
  1. 60 mins

    As gaming markets evolve and new pressures emerge, Minnesota tribes are looking beyond sports betting toward broader strategies for economic growth and sovereignty protection. Tribal leaders discuss future opportunities, from interactive wagering to new business ventures, and explore how to position tribal gaming for resilience in a shifting landscape.

09:00 AM
  1. 60 mins

    Sweepstakes gambling and offshore crypto casinos are already draining billions from tribal markets, while prediction markets loom as a major future disruptor. This session examines how these threats exploit legal gaps, undermine regulated gaming, and weaken tribal revenues — and why tribes must act now to defend their gaming markets and economic sovereignty.

10:00 AM
  1. 60 mins

    Unregulated gambling is eroding tribal revenues and threatening sovereignty. This session focuses on practical strategies tribes can deploy now — from legal action and regulatory reform to public education and market innovation. Learn how to protect your operations, defend your market share, and strengthen your tribe’s position for the future.

11:00 AM
  1. 60 mins

    Tribal gaming’s future depends on staying ahead of change. As new legal and market threats emerge, tribes must think beyond short-term fixes. This session focuses on building resilient operations, exploring new opportunities, and strengthening sovereignty — ensuring that tribal gaming not only survives disruption but thrives in the decades ahead.