SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
--The California Nations Indian Gaming Association announces the 15th annual Western Indian Gaming Conference January 12th and 13th at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

This year seminars will include discussions in several fields including internet gaming, the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund, Class II and Class III gaming, tribal economic diversification and financial investing. Each panel will feature multiple experts in each respective field offering diverse perspectives including Assemblyman Joe Coto (D - San Jose) Chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee who will discuss the future of the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.

Reports from Sacramento and Washington, D.C. will also take place, and will feature both policy makers and those familiar with the issues at both the state and federal level.

The WIGC will feature a daylong regulatory conference on Tuesday, January 12th that will include discussions on tribal Minimum Internal Control Standards, Compliance, and oversight regulation by the State and Federal governments. Panelists will include representatives from tribal, state and federal gaming commissions and regulatory agencies.

Also scheduled on January 12th, is the WIGC signature golf tournament which will be held at Agua Caliente's Indian Canyons Golf Resort.

"CNIGA is especially thankful to our sponsors for stepping up their support at this critical time in the history of tribal government gaming and demonstrating a willingness to build partnerships for the future in Indian country," says CNIGA Chairman Daniel J. Tucker. "These partnerships are critical to protect the sovereign rights of California tribes to conduct gaming on our own lands."

Tucker also added, "CNIGA would like to specifically thank the primary sponsors of the WIGC including the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, The PENTA Building Group, and Aristocrat Technologies."

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association is a non-profit association comprised of federally recognized tribal governments dedicated to the protection of tribal sovereignty and the right of tribes to have gaming on Indian lands.

The Palm Springs Convention Center is located at 277 North Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA. Members of the press are asked to check in at the registration counters to obtain press credentials. Individuals wishing to attend the conference may register on-site on Tuesday, January 12 and Wednesday, January 13 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration for the conference is free.

SOURCE California Nations Indian Gaming Association