The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) has officially announced that its 2020 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in San Diego will be postponed due to concerns surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic. 

The decision to push back the event, which was scheduled for March 24 to 27, was made following a unanimous vote during an emergency meeting of the association’s Board of Directors. 

National Indian Gaming Association Chairman, Ernie Stevens Jr, stated: “The health and safety of our tribal gaming attendees are of paramount concern and postponing the Indian Gaming Tradeshow, for now, is the safest course of action. Our Board of Directors and Association staff will work diligently on the best path forward for all impacted attendees in light of this postponement.”

The decision to postpone the annual gaming convention follows on from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order that addressed California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now. 

“The people in our lives who are most at risk – seniors and those with underlying health conditions — are depending on all of us to make the right choice.”

In addition to this, a high volume of safety concerns raised by tribal governments and the gaming industry is also believed to have been considered by NIGA’s Board of Directors prior to the vote being taken. 

No new date for the Tradeshow has been set, however, NIGA is set to keep the public informed and will be providing updates as they become available regarding the next steps.