39 years in the making: Chairman Morgan previews OIGA 2026

As OIGA approaches its 40th anniversary in 2027, could you share your reflections? 

We’ve made a vast amount of progress over the past 39 years, and there’s much more to come. OIGA was formed in 1986, two years before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed. Back then, our Conference and Trade Show looked very different than it does today. All of it – the vendors, the sessions, the networking – fit in one conference room. 

We’ve certainly grown since then, but something important has remained the same: the feeling you get when you are at an OIGA conference. The Tribal gaming industry in Oklahoma creates good-paying jobs in cities and towns across our state. It fosters infrastructure and technology development and philanthropic partnerships across Oklahoma. It drives investment in education, funds government programs and services, economic development ventures and supports the well-being of Tribal citizens and the community at large. I am profoundly grateful for the Tribal gaming industry and proud of all the good it brings.  

I’ve spent twenty-five years in this industry – as an attorney, as a regulator and as someone who has sat at the table with elected and appointed officials at the federal, Tribal and state levels. My goal has always been to be of service – to build and support an industry that continually improves and builds upon our past successes for our tribes, our industry and our communities. 

How has Tribal gaming benefited Oklahoma and Oklahomans over its history? 

The amount of good Oklahoma’s Tribes have done – and continue to do – has changed our state, improving the lives of all Oklahomans for generations. Rural and city-dwelling Oklahomans, Tribal and non-Tribal, benefit from job creation. In fiscal year 2025, the State of Oklahoma received approximately $221 million in Tribal gaming exclusivity fees – up from $210 million in FY 2024, $202 million in FY 2023, and $192 million in FY 2022. That is a steady, compounding line of growth built on a legal framework that works, relationships that have been carefully tended and Tribal governments that take their obligations seriously.

Support from Tribal nations strengthens the work of Oklahoma nonprofits. All Oklahomans benefit from Tribal philanthropy. Our state’s nonprofits have received more than $61 million in support from Tribal donations and sponsorships. Whether a nonprofit is focused on arts and culture, education and scholarships, food insecurity, medical technology, programs for preschoolers or the elderly, tribes are making our state better and our people safer, healthier and happier.  

Those initiatives and efforts were – and are – successful because we work together. No two Tribal Nations hold the same views or policy initiatives on everything, but where we can find common ground, we do find common ground. 

What are the most important things for people to know about Tribal gaming in Oklahoma? 

One of the most important things for people to know is that the successes of the Tribal gaming industry have come from a foundation laid by an entire generation of men and women who have come before, without whom the Tribal gaming industry as we know it would not exist. 

Tribal gaming has always been a forward-thinking industry. We are in the business of entertaining people, which necessitates us constantly looking for the newest technology, gaming offering or amenity for the enjoyment of our customers. This continued ingenuity and hard work has made our many years of success come to fruition, however it is important that we all remember that it did not start with us.  

What do you hope the next 40 years bring? 

If the past is prologue, the next 40 years will bring decades of innovation within our industry, and a continued dedication to doing whatever we can to make Oklahoma a better place to live, work and raise a family.