Having just celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference & Trade Show has always been a central point for collaboration to help protect Tribal sovereignty across the US. Preparing to host its 2026 rendition from the Oklahoma City Convention Center, OIGA may bear witness to its most vital discussions yet, as the threat of prediction markets has risen to much greater heights over the past 12 months.

A familiar discussion

With multi-billion-dollar valuations having been set for the likes of Kalshi and Polymarket, operators providing event contract trading are doing little to slow business in favor of complying with stricter regulations. In states well-known for maintaining Tribal gaming operations, the fight to enforce stronger oversight of event contract trading continues. California, Arizona and Oklahoma have all watched as Kalshi, Polymarket and numerous other prediction market operators set up shop with no consideration for the effect on Tribal sovereignty. 

But a big problem here is just how much has been discussed about prediction markets at Tribal shows already – and how little that has amounted to in terms of practical resistance.

At the 2026 Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Tradeshow & Convention, prediction markets were by far the most pressing topic for Tribal leaders to address during various panels and discussions. Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation VP Associate General Counsel for Gaming Michael Hoenig spoke on the “aggressive” legal approach prediction market operators have taken in the US, and how Tribes have a “long, long fight” ahead in litigation. 

IGA Chairman David Bean addressed event contract trading during the conference, too, describing the vertical as “illegal gambling dressed up as finance” and “an outright blatant disrespect of Tribal sovereignty.” California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Chairman James Siva explained how Tribes might be “forced” to compete in the prediction markets space if courts side with operators, adding “we will do what we have to do.”

Ultimately, the battle against prediction markets has yet to reach a final verdict, and the OIGA Conference & Trade Show represents another opportunity for Tribal leaders to come together and decipher the best course of action in protecting their Native communities.

What can we expect this year?

OIGA Trade Show Coordinator Sheila Morago spoke with Global Gaming Insider to touch on what to expect from the conference. 

“It’s one of those times where you get the top dogs on stage and let them speak on what they think is going on in our industry. At this point, we’ll obviously have conversations on prediction markets. We’ve got the NIGC going through some struggling times, as you might say, but we want to make sure everybody’s up to speed on what’s expected,” Morago said. 

Described as the “biggest little show” in Indian gaming, OIGA is set to feature nearly 3,000 vendors, visitors and guest speakers from July 20-22 and host 40 panel sessions across the three-day event. The conference’s Annual Golf Tournament will once again benefit the John Marley Scholarship Fund, while female leaders in the Tribal space will also be celebrated during the show, an activation “near and dear” to Morago’s heart. 

A notable development provided by the OIGA Trade Show Coordinator is the conference’s growing popularity with international suppliers, as Morago confirmed attendance from organizations conducting business in Germany and Macau.

Morago shared: “The biggest deal is about wanting to make sure we’ve got options on the floor. When you go on our floor, we want you to see the latest and greatest from the gaming industry – and you can’t do that anymore without having some of those companies from the UK, Germany and Macau. Gaming is too international.

“(OIGA) is big enough to get those folks but it’s also small enough that everybody can see everything that’s on the floor. One of the good things about being ‘small’ is you’re not going to miss anything.”

In local news...

The Oklahoma conference may also look to address lawmakers’ recent decision to overrule Governor Kevin Stitt’s veto of Senate Bill 1589, which banned the operation and promotion of sweepstakes casinos. While Stitt chose to veto Senate Bill 1589 on May 13, the state Senate eventually voted 34-10 to approve the override, as the Oklahoma House of Representatives joined by voting to a 68-19 majority.

Given the lengths Tribes have gone to outlaw sweepstakes casinos, the victory in Oklahoma will most likely be celebrated at OIGA 2026 by Chairman Matthew Morgan and fellow leaders of the Association. Choosing to prohibit sweepstakes casino gameplay was not the only prominent decision made by Oklahoma lawmakers, however, as the opportunity to delve into sports betting was brought forth yet again in the state legislature. 

Despite optimism from Senator Bill Coleman and Representative Ken Luttrell, the Oklahoma Senate voted to reject House Bill 1047, which could have allowed Tribes to begin conducting retail betting operations and permitted a new online betting framework. Under the mobile framework, operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings would have been able to partner with Tribes to gain market access in Oklahoma. 

Previously, Chairman Morgan has noted Tribes are the “ones that take the financial risk on any gaming extensions” and maintain “substantial exclusivity” to sports betting under existing gaming compacts. The OIGA Chairman also shared how Oklahoma Tribes don’t view sports betting “as a way to drive revenue,” but rather a means to “protect our interests and what we have.”

The legal subtext

With Kalshi, Polymarket and a number of additional prediction-market operators currently active in Oklahoma, it is only a matter of time until figures such as Chairman Morgan pursue legal action against the entities. Perhaps the 2026 OIGA event will serve as a launching point for Oklahoma Tribes to fight back against prediction markets, especially with momentum building from the fall of sweepstakes in the Sooner State. 

The 2026 OIGA Conference & Trade Show will also showcase the continued growth of Tribal gaming, which has evolved into a $40bn+ industry since inception. Morago helped encapsulate how OIGA represents a “nice little snapshot” of Tribal gaming on a national level, offering an extended lens which stretches far outside its own market. 

“If you look at everything Tribal gaming has done, not just in Oklahoma but all over the country, it’s a success story year after year,” Morago said. “It’s really nice to reach out to our friends and our gaming family, because that’s basically what it is. You see these folks more often than you see your extended family sometimes, and we’re always grateful that Tribal leaders and our friends in the industry come to OIGA and lend us their expertise.”