Miss. Governor Haley Barbour To Give Keynote Presentation At Southern Gaming Summit

BILOXI, Miss. (April 8, 2008) – The Southern Gaming Summit will welcome Miss. Governor Haley Barbour as its keynote speaker when the popular conference celebrates its 15th year next month at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi, May 7-8.

Gov. Barbour continues to lead the state through its remarkable recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a natural disaster unlike any other on American soil. His tireless efforts and belief in the “Mississippi Spirit” led to his reelection last year, when he became only the second governor since Reconstruction elected to a second consecutive term as Mississippi’s chief executive.

“We are very happy to welcome back Gov. Barbour to the Southern Gaming Summit,” said Beverly Martin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, producer of the Summit along with BNP Media. “With his reelection, he can continue the work he started in the post-Katrina era, working closely with the gaming industry to re-develop the Gulf Coast.”

In total, more than 65 expert speakers are already confirmed for the Summit, which also includes a general session on building a destination; a series on gaming law, developed in partnership with the International Masters of Gaming Law; a series exploring the latest trends in slot gaming, and additional sessions on Class II gaming, business intelligence and analytics, game protection, a view from Wall Street and the political outlook in the South.

The Summit’s unique mix of education, networking and southern hospitality make it a must-attend event for anyone doing business in or interested in developing business in the region. Recognizing this, several leading industry vendors have signed on as sponsors, including AC Coin & Slot, Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, Aristocrat, Bally Technologies, FutureLogic, Gaming Laboratories International, Global Cash Access, IGT, JCM Global, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Konami Gaming, Kortek, Las Vegas Gaming Inc., MEI, Orix, Shuffle Master, Suzo Happ, TransAct Technologies and WMS Gaming.

Also participating as sponsors are the IP Casino Resort Spa and the platinum-level sponsors Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Harrison County Development Commission and Harrison County Tourism Commission. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are still available, but exhibit space is almost sold out. Please contact Lesley Grashow at grashowl@bnpmedia.com for more information.

The Southern Gaming Summit is the largest commercial gaming trade show held outside of Las Vegas, and provides an unmatched voice for the local industry. For a complete speaker list and up-to-date information, please visit www.sgsummit.com.

Media Contact: Beverly Martin, Executive Director, Mississippi Casino Operators Association; WINMCOA@aol.com or (228) 388-0087.