BILOXI, Miss. (April 11, 2005) — Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell will provide the Day 1 keynote address during the opening day General Session at the 12^th Annual Southern Gaming Summit, May 4-5 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. Don H. Barden, Chairman and CEO, Barden Companies, the most successful minority owner in the gaming industry, will provide the keynote address on Day 2. Ascend Media Gaming Group and the Gulf Coast Gaming Association are pleased to welcome these two American minority leaders to this historic Southern Gaming Summit.

Ben Nighthorse Campbell joined the Washington, D.C., office of Holland & Knight after serving in the United States Senate from 1993 to 2005 and in the U.S. House from 1987 to 1993. Campbell is one of 44 Chiefs of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. He was the first American Indian in history to chair the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and was the only American Indian serving in the Senate when he retired. Campbell also held the position of Deputy Majority Whip.

Don H. Barden is the owner, chairman and CEO of the Barden Companies, Inc., which includes the Majestic Star Casino, Waycor Development Company and Namibia, Africa-based Barden International, Inc. His international conglomerate operates in the casino, real estate development, entertainment and automotive sales, service and manufacturing industries from his corporate headquarters in downtown Detroit.

The 2005 conference will be the event’s best yet. More than 80 top-level executives from the industry’s premier casino companies and slot machine manufacturers will be featured as speakers and panelists in the Conference’s 15 diverse seminars.

The Southern Gaming Summit has grown to become the largest gaming expo and conference outside of Las Vegas. More than 50 percent of attendees come from outside of Mississippi – 45 states and six countries were represented last year. Gaming leaders from across the country appreciate Southern Gaming Summit because it is a great place to conduct business in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Attendees can register online today at www.sgsummit.com. Full conference registration is $495 through the early-bird deadline of April 15. Registration includes all seminars, Opening Night Reception, Taste of the Gulf Coast Casinos Dinner, and admission to the expo. To view the list of seminar topics and speakers, visit the web site, or call 702-794-0718 x 200 to request a brochure.

The Summit is produced by Ascend Media Gaming Group, the Gulf Coast Gaming Association and its members: Beau Rivage Resort, Boomtown Casino, Casino Magic Bay St. Louis, Casino Magic Biloxi, Copa Casino, Grand Casino Biloxi, Grand Casino Gulfport, Imperial Palace, Isle of Capri Casino Resort, Palace Casino Resort, President Casino Resort and Treasure Bay Casino Resort.

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Media contact Stephen Gibbs, 913-344-1334; sgibbs@ascendmedia.com