The changing face of the tabletop industry’s trade association
John Stacy, the executive director of GAMA, talks about their commitment to DEI and more.
Over the last couple decades, The Game Manufacturers Association or GAMA has cemented its place as the largest trade association in the tabletop industry. While they were previously dominated by board game publishers, that’s now slowly changing with RPGs taking up more and more space at the proverbial table (and literal tables on the trade show floor).
The GAMA Expo 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky is their behind-the-scenes showcase. Unlike Origins, which is more or less a regular convention, GAMA Expo is an industry event primarily aimed at helping publishers and retailers sit down and talk shop. Publishers showcase their wares, retailers hunt for next year’s inventory, and everyone exchanges business cards and worries about tariffs.
As a part of Racal’s ongoing coverage from the event, Chase Carter sat down with John Stacy, the executive director of GAMA. Stacy leads a staff of 10+ people in executing GAMA’s wide mandate, which includes lobbying the government for members’ interests. The conversation ranges far and wide, including the recent growth of the Expo, the search for a safer and more progressive venue, their commitment to DEI, the future of the industry, and the impending rebranding of GAMA itself to better represent their current identity.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity and length.
