The world’s premier gambling business event, Global Gaming Expo (G2E), kicked off this Monday at the Venetian Las Vegas’ Expo Hall in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The invite-only, 25,000-person exhibition is organized by trade group the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibits. It will see 268 exhibitors display their latest games, plus behind the scenes tech and business ideas, to many of the gambling world’s best, brightest, and most successful workers and investors.
As well as the showcases, there are 300 planned speeches and discussion panels over the four-day event.
Keynote speakers include Derek Stevens, owner and CEO of Las Vegas-based Circa Sports, Flutter and FanDuel CEO Peter Jackson, and Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of the largest U.S. gambling operator, MGM Resorts International.
The Speakers
The event will have keynote speakers on each day until Thursday. The list is a Who’s Who of top U.S. gambling bosses.
As well as Stevens, Jackson, and Hornbuckle, others giving addresses include DraftKings CEO Jason Robins, Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest Stevens Jr., and AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.
Panel discussions including diversity, equity, and inclusion experts from within the gambling business, responsible gambling managers, and innovators and experts in gambling-related AI developments.
There will also be a panel dedicated to discussing the expansion of sports betting, including one session breaking down the labyrinthine legal saga that eventually led to Hard Rock launching monopoly sports betting in Florida.
“We’re thrilled to bring another exceptional lineup of industry leaders to G2E,” said a press release quoting Miller ahead of the event.
“From brick-and-mortar gaming to online wagering, this year’s speakers reflect the dynamism that is pushing our industry ahead. We look forward to showcasing the continued growth of gaming on the G2E keynote stage and throughout the show.”
The Exhibitions
Among the most crowd-pleasing exhibits at G2E each year are the new and innovative games displayed by their makers.
Light & Wonder, fresh off the back of a controversial legal defeat over its game Dragon Train, will be hoping to bounce back with displays of its new progressive jackpot system and an entirely new cabinet for an exclusive Monopoly branded slot game.
Its rival slot-maker Aristocrat will be debuting half a dozen new cabinets for its hugely popular Wheel of Fortune series. That also includes a live spinning wheel game for casino floors, emulating the online live casino game shows that have been very popular with players in recent years.
Aristocrat, which recently opened a large new production facility in Las Vegas, will also be debuting its Wheel of Fortune- themed video poker cabinet.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
