Over the past days Las Vegas has been filling with many visitors and exhibitors in anticipation of the world’s favourite gaming industry event, and over the past weeks there have been a flurry of press releases from companies advertising their achievements and presence at the expo. Much hard work has gone into the preparation of stands and the hard work of exhibiting will continue for the duration of the show. However, the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is not just about hard work, its important social element has much to do with the repeated success of the event.

For anyone connected to the gaming industry an expo in the Mecca of gambling must come top of the list of the annual exhibition calendar. Not only is it the best place to catch up with all the latest innovations, it is also the best place to catch up with old friends. After hours, when the doors close at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the company parties and the reunions start. Industry professionals from around the world, many of whom have worked together in previous lives, meet up to reminisce and let down their hair. After all, ‘what happens here, stays here’ is the Las Vegas advertising slogan!

From next year G2E moves to November on a permanent basis. This year there are more conferences than ever, over 175, with more than 400 speakers, and the exhibition hall will stay open longer so that more people can see the 700 plus products and services. Once again talk-show host Larry King will be present to lead a panel of Las Vegas entertainers in a discussion of the state of entertainment in Las Vegas. Other keynote addresses will be ‘Industry Leaders in the Spotlight’ where Frank Fahrenkopf, AGA president and CEO, will moderate what should be a lively discussion with Terry Lanni, chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage, and Gary Loveman, president and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, and ‘Indian Gaming: The Coming Federal Battle’ with Ernie Stevens, NIGA chairman, and Jana McKeag, VP of Venture Catalyst.

New for this year are an Air Quality Pavilion, an Amenities Pavilion and a Technology Pavilion. These are in addition to the other pavilions for Design & Décor, iGaming Business, Bingo and F&B. A Signature Series conference session, ‘Amenities: Is Non-Gaming Business the Future of the Gaming Industry?’ is set for the morning G2E opens and features preliminary findings from the G2E Future Watch survey. The focus will be on trends in non-gaming amenities and their increasing importance to the casino industry’s bottom line.

Last year over 25,000 industry professionals attended G2E, and this year the expo celebrates its 5th anniversary with a full programme. A hectic round of business, education and pleasure is about to kick-off. (E-09.12.05)

© Copyright 2005 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage