September is only a few days away, and in the gaming industry, that can only mean one thing: It's time to pack your bags for Las Vegas.
Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the leading trade show and conference for the worldwide gaming industry, will open its doors to the international gaming trade Sept. 16-18, with an additional day on September 15 devoted to the G2E Training & Development Institute, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Featuring more than 750 exhibiting suppliers and 13,000 attendees from across the globe for 2003, G2E's four-day forum will provide all-inclusive industry access to the latest products, technologies and legislative developments impacting the industry in 2003 and beyond. Now in its third year, G2E has grown both in terms of floor space and educational opportunities. As AGA President and CEO Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., noted at the end of last year's event, "Attendance figures for G2E 2002 increased more than 50 percent over the previous year, a reflection of the overall health of gaming entertainment. More importantly, these numbers continued to include the quality of attendee so important to promoting long-term business growth."
In addition to national attendance from nearly all 50 U.S. states, worldwide industry attendance over the years has included participation by Argentina, Austria, Australia, Aruba, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Bahamas, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Greece, France, United Kingdom, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Peru, Russian Federation, Sweden, Slovenia and Taiwan. International attendance has also been supported by worldwide alliances with leading association and trade publications.
G2E's 2003 conference will be presented in various tracks addressing the latest issues and developments affecting the entire industry. The conference tracks include: Bingo, Finance and Money, Gaming Education and Development, Law and Regulation, Operations, Racinos and Lottery, Security and Surveillance, Slot Operations, Research and Public Policy and more. The conference is also complemented by the all-day G2E Training & Development Institute on Sept. 15.
On the show floor, the latest products and innovations in casino security and surveillance take center stage. This year's Security & Surveillance Pavilion will showcase suppliers of security devices and services. The dedicated 7,000 square-feet of exhibit space will display such products as CCTV, facial recognition software, multiplexers, alarms, dice, voucher bags and other products. Many leading worldwide security companies will be represented, including ADT, Bosch Security Systems, Ademco, Diebold and ASSAABLOY. A separate conference track will feature leaders from the industry discussing a variety of issues and trends within the field, including innovations in casino security, techniques to improve surveillance, strategies to prevent fraud, legal issues surrounding surveillance, and more.
G2E 2003 will also feature dedicated pavilions and conference sessions focusing on two industry growth areas: bingo and interactive gaming. Introduced in 2002, G2E's Bingo Pavilion will feature the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of bingo paper, Class II electronic games, daubers, printed tickets and other products related to the bingo and charitable gaming industries. Last year's Bingo Pavilion generated a 400 percent increase over 2001 in registered attendees with specific interest in bingo and charitable gaming, so expanded space is already planned for 2003. The Interactive Gaming Pavilion also debuted in 2001 and saw similar increases in interest last year. Primary interactive gaming business attendees increased 85 percent from 2001 to 2002, and interactive gaming product interest rose 465 percent.
As usual, the conference planners have brought in some intriguing names to address the gaming industry. The opening day keynote address will feature Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist George F. Will. The annual "State of the Industry Keynote Address," slated for Wednesday, will feature a panel of industry experts led and moderated by CNN's Larry King of "Larry King Live." Panelists include: G. Thomas Baker, president and CEO, International Game Technology; Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO, AGA; Gary Loveman, president and CEO, Harrah's Entertainment Inc.; and Ernie Stevens, chairman, National Indian Gaming Association. An all-new "Signature Series" will be featured Thursday. Titled "American Voices: Gauging the Public Landscape on Gaming," this keynote will feature MSNBC pollster Frank Luntz, who will host a lively interactive exchange among some of the world's foremost gaming experts and the American people . Panelists include David Creary, acting CEO, Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.; Jan Jones, senior vice president of communications and government relations, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.; and Dr. Howard Shaffer, director, Division of Addictions, Harvard Medical School.
Complementing G2E's daily keynotes are a host of industry networking functions and special events. The Welcome Reception will be held Sept. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. poolside at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino with a special fireworks display from Fireworks by Grucci . And back by popular demand are Behind the Scenes Tours of Bally Gaming & Systems, the largest slot machine manufacturing facility, and Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower, where you can observe surveillance operators as they patrol the casino with the latest equipment and technology to help identify unusual or suspicious activity. Other events slotted at G2E include the AGA's Communications Awards, sponsored by Goldman, Sachs & Co., HVS Search and Wells Fargo Bank, on Sept. 17 and the Gaming Investment Forum and Opportunity Expo, scheduled for Sept. 18.
Organized by the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions, G2E is guided by industry experts in their respective fields. Proceeds of G2E are reinvested in the industry, with profits returned to the AGA to support lobbying and industry-wide education efforts.
For more information on attending G2E and the complementary events, visit the G2E Web site at www.globalgamingexpo.com.