Global Gaming Women unveils event line-up at G2E, including 13th annual Kick Up Your Heels fundraiser

Global Gaming Women (GGW) announced its events line-up at G2E Las Vegas, and the launch of the 13th Annual Kick Up Your Heels premier fundraising event to support the GGW Charitable Education Fund. 

The event supports scholarships and other development offerings for professional women in the gaming industry and will celebrate honorees of the Patty Becker Pay It Forward award on October 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. at XS Nightclub at Wynn, Las Vegas. 

On Tuesday, October 10, Global Gaming Women Board Member Ellen Whittemore will be inducted into the American Gaming Association Gaming Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.

Whittemore currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for Wynn Resorts. "This recognition is a tribute to Ellen’s legacy as a renowned expert in gaming law, as well as a humanitarian and champion for gender equality in the industry. Global Gaming Women is proud to celebrate this incredible milestone alongside Ellen," the organizers of the event stated.

Ellen Whittemore

GGW also announced the return of the in-person Sip & Social with Keynote Speaker Sandra Douglass Morgan, President of the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League, for a fireside chat centering on her journey throughout the gaming industry and leading to her current tenure as the first black female team president in the NFL.

The Sip & Social networking event is set to take place on Thursday, October 12, from 8 to 10 a.m. in Casanova Room 501 inside The Venetian Expo. Tickets are $50 per attendee and $60 the week of the event. Registration is required and is available here.  In addition, this event will also celebrate the honorees of CDC Gaming Report’s "10 Women Rising in Gaming", in partnership with Global Gaming Women.

Sandra Douglass Morgan

GGW is a gaming industry non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, inspiring, and influencing the development of professional women, with participation in a series of educational panels during G2E with three distinctive panels.

GGW sessions in partnership with G2E include:

Tuesday, October 10, 11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Titian 2205

Topic: How Female Gamers Are Influencing Game Design

Moderator: Carolyn Tomczyk, Sr. Director, Art Design at Konami

Panelists: Kimberly Cohn, Senior Director of Game Design at Light & Wonder; Helen Walton, Chief Commercial Officer at G. Games; and Francine Maric, Gaming Blogger and Influencer known as Lady Luck HQ

Tuesday, October 10, 2:00 – 2:50 p.m., Titian 2205

Topic: Lessons in Leadership: The GGW Model

Moderator: Lauren Bates, Global Gaming Women President 2024

Panelists: Cassie Stratford, Senior Vice President of Legal Operations and Regulatory Compliance at Boyd Gaming; Christie Eickelman, Vice President of Global Marketing at Gaming Laboratories International; and Phyllis Gilland, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Golden Entertainment

Tuesday, October 10, 3:10 – 4:00 p.m., Titian 2205

Topic: Gamechangers: Gaming’s Trailblazing Women

Moderator: Melissa Aarskaug Vice President of Game Sales at Gaming Laboratories International, LLC

Panelists: Debi Nutton, Board Member at Everi Holdings Inc., and Julie Cameron-Doe, Chief Financial Officer at Wynn Resorts.

Cassie Stratford

Cassie Stratford, president of Global Gaming Women, said: "Global Gaming Women is ushering in a new era at this year’s G2E with an impressive line-up of educational programming on Tuesday, followed by the ever-popular 13 Annual Kick Up Your Heels Fundraiser Wednesday evening and then the return of Sip & Social with an inspirational keynote speech on Thursday morning."

"We are thrilled that because of the ongoing support of our generous sponsors, we are able to continue offering educational programming and events that allow our members to connect, be empowered, and collaborate furthering the success of women and improving our industry overall,” she added.

GGW membership represents women in commercial, tribal, suppliers, lottery, tourism, and digital. Soon after its launch, offering education and training, mentoring, and networking events, membership multiplied.

GGW has more than 7,000 professional women members in all states and over 30 countries, with members in job level categories of 21% front-line leaders, 30% supervisors and managers, 25% directors, and 25% vice presidents or above. 

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