G2E returns to Las Vegas with updated features, a varied line-up of speakers, emerging markets in focus

The 2024 edition of the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) opens its show floor today, Tuesday, October 8, at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas. Running through Thursday, the major global event, organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and RX, promises to showcase the latest novelties in the gambling sector to an international audience of thousands of attendees.

More than 350 exhibitors and participating companies are set to exhibit the latest gaming technologies and solutions in Las Vegas this week. Supported by the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), G2E 2024 will seek to highlight the continued evolution of every vertical of the industry—from traditional and online gaming to digital payments and new technologies.Meanwhile, as part of G2E's 2024 education program, which kicked off Monday and also runs through Thursday, the event will offer insights from gaming's top leaders and experts, featuring more than 95 sessions and 300+ speakers. Content partners for this year’s program include Global Gaming Women, the Indian Gaming Association, the International Association of Gaming Advisors, NEXT.io, and more.

"This year's expo will feature the latest advancements in the gaming industry alongside value-driving innovations to the expo itself, once again making G2E 2024 the platform for the global gaming industry to convene, connect, and get business done," said Korbi Carrison, G2E's Event Vice President at RX.As part of this new edition, G2E will feature an expanded iGaming Zone, set to bring together iGaming suppliers and operators to chart the expansion of iGaming and the evolution of online sports betting in the Americas. Meanwhile, the Lab will serve as a hub on the expo floor for thought leadership and networking opportunities, open to all attendees; while the G2E Networking Lounge will feature opportunities for the G2E community to convene and connect.

“G2E will both reflect gaming’s continued momentum and be the catalyst for further industry growth,” said AGA Senior Vice President Maureen Beddis. “We eagerly anticipate hosting the global gaming community in Las Vegas this October, where we'll spotlight the games, solutions, and ideas that will shape gaming’s future and make G2E the industry’s can’t-miss event of the year.”

A varied line-up of speakers and sessions

One of the major highlights of this year's G2E is its stacked line-up of speakers and sessions. The action kicks off Tuesday, with the traditional G2E Welcome & State of the Industry speech, where AGA President and CEO Bill Miller will take the stage to welcome attendees, preview this year’s event, and address the macrotrends driving the future of gaming.

G2E 2023's sessions

Following Miller's speech, the day will continue with the View From the Top: Perspectives from Global Gaming Leaders keynote. Peter Jackon, CEO of FanDuel-parent Flutter Entertainment, and MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle, will headline the day's session, ahead of the grand opening of the expo hall.  

Beginning at 9:00 AM, the keynote will be moderated by CNBC’s Contessa Brewer and cover a range of topics across global sports betting and gaming. The conversations will touch upon how industry leaders are navigating the current economic landscape, expansion into new markets and verticals, and business challenges and opportunities ahead.

“Peter and Bill are two titans of the gaming industry whose perspectives will illuminate where the industry is headed and set the table for the ideas and innovations that will be explored throughout this year’s G2E,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller in a press release.

On Wednesday, it will be DraftKings' Jason Robins and Circa Las Vegas' Derek Stevens' turn to deliver the View From the Top keynote session. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., the keynote will kick off the second day of expo hall activities. Emmy-winning national sports reporter and show host Rachel Nichols will moderate the back-to-back conversations with Robins and Stevens, addressing current evolutions in sports betting and casino gaming as well as what's next for the industry in Las Vegas and nationwide.

DraftKings' Jason Robins returns to G2E

Other G2E sessions will also cover major topics including the future of casino gaming, sports betting, AI, digital payments, responsible gaming, and tribal and international gaming. "From brick-and-mortar gaming to online wagering, this year's speakers reflect the dynamism that is pushing our industry ahead," added Miller. "We look forward to showcasing the continued growth of gaming on the G2E keynote stage and throughout the show."

G2E to chart the future of the gambling industry

Both through its education program and busy show floor, G2E is set to explore the future of the industry. This includes new markets and opportunities, with a Tuesday panel exploring the prospects of gaming legislation in Texas, featuring officials from Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, and FanDuel.

But while taking place in Las Vegas, G2E will also explore expansion outside the U.S. One of the markets set to take center place this year is Canada, where the western province of Alberta is developing a similar regulatory framework and following in the footsteps of Ontario. On Wednesday, Alberta's iGaming minister Dale Nally will speak on a panel that will "explore the continued potential for Canada’s iGaming market - including the upcoming Alberta opportunity."

Another market set to attract its fair share of interest from attendees is Brazil. Preparing to launch a regulated and competitive iGaming market early next year, the country has already seen major companies such as Flutter and MGM ramp up investment in a bid to position themselves ahead of the competition. 

"The excitement behind the growing Latin American gaming industry will be captured and visible throughout G2E," RX's Korbi Carrison told Yogonet in a conversation earlier this month. "As the region’s industry has grown, so has the presence of Latin American exhibitors, operators, and stakeholders throughout G2E."

LatAm professionals will have ample opportunities to connect with members of the gaming community from around the world, allowing for new potential collaborations and partnerships to form at G2E. Networking events and spaces like The Lab will provide them with the chance to engage directly with emerging technologies and trends, such as iGaming and sports betting, which have taken off in Latin America.

"With the incredible slate of exhibitors and participating companies as well as an education program packed with insights, this year’s G2E will offer something for every gaming professional," Carrison added. "It’s an opportunity stakeholders in gaming can’t afford to miss if they want to stay ahead of the industry’s trends and innovations."

Check the full line-up sessions here.

Check the full list of exhibitors here.