The next assembly of the iGaming community, who can be likened to “Deadheads” in their devoted following of their favorite band, will take place in Las Vegas at the end of September for the Global Gaming Expo.
The annual G2E (Global Gaming Expo) conference is a major event marked in the calendars of those in the gaming industry. This year, the conference will be taking place from September 30 to October 2 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the 14th iteration of the G2E conference.
G2E combines networking opportunities, vendors, and expert speakers to provide attendees with an insight into the latest developments in the gaming sector, future industry trends, and a chance to explore the newest products.
G2E 2014 will host a multitude of speakers addressing various issues, alongside vendors, employees, and attendees. However, probably the most attention-grabbing will be two of the conference’s keynote speakers, Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn.
The conference will begin and end with speeches by Wynn and Adelson, scheduled for September 30th and October 2nd respectively. These two individuals are among the all-time most successful casino operators, and their current dominance in the gaming industry is largely due to their interests in Macau.
However, they will likely make the most significant comments about a part of the industry that neither of them supports.
Both men have expressed opposition to online gambling, albeit to different extents. Their comments will therefore attract significant attention from those in the iGaming community, especially since the expansion of U.S. iGaming is becoming a major contemporary issue.
Steve Wynn
The Chairman of the Board and CEO of Wynn Resorts Limited, Steve Wynn, will conclude Day 1 of G2E 2014 by delivering the keynote speech. He will address the audience on Tuesday, September 30, from 4:30 pm-5:30 pm in the Titian Ballroom. Please note, only seminar delegates are allowed to attend, hence, a ticket is required.
Wynn, who has occupied various roles in the online gambling industry over time, presently opposes its expansion. However, it would be more precise to say that he “isn’t in favor of it,” instead of being against it.
As far as we know, Wynn has not invested any resources in opposing the expansion of online gambling. Since his comments in February that drew significant attention, he has been relatively silent on the topic of online gambling.
Wynn Resorts had been working on establishing an online gambling site up until January of this year, before their current opposition surfaced. They even received a transactional waiver from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. Ironically, the waiver was granted just after Wynn altered his position on the issue, leaving the company’s iGaming plans currently in a state of uncertainty.
Wynn doesn’t necessarily oppose online gambling, he just doesn’t view it as a feasible business model currently. I also don’t anticipate him dedicating a significant part of his comments to iGaming.
Sheldon Adelson
The Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp, Sheldon Adelson, is set to give his eagerly awaited keynote on the concluding day of G2E. It is expected that a packed room will be present to hear his address on Thursday, October 2nd, from 11AM to Noon in the Titian Ballroom. However, only seminar delegates will have access to this event.
Sheldon Adelson is completely opposed to online gambling, unlike Steve Wynn, and will use any and every possible reason to show his dislike for this growing industry.
So, I would be surprised if Adelson did not spend a considerable portion of his speech criticizing the online gambling industry, albeit perhaps in a less fiery manner than we are accustomed to from him and his associates, even though Steve Wynn is unlikely to bring up the topic beyond a casual mention.
It would be intriguing to observe whether Adelson moderates his typical rhetoric, given that the majority of the audience will probably be at least somewhat supportive of online gambling, not to mention more knowledgeable about the subject. Adelson’s past comments, like those made in his Bloomberg TV interview, and the points made by his allies, such as Andy Abboud, are likely to provoke audible sighs and eye rolls from the G2E audience.
Other keynote addresses
Besides Wynn and Adelson, several other keynote addresses will also be delivered at G2E.
The Operators will discuss the State of the Industry on Tuesday, September 30, from 9 AM to 10 AM in the Titian Ballroom.
- James Allen holds the positions of CEO at Seminole Gaming and Chairman at Hard Rock International.
- MGM Resorts International’s Chairman & CEO, James Murren
The Manufacturers will be presenting the State of the Industry on Wednesday, October 1, from 9 AM to 10 AM in the Titian Ballroom.
- Aristocrat Leisure, Ltd.’s CEO and Managing Director, Jamie O’Dell.
- International Game Technology CEO, Patti Hart
- CEO of Multimedia Games, Pat Ramsey
Visit GlobalGamingExpo.com for more information on G2E 2014 and details on how to attend.
