PRESS RELEASE
LAS VEGAS – Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2011 will combine entertainment and industry perspectives to feature a lively series of keynote events, including an exciting opening day address by Penn Jillette and panels consisting of gaming industry leaders and tribal gaming experts. The premier trade show and conference event for the international gaming entertainment industry, G2E 2011 will be held Oct. 4 – 6, 2011 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“As an event created by the industry, for the industry, G2E’s keynote events are designed to provide attendees with the one-of-a-kind entertainment and educational experiences that will help them thrive in today’s gaming industry,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA). “We are excited to kick off G2E 2011 with a keynote address by Penn Jillette, one of Las Vegas’ most sought-after entertainers. Attendees also will hear from commercial casino and tribal gaming experts as they candidly discuss the latest industry trends, innovations and issues impacting the modern gaming industry.”
Immediately following Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, G2E 2011 will begin with a keynote address by Penn Jillette – magician, comedian, author and the larger, vocal half of “Penn & Teller.” Jillette has been entertaining audiences for more than 35 years and currently appears nightly alongside his stage partner Teller at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Wednesday’s keynote session, “State of the Industry: Innovating for a Stronger Future,” will feature industry experts who will discuss the trends driving the industry forward and how to harness innovation and technology to meet the challenges that lie ahead. In conjunction with a new initiative by the AGA to increase the participation of women in the industry, the panel also will discuss the role of women in gaming. Panelists include some of the most successful women in the industry: Jan L. Jones, senior vice president of communications and government relations, Caesars Entertainment Corporation; Virginia McDowell, president and CEO, Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.; Patti Hart, president and
CEO, International Game Technology; and Sheila Morago, executive director, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. Judy Patterson, senior vice president and executive director of the AGA, will moderate the discussion.
The G2E 2011 keynote events will conclude on Thursday with “Tribal Gaming Roundtable: The Indian Casino of the Future.” The final keynote session will bring together experts to examine what lies in store for the many different aspects of Indian gaming, with a focus on operations, design and construction, financing, marketing, the gaming floor, non-gaming amenities and the potential role for tribal gaming in the online world. Rochanne Hackett, managing director of national gaming development for Wells Fargo Bank N.A., will moderate, and panelists will include Mark Birtha, president and chief development officer, Sol Casinos and AVA Amphitheatre; Gideon Bierer, executive vice president of new
media, International Gaming Technology; and Chief Boyd, partner, Thalden Boyd Emery Architects.
The keynote addresses will take place at the same time each day, from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., in Titian Ballroom at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. The keynote sessions are open to all G2E attendees free of charge, and no advance registration is required.
Additionally, James J. Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, will deliver an exclusive conference keynote at G2E 2011. He plans to address where the industry is today, what growth opportunities exist and what those opportunities mean for the gaming industry as a whole. Additionally, Murren will discuss the significance of MGM Resorts International’s expanded focus on corporate social responsibility. Murren’s conference keynote address will be held on Wed, Oct. 5, from 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. in the Titian Ballroom and will be open to G2E 2011 conference delegates only.
G2E is attended by nearly 26,000 industry professionals from around the world. For more information on G2E 2011, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com and connect with G2E on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
