A neuroscientist, an executive coach, and a co-founder of a groundbreaking news site are among the speakers at next week’s GameON conference organized by game-provider AGS.
While that might not sound like a lineup for a confab about the future of casino gambling, AGS President and CEO David Lopez, who will emcee the event, said it illustrates the annual get-together’s theme of giving back to customers.
“You can always draw parallels to gaming, whether it’s a neuroscientist or somebody speaking about politics,” he explained. “All this stuff is part of our lives.”
Dr. Sahar Yousef, cognitive neuroscientist and MBA professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, will explain how to increase personal productivity by understanding how an individual’s energy level rises and dips during the day. Executive coach Tim Furlong, will outline how to adapt as the role of business leader shifts toward increased flexibility and understanding of employees’ needs.
Jim VandeHei, CEO and co-founder of Axios, one of the top online-news sites, and co-founder of the news site Politico before that will give the keynote address. On May 22, the National Press Club announced that VandeHei and Axios partner Mike Allen will receive the organization’s most esteemed prize, the Fourth Estate Award, for their contributions to journalism.
The seventh GameON conference, an invitation-only event, will take place June 3-5 at Encore Boston Harbor. Attendees include AGS customers, operators representing more than 80 casinos in North America. AGS arranges the event as an expression of appreciation to clients, combining educational sessions with entertainment activities. This year’s include an outing to a Red Sox-Braves game at Fenway Park, social hours, and a self-guided tour of the historic city.
The conference will also feature presentations more directly related to the gaming industry, including:
- A panel discussion on coming changes in North American sports betting, featuring Jonathan Edson, senior vice president of business development at FanDuel; Chris Rogers, chief strategy and legal officer for Penn Entertainment; and Greg Karamitis, chief revenue officer of DraftKings. Former American Gaming Association president and CEO Geoff Freeman, now president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, will moderate.
- A panel discussion on the future of online-casino content, featuring Rick Eckert, managing director of Eilers & Krejcik Gaming; Edo Haitin, Playtech Live CEO; and Joey Levy, founder and CEO of Betr. Zoe Ebling, vice president of interactive for AGS, will moderate.
- A fireside chat between Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of “Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction,” and Mark DeDeaux, general manager and vice president of slots for AGS. Thompson’s book explains how psychology, marketing, economics, and applied design principles combine to create popular products and influence consumers across industries, including gaming.
- A panel discussion about systems technology that is changing player tracking, marker availability, instant bonusing, and customer loyalty programs. Panelists are Tracey Winslow, chief revenue officer of TransAct; Chad Hoehne, CEO of CasinoTrac; Charles Skinner, president of Marker Trax; and Steve Walther, vice president of game development for AGS.
- Dr. Robert Rippee, professor and executive director of the Black Fire Innovation Hub at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, providing strategies to attract and retain Gen Z workers and debunking common myths about them. Studies show that members of Gen Z, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, approach work with markedly different expectations than earlier generations did.
Julia Boguslawski, chief marketing officer for AGS, said that the leadership presentations are especially relevant, because almost all the AGS customers at the conference are key decision-makers and gaming-industry veterans.
Lopez said AGS won’t make sales pitches, but will speak about the company’s growth and plans. This month, AGS announced it will be acquired by Brightstar Capital Partners, a private-equity firm. The deal is expected to close next year.
“We’re not here to sell,” Lopez said. “We’re here to educate and enrich the casino-operator and supplier environment.”
