This year’s lineup of Global Gaming Expo keynote addresses will kick off Tuesday, October 3 with a gaming leaders panel that will bring insight and perspective from the tribal, commercial and supplier verticals of the industry.
The panel, which will be held in a roundtable debate format, will feature Lynn Valbuena, chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; Michael Rumbolz, president and chief executive officer of Everi Holdings; and Craig Clark, general manager of Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh.
Panelists will offer their perspectives on multiple key issues currently facing the gaming industry, including the importance of building and retaining a brand name in an increasingly competitive arena, the opportunities and challenges that stem from the potential expansion of sports betting, how to expand and diversify revenue streams, and what the future of gaming will look like.
The panel will be preceded by a 15 minute state of the industry address by American Gaming Association president and CEO Geoff Freeman.
Valbuena has served over the years in numerous tribal government roles in the San Manuel Band, located in southern California, including gaming commissioner, vice chairwoman, and secretary and treasurer to the committee that oversees the tribal government’s day-to-day operations.
She also serves as chairwoman of the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations and served previously in executive roles with both the National Indian Gaming Association and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. Valbuena was elected to the AGA’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
Rumbolz has held the chief executive role at Everi since February 2016 after serving an earlier stint as a consultant to the company and stints in a multitude of public and private sector roles across the gaming industry. He is also the former Chief Deputy Attorney General of Nevada and served as member and chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board in the 1980s.
Clark brings 20 years of gaming industry experience to the table and has served as general manager at Rivers Casino since 2011, where he oversees a 1,800 member team and has earned multiple awards from both local and gaming industry press.
In a notable shift from prior years, the keynote speeches will be held in Hall D on the trade show floor at Sands Expo Center, instead of in the grand ballroom. The ethos behind the switch is to create a more seamless experience between the marquee speeches and the exhibits on the show floor.
This other keynote addresses will include NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Dave and Buster’s CEO Stephen King and neuroscientist Dee O’Neill.
