The Global Gaming Expo 2021 “is a different world.”
Meredith Pallante, AGA and Korbi Carrison, G2E
That’s the message from Korbi Carrison, G2E’s event director, who held a press conference Monday to kick off the gaming convention, whose trade show portion will start on Tuesday and go through Thursday. This year’s show required everyone in attendance to be vaccinated and show that proof to gain entry.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for this,” Carrison said after the 2020 G2E was reduced to a virtual event during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carrison said hundreds of vendors participating in the show have been waiting for two years to show off their latest innovations in a variety of categories, including slots, table games, sports betting, igaming, and payment modernization.
“You’ll be amazed at the innovations that are coming out this week,” Carrison said.
Meredith Pallante, vice president, global events, American Gaming Association, said it’s been a difficult 18 months since the start of the pandemic, but that G2E showcases the gaming industry’s resilience.
“We’re reconvening after one of the toughest times in our industry’s history where casino operators shuttered their doors,” Pallante said. “We learned how to get back open and now here we are, having one of the best years on record. It’s a very exciting time for our industry to be back together for G2E in Las Vegas.”
The conference and educational sessions help the industry reconnect with one another, review common problems they’re facing, and explore the solutions being developed, Pallante said.
AGA President and CEO Bill Miller kicked off the show Tuesday morning, followed by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and U.S. Rep. Dina Titus of Las Vegas. CNBC reporter Contessa Brewer will interview casino executives Wednesday.
As for projections for show attendance, organizers said it won’t reach the levels of 2019, when they had just shy of 30,000.
“We know that this year isn’t the same from what we’ve seen in the past,” Carrison said. “(Even so), we’ve had a steady stream of attendance coming in even this morning.”
Carrison said the number of vendors is also down, but didn’t have a number to provide. International travel restrictions in the U.S. that will stay in effect until November when vaccinated people will be allowed in has impacted that, she said.
“We’ve heard from vendors who weren’t able to make it and are really excited about next year,” Carrison said. “We’re already starting our planning process for 2022.”
The show also has a virtual component with some of the educational sessions and that’s drawing interest. Carrison said they’ve learned a lot in the last 18 months and have become accustomed to virtual meetings, but it won’t be the norm.
“That won’t go away. It’ll continue, but gathering in person just can’t be replaced. We’ll continue to offer some virtual operations throughout the year, but nothing can match the experience of face-to-face.”
