When Global Gaming Women Executive Director Kelly Hatch was finalizing the non-profit organization’s 2023 annual report, she was a bit stunned. Hatch, one of two full-time employees at the advocacy group for women in the gaming industry, knew the organization had progressed.
But seeing the GGW’s statistics in black and white was a revelation.
“I’m living it all year,” Hatch says. “But when I’m putting together those final numbers, it’s kind of like, wow, we had a good year.”
The group’s membership is 7,780 with members in all 50 U.S. states. GGW’s 850 international members are a 30% increase over 2022. Hatch said that in 2024, GGW will be focused on enlisting more members in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
Global Gaming Women Executive Director Kelly Hatch
The makeup of GGW’s membership also will be a focus in 2024. According to the 2023 report, nearly half of the organization’s members are at the management level.
Hatch says it’s important to reach out to and recruit new members just entering the gaming industry. In order to accomplish that, GGW unveiled a new redesign and branding recently, with more au courant colors and graphics.
“Those are our future leaders,” Hatch says. “With the implementation of our new brand, one of our main goals was to appeal to those younger professionals with a look and feel that will resonate with them. They’re the up-and-coming group we’ll be focusing on and helping grow their careers.”
Global Gaming Women’s social media presence also ballooned in 2023, with its postings on Instagram increasing 66.2%, and 45% on LinkedIn. Hatch says attention to the organization’s digital presence also was a nod to younger and newer women in the gaming industry.
Hatch is especially pleased that GGW provided $410,000 in scholarship value to attendees of its seven in-person, two-day educational conferences in 2023. GGW received a record number of applications for scholarships to the conferences.
Because space is limited at the conferences, not all requests for scholarships were honored. But Hatch thinks the interest is a good indication that GGW’s programming is valuable.
“I get to watch (attendees) walk in and they walk out with a whole new persona, a whole new attitude,” says Hatch, noting the scholarship monies pay for the cost of the conferences and meals. “It’s like they’ve had an a-ha moment, and they’re now leaving a different person. It’s just amazing to watch these women grow and learn in a matter of two days.”
In 2024, GGW has six conferences scheduled: Three in Las Vegas and one each at River City Casino and Hotel in St. Louis, Hollywood Casino at Greektown in Detroit, and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia.
Because the organization only has two full-time employees, Global Gaming Women depends on volunteer board and committee members. The 2023 report estimates that GGW members contributed $1.4 million in volunteer hours.
“That’s pretty impactful,” Hatch says. “This organization is so successful because of the members who become committee members and board members. That was a pretty ‘a-ha’ moment for me.”
