As Global Gaming Expo (G2E) expands to include even more high-quality buyers and sellers on the trade-show floor, more conferences and networking opportunities, one thing becomes clear: Anyone involved in the gaming industry who wants to advance in their field or generate new business opportunities cannot afford to miss G2E - the gaming industry event by the industry and for the industry.

With the support of the AGA’s trade-show partner Reed Exhibitions and the leadership of the AGA’s board of directors, G2E’s launch in 2001 exceeded all our expectations. Our audited attendance figures showed that 8,653 people, including 375 exhibitors, 6,524 attending exhibits and 2,129 conference-goers, participated in G2E last year. This year we expect an even greater convergence of gaming businesses from around the world to descend on Las Vegas Sept. 17-19.

People often ask me what makes our trade show unique. Since G2E is part of the AGA, show profits are re-invested into the industry through federal lobbying efforts, public education campaigns and numerous other association initiatives. This makes G2E not only good for your business, but good for our industry across the board.

Expand Your Knowledge of Industry Issues

G2E 2002 is offering more than 100 conference sessions covering nearly every aspect of the gaming industry and its operations. The conference program is broken down into 12 categories: Bingo, Communications and Marketing, Games and Technology, Gaming Development, Gaming Law and Regulation, Interactive Gaming, Lottery, Management, Native American Gaming, Pari-mutuel Wagering, Research and Public Policy, and Security. Both gaming executives and employees will benefit from our informative program because its comprehensive schedule covers issues that are pertinent to people at all levels of our business.

G2E has recruited conference panelists who are seasoned industry veterans - another reason you will find these programs both advantageous and unique. Our speakers have hands-on experience with gaming issues and can relate to audiences as experts and contemporaries.

In addition to conference sessions, G2E’s three keynote addresses featuring industry notables will give you additional forecasts on the future of gaming. Last year, we set high standards with keynote speakers Whoopi Goldberg and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. Chairman and CEO Alex Yemenidjian. Also, authorities like Park Place Entertainment Corporation President and CEO Thomas Gallagher, MGM MIRAGE Chairman J. Terrence Lanni and Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., CEO Des Randall shared the stage at the debut of G2E’s “State of the Industry” panel. This year’s event also will feature a “State of the Industry” panel with another powerful lineup of gaming leaders, including Philip G. Satre, chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., and Michael Gauselmann, CEO of Atronic.

The G2E Gaming Investment Forum, sponsored by leading financial investment firms Bear Stearns & Company Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co., will be back again this year serving up the latest financial projections for new investors to the gaming industry. Led by top gaming executives, these sessions will provide a forum to help generate investor interest in the gaming industry.

Growing Your Gaming Business

The bottom line for any trade show is to generate sales. I can recall reading several press releases of companies that showcased their goods and services at G2E last year, touting their increased sales figures and the laundry list of business leads they obtained. This can be attributed not only to the selling power of G2E exhibitors - the industry’s leading suppliers and vendors - but also to the quality of attendees at the show. G2E attendence last year was chiefly made up of purchasing decision makers, and this element was crucial to the show’s success because it brought together both the key buyers and sellers.

Another important presence was that of high-level gaming executives. Presidents, chairmen and CEOs of some of the largest gaming companies in the world walked the trade-show floor, adding yet another level of quality to the show environment.

It’s a sure bet for you to expect a similar quality of attendance this year at G2E. The trade-show floor will include an even greater number of high-quality exhibitors. As we demonstrated last year, the show will have overwhelming quality and quantity of trade-show attendance.

G2E also will broaden growth opportunities for smaller businesses through its launch of Opportunity Expo. A diversity business fair intended to fulfill various purchasing needs of gaming companies, Opportunity Expo will introduce businesses to emerging disadvantaged or minority- or women-owned suppliers and vendors. Developed by the AGA’s Diversity Task Force, Opportunity Expo’s goal is two-fold: to help develop purchasing alternatives for gaming companies and help certified disadvantaged or minority- or women-owned vendors develop their gaming business.

A Forum for Recognizing the Industry’s Best

While G2E’s main purpose as an industry trade show and conference is providing gaming companies with business, educational and networking opportunities, it’s also become the ideal forum for honoring and celebrating excellence in the industry. We use G2E as a setting to tout the successes of these gaming leaders and companies because there is no better place to recognize our industry’s best than in an environment surrounded by our colleagues.

Our AGA Awards Dinner Honoring America’s Gaming Greats is a hybrid of an event the AGA created last year to honor gaming pioneers and an industry mainstay, the Gaming Hall of Fame. The event benefits the nonprofit National Center for Responsible Gaming, generating tens of thousands of dollars for problem gambling research. Each year, the AGA’s board of directors chooses industry giants as the dinner’s honored guests and Gaming Hall of Fame inductees. We also recognize a person or company for laudable efforts in responsible gaming.

Another way we celebrate outstanding achievement in our business is through the AGA Communications Awards, sponsored by Goldman, Sachs & Co. This awards program recognizes gaming companies’ achievements in financial and corporate communications including annual reports, consumer advertising, print publications and Web site design.

Our expectations for this year’s event at the Las Vegas Convention Center are still higher than those set for our launch last year. Since we raised the bar on gaming trade-show events, G2E must keep setting the pace year after year. That’s our commitment to the gaming industry: Expect nothing but the best from G2E.

For more information on G2E or to register for free exhibits-only admission and discounted conference rates, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com [1].