Inaugural Global Gaming Expo Gets Underway In Las Vegas

3 October 2001

By David Waddell

The first annual "Global Gaming Expo" opened Monday, October 1 and runs through Wednesday October 3, 2001 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This trade show has been developed by the American Gaming Association with the assistance and co-sponsorship of numerous gaming industry associations and trade groups. The gaming education will continue on October 4, with the G2E Training & Development Institute which is being co-sponsored by the Casino Management Association.

Keynote speakers for this year's conference include: Comedienne Whoopi Goldberg; Tom Gallagher, President & CEO, Park Place Entertainment; Terry Lanni, Chairman & CEO, MGM MIRAGE; Paul Herzfeld, Chief Executive, Casinos Austria International; Des Randall, Chief Executive Officer, Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.; Ernie Stevens, Chairman, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA); and Alex Yemenidjian, Chairman & CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Additionally, two key New York investment firms, Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Inc. are providing financial updates featuring chairmen, presidents and CFOs of numerous gaming companies discussing expansion plans, market situations and company strategies in light of the Nation's recent tragic events. Several sessions are focusing on people, products, and profitability with interactive forums available, as well. In the coming months I will share some of the information obtained at the conference in this column.

Significantly, for the first time, many Michigan-based gaming professionals are attending and participating in a major industry trade show. Sessions with Michigan speakers include:

-Diversity in the Industry: Why it Makes Sense - This session's focus is on a new report issued by the AGA and conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers on how diversity benefits the gaming industry. Moderator: Punam Mathur, VP, Government & Community Affairs, MGM Mirage. Speakers include: Lorenzo Creighton - VP, Government & Community Affairs - Park Place Entertainment Corporation; Kathie Dones-Carson - Director of Research & Analysis Division - Detroit City Council; Tony Gladney - VP, Corporate Diversity - MGM Mirage; Claudeidra Minor - Assistant Attorney General - Gaming Division, Louisiana Department of Justice; and Peter Pantaleo - Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand.

-The Front Line: Tight Labor Markets Threaten Prosperity - This session is addressing specific difficulties encountered in the various markets and why investing in recruitment and retention are an effective use of capital. Moderator: Vince Eade

Inaugural Global Gaming Expo Gets Underway In Las Vegas is republished from GamingMeets.com.