FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2025

GLOBAL GAMING EXPO ATTENDANCE CLIMBS 7 PERCENT
Record Numbers Participate in World’s Largest Gaming Industry Trade Show and Conference

LAS VEGAS—Total attendance at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2003 exceeded last year’s totals by 7 percent, according to verified registration numbers released today by show organizers Reed Exhibitions and the American Gaming Association (AGA).  According to the data, 22,700 industry professionals attended this year’s event, held Sept. 15-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Since its debut in 2001, G2E has grown from an event featuring 375 exhibitors in 133,330 square feet of exhibit space to the gaming industry’s largest trade show, with 661 exhibitors in 223,512 square feet of exhibit space this year.  G2E also included a comprehensive conference program with more than 100 sessions featuring many of the executives who have helped shape the gaming industry worldwide, as well as the G2E Training & Development Institute, offering intensive training opportunities for casino management and personnel.

“The growth of G2E in three short years is a testament to the strength and popularity of our business,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the AGA.  “More important than the raw numbers, however, is the consistently high quality of senior-level buyers and sellers who attend our event.  The leaders of the gaming industry come to G2E to make the decisions that will affect the future of our business.  Attendees know there is no better way to stay on the cutting edge of gaming than to attend G2E.”

Participants at G2E represented 49 U.S. states, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.   Native American attendance at the event continued to rise, as more than 1,900 individuals representing Native American casinos participated in G2E 2003, a more than 11 percent increase over 2002 totals.

International attendance was also strong, with attendees hailing from 94 different countries, including such diverse nations as Afghanistan, Belgium, Brazil, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. 

Daily Keynotes, Debut of FutureWatch Series Among Event Highlights

Pulitzer Prize-winning political commentator George F. Will delivered the opening keynote address of G2E, discussing the current state of the U.S. economic and political landscape, and calling for optimism even as the nation faces significant challenges. 

Following the keynote address, Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, along with members from the original cast of Gilligan’s Island, joined Fahrenkopf and members of the AGA board of directors to officially open the G2E show floor.  In addition to exhibits from every major gaming equipment manufacturer in the world, G2E 2003's show floor featured the New Product Showcase, Bingo and Interactive Gaming Pavilions, as well as a new Security and Surveillance Pavilion. 

“It is amazing to think what this show has become in just three short years,” Guinn said.  “I know we in Nevada are proud of the gaming industry and the role it plays in making this city and our state such a popular destination for people from all over the world.  It is the gaming industry - the casinos, the hotels, the entertainers and the businesses that support the industry that are exhibiting behind us - that help make this state such a great place to live.”

Subsequent keynote events provided insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the gaming industry. Wednesday’s State of the Industry panel discussion, moderated by Emmy Award-winning television personality Larry King, featured a panel of leading gaming industry executives in a lively discussion of the top issues facing the casino industry.  Panelists concluded that excessive taxation of the gaming industry at the state level and continued misconceptions about the industry among the general public are the biggest challenges now facing the gaming industry in the United States.  On the final day of G2E, MSNBC pollster Frank Luntz moderated the G2E Signature Series, an interactive exchange between members of the general public and leading experts on gaming issues. 

G2E offered participants several opportunities to learn about the future of the industry.  First, G2E introduced a new show feature of this year: the G2E Future Watch Series, an original research series that will be released annually in conjunction with G2E.  For the inaugural year of the series, some of the industry’s leading gaming operations executives - ranging from directors of slot operations to general managers to senior vice presidents of gaming operations - were asked to predict how the casino of the future might look.  To supplement the findings, the same survey was conducted on-site throughout G2E to obtain feedback from show attendees.  Complete survey findings, incorporating the results of the on-site survey, will be issued in a final report in the coming weeks.

G2E’s Gaming Investment Forum, a two-day event sponsored by Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, allowed investors, analysts, stockbrokers and investment professionals to hear from leading gaming chairmen, presidents and CFOs on issues such as expansion plans, market situations and company strategies.  The event filled to capacity both days.

And the day before the official opening of G2E, attendees participated in the popular G2E Training & Development Institute.  The event offered attendees opportunities to enhance the profitability of their gaming business through intensive training in areas such as casino operations, slot operations, gaming education and security and surveillance issues.

The AGA also hosted two special events at G2E.  The third annual AGA Communications Awards Luncheon recognized outstanding achievement in corporate communications, as well as overall industry excellence.  MGM Grand Las Vegas was this year's top winner, taking home three awards. 

The AGA also held its second annual Opportunity Expo, the association’s signature event to promote diversity in purchasing within the industry.  Forty-five suppliers from across the country participated in the event.

G2E 2004 is scheduled for Oct. 5-7, 2004, at the Las Vegas Convention Center with the G2E Training & Development Institute taking place Oct. 4.

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G2E is the international gaming trade show and conference “by the industry and for the industry.” Organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, G2E made its debut in fall 2001, defining itself as the pre-eminent show for the gaming-entertainment industry. 

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues.  The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.

Reed Exhibitions is a world leader in creating high profile, targeted industry events where buyers and suppliers come together to do business.  Every year, Reed events bring together some 160,000 suppliers and over nine million buyers from around the world.  Today, Reed events are held in 35 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific, and are organized by 30 fully staffed offices.  Reed’s portfolio of 470 events services 49 industries in 12 key sectors.

For more information about G2E 2003 and to stay up to date on G2E 2004 visit www.globalgamingexpo.com. 

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