FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2025

CONTACT:
Kimberlie Leon
1-203-840-5653
kleon@globalgamingexpo.com

Global Gaming Expo Draws Record Numbers On Opening Day
New Event Sees Tremendous Growth In Just Two Years, Reflecting 

Las Vegas—With 616 exhibiting companies and 8,183 attendees visiting the Las Vegas Convention Center on its first official day, Global Gaming Expo (G2E) show managers report a successful grand opening for the leading trade event for the worldwide gaming community. Organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, G2E will host the dynamic gaming industry during its exhibition continuing tomorrow and Thursday, September 19 with the Training & Development Institute and new Interactive Gaming Symposium held Friday, September 20. Exhibits will be open 12:30 - 6:00 p.m. tomorrow and 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, with conference programs opening at 8 a.m. through Friday.

In just two years since the event's inception, the G2E exhibition floor has expanded from 375 companies comprising 133,330 square feet last year to 616 exhibits encompassing 190,400 square feet today. While show managers adhere to strict audits and verification processes post-show, preliminary unverified figures indicate day one attendance at 8,183, compared to 5,996 on opening day at the event's launch in October 2001. As the doors to the exhibit hall opened today, thousands of gaming industry buyers from commercial casinos, Native American casinos and other gaming venues from around the world converged on the booths of hundreds of suppliers including all leading gaming manufacturers.

"G2E's aisles were completely packed, and crowds filled nearly all of today's conference sessions," said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO, American Gaming Association. "As gaming continues its expansion as a leading form of entertainment, so does the need for a premier venue that supports buying and selling activity for the industry. Judging by the number of participants here today on both buy and supply sides, an event like G2E is critical for all gaming professionals." 

Show managers also note that preliminary pre-registration reports prior to the show indicated that 16% of pre-registrants are internationals, while 45% of the remaining 84% of the domestic pre-registrants reside in regions from outside the greater Nevada area.

ABC's Sam Donaldson and Las Vegas Mayor Goodman Welcome Gaming Industry To Las Vegas; Wall Street Elite Offer Market Insight Sam Donaldson, 35-year ABC news veteran and one of America's most trusted reporters and commentators, delivered the opening keynote address to a full house of gaming professionals today. G2E's opening day ceremonies followed with Mayor Oscar Goodman, and Wheel of Fortune hosts Pat Sajack and Vanna White, who welcomed the gaming community to Las Vegas. They were joined by AGA President and CEO Frank J. Farhenkopf, Jr.; AGA board members Chuck Mathewson, chairman, IGT and chairman, AGA and Des Randall, CEO, Aristocrat Technologies. Other dignitaries included Ernie Stevens, chairman, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), Robert Uithoven, District Director, U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.); Robert McMonigle, president, Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM); Bepi Mottes, chairman, European Gaming Organisation (EGO); Martin Canepa, president, Asociacion Latinoamericana de Juegos de Azar (ALAJA); and Richard Fitzpatrick, CEO, Interactive Gaming Institute (IGI). 

Popular seminars featured at today's conference included "Wall Street Ways: Gaming Analyst Roundtable," with analysts from leading firms including Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and UBS Warburg, who provided insights into major gaming financial concerns. Other seminars addressed various industry concerns, including gaming technology, development, gaming law and regulation, management, wagering and security.

State of the Industry, Gaming Investment Forum, Public Policy Panels Slated for Wednesday; On Thursday G2E Hosts Merv Griffin. Tomorrow's industry activity features the State of the Industry Panel featuring Bill Boyd of Boyd Gaming, Peter Carlino of Penn National Gaming, Michael Gauselmann of Atronic International, Phil Satre of Harrah's Entertainment and Ernie Stevens of the National Indian Gaming Association. The panel will be moderated by AGA President and CEO Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.

Complementing the keynote speech will be numerous conference sessions, most notably the Gaming Investment Forum sponsored by Bear Stearns. During these sessions chief financial officers of the most dynamic and fast-moving companies, both large and small, reveal how they respond to market conditions, consolidation, growth, and special pressures that affect the gaming industry around the world. Other seminars being featured include The Convergence of Gaming and Entertainment, and Debunking the Myths: Public Policy and the Casino Executive, as well as seminars addressing issues surrounding Native American gaming, the future of racing and its integration with the gaming industry, research and public policy for casino executives, and security. 

On Thursday G2E kicks off the show with its keynote featuring American icon Merv Griffin at 11:45 a.m. in a Q&A; session. The event will allow attendees the opportunity to "Ask Merv!" about his illustrious career in entertainment, gaming and hospitality that has spanned more than five decades. The AGA honors Griffin and former industry regulator and gaming executive Shannon Bybee this year as America's Gaming Greats at its awards dinner the evening prior to the keynote. Proceeds of the evening event will benefit the National Center for Responsible Gaming. Gladys Knight will be among the entertainers showcased that evening.

Other key high-level industry speakers during G2E also include MGM MIRAGE Chairman and CEO J. Terrence Lanni, Boyd Gaming Corporation President Don Snyder, Park Place Entertainment Corporation Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Kim Sinatra, National Indian Gaming Association Executive Director Mark Van Norman, CBS Marketwatch correspondent William Spain, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. President and COO Gary Loveman and Asociacion Latinoamericana de Juegos de Azar (ALAJA) President Martin Canepa, to name a few.

Global Gaming Expo is organized by the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions. 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 the world leader in creating high profile, targeted industry events where buyers and suppliers come together to do business. Every year, Red 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 4,780 events services 49 industries in 12 key sectors.

Fore more information on Global Gaming Expo visit the Web site at https://g2e2023.com. To download photos from the event visit www.einzig.com/g2epressroom. 

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