Event

G2E 2011

Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevad – United States

Event Information

It felt like a new beginning. G2E Las Vegas had a new venue, a new time slot and a sense that the industry was rising up again after some tough times. There were some adverse comments about the flow of foot traffic in certain parts of the trade show floor, but exhibitor feedback was mainly very positive. There was an overwhelming thumbs-up for the new circumstances. Slot giant IGT still had the largest booth, but it didn't seem to dominate proceedings in the same way it did when the exhibition was held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. It felt like one, unified exhibition rather than two separate shows as it had at the previous venue. The first day started with Casino Technology's launch of its new range of slot machines developed in conjunction with Penthouse, the world-famous glamour magazine, and continued on day two with the appearance of former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson on the stand of Slovenian multiplayer machine developer Interblock. There was also an appearance by Hollywood film star Dan Ackroyd to back up the launch of the company’s Ghost Busters game. Organiser Reed Exhibitions surveyed more than 1,150 gaming industry professionals at the show and found that 77 per cent feel positive about where the casino gaming industry is headed in 2012. Four out of five (80 per cent) believe that the gaming company they work for will be stronger in 2012 and more than three-quarters (76 per cent) say that they are not concerned about their future employment situation. Obviously, these are all good signs. If nothing else, this year’s G2E demonstrated that the global casino industry can once again look forward to the future with confidence.

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