The Casino-Side Guide To G2E
Yes, prediction markets and sports will command the spotlight at Vegas event, but casino innovations and iGaming will be everywhere too
America’s largest annual gaming conference, the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), kicks off Monday at The Venetian in Las Vegas, with some 25,000 industry professionals from more than 120 countries expected to attend.
And this being the gambling industry in the year 2026, we know what the hottest topic of conversation will be: prediction markets.
Can a sports contract be a “swap”? When will it go to the Supreme Court? What will the Supreme Court decide? Is it cannibalizing traditional sports betting?
From the panelists on the stages to the attendees roaming the floor, these questions and convos will be unavoidable. And that makes sense. Prediction markets are a fascinating topic and their ultimate fate will impact almost everyone and everything in our business.
But, thankfully, there’s much more to G2E than prediction markets. And since we here at Casino Reports like to focus on the casino size of the biz — both brick-and-mortar and online — we’re previewing next week’s mega-show from that perspective. Here, we offer a snapshot of what G2E attendees with a keen eye on casino gaming should look out for.
Six panels of note
Managing Growth, Risk, and Fraud Prevention in iGaming
When: Monday, 9 a.m.
Where: Veronese 2401
Who: Sift Field CTO Kevin Lee, FanDuel Senior Product Director Natalie Dunne
Why attend: It’s a tricky balance for operators, wanting as little customer friction as possible but needing to be sure players are who they say they are. Not all conversations about compliance are as out in the open as they ought to be in Vegas, but this one at the outset of the conference with a focus on the online side of things promises to enlighten.
AI in Practice: How Online Gaming Teams Are Using Automation to Work Smarter
When: Monday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Veronese 2401
Who: GeoComply SVP Chad Kornett, Penn Entertainment VP of Product Rachel Gundy, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Jordan Maynard, Nuvei VP of Strategic Growth Trent Striplin
Why attend: Levels of enthusiasm and concern with regard to AI may vary, but there’s no question it’s a topic everyone in the industry (almost every industry, really) has to be constantly thinking about. This panel focusing on optimal uses of the technology appears likely to focus on the positive — though a note in the description that they’ll discuss “how regulators are beginning to supervise it” suggests caution won’t be downplayed. And Maynard, among the more thoughtful state gaming regulators around, should offer valuable insights on that front.
Slot Machines Newest Frontiers: Navigating Legal Issues with HHR and Class II Machines
When: Monday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Titian 2303
Who: Troutman Pepper counsel Reade Jacob, Konami Gaming VP of Technical Compliance Spencer Peterson, Rush Street Interactive Chief Legal Officer Paul Wierbicki
Why attend: One person’s “innovation” is another person’s “that looks like an illegal slot machine to me.” From VGTs to HHR machines and beyond, these slot-like games with legality that varies from state to state are a constant focus across the industry. Perspective from a pair of lawyers will be particularly pertinent in this discussion.
Nobody Knows Anything: Picking Hits When AI Can Make a Thousand Games
When: Tuesday, 11:40 a.m.
Where: Veronese 2401
Who: WONDR Nation President and CEO Anika Howard, Wizards CEO Fernando Polti, Golden Hearts Games EVP of Product and Marketing Melanie Gross, Plan A Technologies VP of Creative Christian Salmon
Why attend: Yep, more AI talk, but with a particular focus on game design. Determining what games will appeal to players is far from an exact science, but these panelists promise to address the factors to consider and the challenges associated with making a game standout when AI has, as the session description says, “ushered in an era of infinite content.”
The Evolving Casino Customer: New Expectations and Behaviors
When: Tuesday, 2 p.m.
Where: Titian 2301
Who: Panamint Gaming Principal Saverio Scheri, Victor Strategies EVP Gene Johnson, WONDR Nation President and CEO Anika Howard, Grand Sierra Resort CMO Christopher Abraham, Shank Marketing Principal and CEO Justin Shank
Why attend: Whatever aspect of the industry you work in, chances are the identities and preferences of the casino customer are significant to you. The panel discussion will cover both online and brick-and-mortar player engagement patterns. And it doesn’t hurt that it features Johnson, an outstanding recent guest on the Casino Reports podcast Low Rollers.
iGaming’s Next Chapter
When: Wednesday, 2 p.m.
Where: G2E iGaming Hub
Who: Light & Wonder Global Head of Government Affairs Howard Glaser, Fanatics Betting & Gaming VP of Government Affairs Brandt Iden
Why attend: It’s the perfect way to wind down the conference — by looking to the future of online gaming. Glaser and Iden understand the legal and legislative challenges as well as anyone, and they’ll talk expectations for 2027 as well as strategies for all sectors to prepare for what possibly awaits.
Four additional attractions
Wayne Gretzky
Arguably the greatest hockey player of all-time will speak in Venetian Ballroom F on Tuesday at 9 a.m., joining BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt for a conversation titled “Defining Greatness.” Credit to the G2E organizers for this clever misdirect in the blurb about the session: “Behind every seemingly effortless play was years of preparation, discipline, and dedication — and that’s just Greenblatt’s journey.”
Elizabeth Smart
Also in Venetian Ballroom F, one day after “The Great One,” at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Smart, infamously abducted as a child and now an activist and author, will take center stage alongside Aristocrat Gaming VP of Communications Meghan Speranzo. How much direct gambling talk there will be in unclear, but certainly the topics will be applicable to the gaming business, as Smart shares her insights on resilience and adversity, with a particular focus on the challenges women face in professional settings.
50 Cent’s dice game’s debut
As reported by TMZ, G2E will host the unveiling of 50 Cent Headcrack, a casino table version of a New York street dice game, with the famous rapper’s name attached. As TMZ explains, “The game is being developed for commercial casino operators and will be available in multiple formats, including traditional dice and automated dice technology.” No word yet on whether Fiddy himself will show up at the Venetian next week.
G2E Dealer Championship
This three-day competition returns for a second year, running from Tuesday-Thursday, with 50 dealers from across North America battling in a series of skill events at both blackjack and roulette tables in pursuit of a grand prize of $5,000. For conference attendees, watching a few minutes of dealer vs. dealer action is the perfect change of pace from all the panel discussions, product displays, and coffee chats that otherwise occupy their working day.
Eric has been a professional editor and writer for more than 25 years, including nearly 20 years of experience covering the gambling industry. He was editor-in-chief of the poker magazine All In from 2005-2015 and manag…
