Casino Enterprise Management

The three-day South American Gaming Expo and Congress (SAGSE) took place Nov. 9–11 at the Costa Salguero Convention Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Confirming once more that it is the top gaming expo for South America, it was announced just before the show that SAGSE will serve as the official sales agent in Latin America for the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Now entering its 18th year, SAGSE, as always, ...

With a new venue and new dates, this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E), held Oct. 4-6 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, exuded vibes of change, growth and excitement in the industry. As in 2010, quality trumped quantity with exhibitor numbers and booths this year, though perhaps less so in comparison to last year.

Held for the first time in conjunction with gaming trade show G2E, the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) held its 2011 conference Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. CEM was among the bunch, covering the conference via videos and this print review. IAGA is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the study and development of gaming regulation and compliance.

Everybody used to exhibit at trade shows—it was the thing to do. In 2006, before the Great Recession or Great Depression II (take your pick), 25,000 trade shows were held in the United States alone. They attracted millions of attendees and generated revenues in excess of $2.6 billion. The gaming industry was no different; in the first three months of 2008, for example, more than 50 conferences and trade shows were held.

Since 2006, the South American Gaming Expo and Congress (SAGSE) has been attracting gaming professionals from the world over. This year, more than 2,500 high-ranking businesspeople and company executives came to Panama, one of the most dynamic gaming markets in the entire region.

The 15th annual iteration of the East Coast Gaming Congress was nothing short of a finely calibrated erudition in disseminating gaming industry do’s and don’ts during a shaky economy. It did so by asking the hard questions and identifying the opportunities for both the public and private sectors.

CasinoFest 9 attendees enjoyed a week packed with golfing, networking, training, inspiring keynotes and good times at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. More than 350 people attended the conference and expo event this year, with many attendees coming from Oklahoma and others coming from across the United States.

NIGA’s annual trade show and conference event brought thousands of tribal leaders and gaming professionals together in Phoenix, Ariz., in April. Many were anxious to find out who would lead NIGA as chairman for the next two years. As voting ended and tribal leaders poured out of the election room, the news quickly spread that Ernie Stevens Jr. won, 121 to 14. He will continue his leadership of the National Indian Gaming Association as chairman for his sixth term.

“New entertainment” in Philadelphia in the 18th century was the introduction of the first American circus presented by John Bill Rickets on April 3, 1793, at the corner of 12th and Market Street. Now, fast forward 218 years to March 21, 2011, at the very same corner of 12th and Market Street, and you find the seventh annual Pennsylvania Gaming Congress & Mid-Atlantic Racing Forum holding their cocktail reception celebrating 21st century “new entertainment” in Philadelphia.

“Ooooooo, red!” shouted a middle-aged woman, as she paused her reel spinning for a moment to choose a horse in the virtual race she had been waiting to pop up on the side of her slot machine screen. A younger woman watched, then chose white. Meanwhile, the middle-aged woman was already back to spinning the reels. Moments later, the “Pechanga Classic” began. The woman never stopped playing … until her red horse momentarily took the lead. Then she began cheering for her horse to win.