Celebrating a Quarter-Century: GLI Roundtable Marks Its 25th Anniversary
Revamped Take:
Sin City Showdown: GLI's Annual Gathering*** Shaking up the Gaming World * Mark Keast, our webs måtchbox
Alright, let's dive into the 25-year whirlwind that is the Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) Roundtable—an annual shindig that keeps industry folk coming back for more!
Each year, this event takes center stage, hosting a lively assemblage of regulators, operators, and stakeholders at the dance floor of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, set for April 16-17.
This time around, the guest list is a global extravaganza! So, get your party shoes on and join the festivities!
The agenda? A captivating mix of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and breakout sessions on sports betting, iGaming, cybersecurity, andkicking out the bad apples in the gaming world.
But wow, have you heard about the "Innovation Tech Hub"? It's where the cool kids play, showcasing tech from Bulletproof, IXUP, Kobetron, Marbles.io, and PokerLab. Mark your calendars for some serious nerd-tastic fun!
Remember, it all started in a humble conference room in Denver, Colorado, with just 30 regulators. Now, it's got the world's attention!
Christie Eickelman, GLI's Vice President of Global Marketing, has been the event's rodeo clown since the beginning. She explains their secret sauce:
"Our goal is to provide an up-to-the-minute, bird's-eye view of new technology and theories being cooked up by our brilliant minds in the industry. We do it from the 30,000-foot level, pulling in experts to speak on each tech or topic, so regulators get the lowdown they need."
Eickelman and her team survey regulators throughout the year to figure out what's bugging 'em, what they're dealing with, and what they're curious about, and they build the agenda around those needs.
Half the fun is meeting new heads and exchanging war stories! This is a peer-to-peer event, free from sales pitches, where regulators can learn a thing or two without being bombarded by offers.
The GLI Roundtable has morphed from a traditional conference, adding more entertainment and light-hearted elements, like keynote speakers who deliver hard-hitting messages that resonate with the crowd.
For instance, in 2011, Rep. Dina Titus, Professor of Political Science at UNLV and Member, United States Civil Rights Commission, popped the champagne cork for the Roundtable!
In the years that followed, we've enjoyed presentations by Mark Eaton (NBA All-Star, motivational speaker, and team building maestro); Lt. Colonel Kevin Sweeney; the data-obsessed Nate Silver, author and founder of FiveThirtyEight.com; the unstoppable Jeffrey Ma, former Microsoft VP for Startups and member of the famous MIT Blackjack Team; and the one and only Kerry Bubolz, President, Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL.
Bubolz spoke about launching a business in a new city, especially the challenges of helming an expansion NHL hockey franchise in a hot climate market. Exciting stuff, right?
And wait for it! This year's keynote speaker is Molly Bloom, author of Molly's Game and the "Poker Princess" from the 2000s. She masterminded high-stakes underground poker games in L.A. that attracted A-list actors. Her book was later turned into a movie with the fabulous Jessica Chastain.
April 16 also includes the Regulators Fun Run—a 5K dash packed with breakfast and networking opportunities. Fun and games, here we come!
The Innovation Tech Hub will be rocking both days, where regulators can get a sneak peek at the latest tech, but in a classy, interactive way.
Got questions or need more in-depth chats on specific subjects? Join the panel discussions throughout the event, where industry leaders take the stage, and feel free to engage in smaller breakout sessions for deeper discussions.
James Maida, GLI's fearless President and CEO, and Mackenzie Haugh, Chief Delivery Officer at GLI, will lead a panel discussion on "Top 10 Tech Trends" this year, kicking off a full two days of thought-provoking conversations and insights.
So, there you have it! The GLI Roundtable is more than just an event; it's a chance for regulators to meet face to face and discover that the person next to them may be battling the same challenges.
"It's a blast to see folks returning, building those deep and lasting relationships. I've watched regulators attend year after year, even after they retired. The support the event has received over the years is truly meaningful and a testament to its impact."
- In the heart of Las Vegas, the Palms Casino Resort will host the annual GLI Roundtable in April 2024, bringing together stakeholders from the casino-and-gambling industry.
- During this event, attendees can look forward to a mix of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and breakout sessions on topics like cybersecurity, sports betting, iGaming, and innovations in technology.
- The Innovation Tech Hub, a popular feature, will showcase cutting-edge solutions from companies such as Bulletproof, IXUP, Kobetron, Marbles.io, and PokerLab.
- industry experts address each tech or topic, offering valuable insights to regulators. The atmosphere is peer-to-peer, free from sales pitches, creating an environment for learning and networking.
