More than 100 sessions announced at this year G2E Conference

The G2E 2011 conference will be held October 4-6 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with G2E's specialized professional education events scheduled for October 3.

"The gaming industry is fast-paced and ever-changing, with new trends and developments affecting all aspects of our business," said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA). "Whether it's harnessing the power of social media to establish stronger customer relationships, charting a course for the future of online gambling or learning new operational strategies to help compete in the current economic climate, conference attendees will gain the practical tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the global entertainment arena."

The G2E 2011 conference will feature 14 cutting-edge tracks and more than 100 sessions led by industry leaders and seasoned experts from around the world. Additionally, G2E 2011 is offering conference attendees further opportunities to increase their professional knowledge with five specialized events being held October 3.

G2E 2011 will mark the debut of Social Media Boot Camp at G2E. During this day-long seminar, attendees will learn about social networking tools by studying best practices and examples from casino social media efforts across the country. Led by Masterminds, a nationally recognized agency at the forefront of social media marketing for the casino industry, the seminar will include information on how casino marketing departments fully integrate social media strategies into their traditional casino marketing efforts and how to measure and quantify results. 

G2E will once again address one of the hottest topics in the gaming industry during the iGaming Congress, which will examine the potential impact of Internet gambling legalization in the U.S. and advise the gaming market on how to react to the changing face of the industry. As the largest conference in North America for Internet-based gaming, the iGaming Congress at G2E appeals to existing offshore Internet gambling operators, as well as commercial casinos, manufacturers and more.

Created in partnership with leading universities and gaming organizations, the G2E Advanced Gaming Institute program offers attendees the opportunity to learn important fundamentals from respected professors at these higher education institutions. This program is specifically designed for those who have entered the gaming industry without a formal education in casino operations.

The G2E Leadership Academy will return this year to feature a six-hour workshop titled "Leading Change." Led by Karl Krumm, Ph.D., senior consultant at TRACOM Group, this program will focus on the role of leaders in developing a culture of change, and understanding what is needed to manage the constant demand for making adjustments.

Security & Surveillance Institute at G2E will provide a full day of learning for casino security and surveillance professionals and is specifically designed to address the growing demand for access to the latest information on major incidents within a casino property and leading-edge information on surveillance techniques.

Beginning this year, G2E also will devote its final day of conference programming to a specific topic affecting casino operators around the world. Insight on Operations at G2E 2011 will focus on player tracking and loyalty for gaming and non-gaming patrons and will include three sessions: "Risk and Rewards: Understanding Player Reinvestment," "Player Tracking: Slots & Tables" and "Player Tracking: Non-Gaming."

Additionally, James J. Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, will deliver an exclusive keynote to G2E conference attendees on Wed., Oct. 5 and will address where the industry is today, the growth opportunities that exist and what they mean for the gaming industry as a whole. Murren also will discuss the significance of MGM Resorts International's expanded focus on corporate social responsibility.

For the first time, G2E 2011 will co-locate with two other industry conferences: the International Association of Gaming Advisors, which will be held September 30-October 2, and the National Center for Responsible Gaming, which will run October 2-4. These two conferences have added greatly to the breadth of attendees' knowledge about issues important to the gaming industry as a whole.

G2E is attended by nearly 26,000 industry professionals from around the world. For more information on G2E 2011, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com and connect with G2E on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.