Exciting Japan conference in the pipeline

The American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions (Reed Expo) -organizers of the G2E family of events – have partnered with Union Gaming to put on a one-of-a-kind symposium in Japan as early as possible if and when the legislation gets backing.  The event organizers are joined by sponsors, supporters, and a global advisory board that includes prominent Japanese gaming companies, such as JCM Global and Konami, as well as top Japanese advertising and public relations company Dentsu.

"Should the Japanese government choose to proceed with the first stage of casino gaming legalization in 2014, the AGA and its prominent industry partners will bring our best-in-class educational services to this critical market," said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. "Our decades of experience in industry regulation, operations and responsible gaming can be of enormous value to the Japanese as they consider building what could be one of the world's most significant gaming markets."

"Gathering industry leaders together in Japan is more important now than ever before," said Bill Lerner, principal at Union Gaming, a boutique investment and securities firm. "To that end, we are honored to join with G2E to expand on the Union Gaming Development Conference we hosted in Tokyo this September. Our goal is to create an annual event that advances the industry's interest and builds on that success year after year."

In addition to G2E's Japanese supporters, global support is also being provided by Aristocrat Leisure, Bally Technologies, Gaming Partners International (GPI); Interblock, IGT, WMS Gaming and others to be announced shortly.

Gaming stakeholders from a range of backgrounds – including a leader of the nascent Japan Gaming Association – will guide program development through the G2E Japan Conference Advisory Board led by Bo Bernhard, executive director of the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of communications and government relations at Caesars Entertainment; F. Steven DiMasi, vice president of global government relations and public affairs at IGT; Alan Feldman, executive vice president of global government and industry affairs at MGM Resorts International; Akiyoshi Isoi, president at JCM Global; Tom Jingoli, senior vice  president and chief compliance officer at Konami Gaming, Takashi Kiso, CEO at International Casino Institute; Timothy McNally, chairman and non-executive director at NagaCorp; Toru Mihara, general manager of the project engineering division at Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute; and Christine Reilly, senior research director at the National Center for Responsible Gaming.

Additional information and dates for G2E Japan will be announced if and when the Integrated Resort Acceleration Legislation in Japan is passed. For more information on G2E, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com. For more information on Union Gaming, visit www.uniongaminggroup.com.