G2E closes 25th anniversary edition with 25,000 attendees exploring the future of gaming in Las Vegas

The 25th edition of the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) concluded Thursday at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, reaffirming its role as one of the largest and most influential gatherings for the gaming sector while reflecting on a year of change and challenge across the wider industry.

Around 25,000 professionals from more than 120 countries and territories attended this year’s milestone event, organized by RX in partnership with the American Gaming Association (AGA).

With nearly 400 exhibitors on the show floor and more than 100 education sessions, G2E 2025 balanced celebration with substance. Across its varied programming and at the expo area, attendees explored emerging technologies, responsible innovation, and a shifting regulatory landscape that continues to define the sector’s evolution.

Ernie Stevens' legacy and a view into the future

The week began with a moving tribute to Ernest L. “Ernie” Stevens Jr., the late chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, who passed away just days before the show opened. The memorial, co-hosted by AGA and IGA, brought together tribal and commercial leaders to celebrate Stevens’ two-decade legacy advocating for tribal sovereignty and economic empowerment through gaming.

Ernie Stevens' legacy was honored at G2E

“Ernie built a movement of respect, progress, and unity,” said IGA Executive Director Jason Giles, during the remembrance. “It is now our responsibility to carry that mission forward.”

In his opening address, AGA President and CEO Bill Miller echoed those sentiments while spotlighting the industry’s resilience and its ongoing challenges. “We deliver impact when our economy is steaming forward, and we hold steady when we encounter moments of uncertainty,” Miller said, noting that gaming grew 8% in 2024 and now supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide.

Miller’s remarks quickly turned to one of the most debated topics of this year’s show: the rise of prediction markets and sweepstakes operators, which he warned are “attempting to end-run regulation” and “blur the lines” of legal gaming.

“You can call it a sports event contract, a skill game, or a sweepstakes,” Miller said. “You can call it whatever you want, but it’s still gambling. And if it’s gambling, it needs to play by the rules that uphold state and tribal sovereignty.”

A divided industry on prediction markets

That statement set the tone for much of the week’s discussion. From the keynote stage to panel sessions, prediction markets emerged as one of G2E’s defining storylines, exposing a rare public divide among leading operators.

While Miller’s stance was unequivocal, major brands including FanDuel, DraftKings, and Fanatics expressed a more measured view. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins, in a keynote conversation, acknowledged the uncertainty but emphasized that federal regulators (not operators) would ultimately define the boundaries.

“There’s a federal regulator,” Robins said. “The CFTC is in charge of deciding what’s permissible or not. We’re just here to understand the rules of the road and participate within them.”

MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle struck a more cautious tone, warning that federally sanctioned prediction markets could invite broader federal oversight of gambling, a move long resisted by state-regulated operators. “It does invite the notion that the federal government can step into our space,” Hornbuckle said. “That’s something this industry has historically and categorically defended against.”

G2E addressed several pressing topics through a packed conference program

Optimism for Las Vegas and beyond

Hornbuckle also used his session to reaffirm confidence in Las Vegas, despite a temporary dip in visitation during mid-2025. The MGM chief reminded audiences that 2024 had been one of the city’s strongest years on record — buoyed by the Super Bowl and Formula 1 — and predicted that the coming months would be the “best convention stretch this city has ever seen.”

“We remain bullish on Las Vegas,” he said. “Fundamentally, I don’t think it’s broken in any way, shape or form.”

Hornbuckle also touched on AI integration across MGM’s operations, noting significant efficiency gains in hotel services and customer support. However, he added, “AI cannot replicate all the unique and individualized benefits of person-to-person interaction,” signaling a cautious but deliberate approach to automation.

New additions and renewed energy

While regulatory debates dominated headlines, G2E’s silver anniversary also introduced fresh initiatives aimed at celebrating talent and innovation within the industry. Chief among them was the inaugural G2E Dealer Championship, a three-day contest bringing together 34 top dealers from regulated U.S. operators to compete in blackjack and roulette events judged on technical skill, hospitality, and game control.

G2E's inaugural Dealer Championship

Elleonor Hoffman of Graton Resort took home the title of “Best Dealer in America”, earning a cash prize and industry-wide recognition. The championship, supported by The United States Playing Card Company (“Bee”), TCSJOHNHUXLEY, and other sponsors, drew large crowds throughout the week.

“The inaugural G2E Dealer Championship brought an exciting new layer to this year’s event,” said Korbi Carrison, Event Vice President at RX. “It celebrated the incredible skill, precision, and showmanship of casino dealers while highlighting the vital role they play in the gaming experience. The next year will be bigger and better.”

A busy casino floor and a packed program

As the show floor buzzed with new releases in slots, table games, and integrated systems, G2E 2025 also highlighted broader forces shaping the future of gaming, from AI adoption and cybersecurity to responsible play initiatives and mental health advocacy.

Elsewhere, education tracks tackled AML compliance, cross-jurisdictional data protection, and evolving iGaming regulation, with regulators and operators from Latin America, Europe, and Asia sharing updates on licensing frameworks and market entry strategies.

Across the expo floor, exhibitors showcased technologies that bridge digital and physical gaming, from hybrid live-dealer systems to immersive loyalty solutions and next-generation sports betting platforms. Although G2E remains primarily rooted in land-based gaming, the presence of iGaming, esports, and fintech innovators underscored how the ecosystem is converging.

G2E’s next chapter

As the expo closed its 25th edition, organizers confirmed that G2E 2026 will return to The Venetian Expo from September 29 to October 1, 2026, with education sessions beginning September 28. Dates for 2027 and 2028 have also been set: G2E 2027 runs September 28 - September 30  (education beginning on Sept. 27), and G2E 2028 runs October 10 - October 12 (education beginning on Oct. 9)

"G2E has firmly established itself as the central meeting point for the global gaming industry, bringing together operators, suppliers, regulators, and the broader industry in the heart of the gaming capital," said Bill Miller. "This year's show reflected the strength, diversity, and innovation that define our industry—and the collaboration that will continue to propel it forward."

"G2E is the place to be in the gaming industry. We are incredibly pleased with this year's show, including the inaugural Dealer Championship, which brought an exciting new layer," Korbi Carrison, RX's Event Vice President for G2E, told Yogonet during the show. "But next year's G2E will be even bigger and better!"

Inside G2E 2025