Spotlight on GLI: The GLI Roundtablemarks a Quarter-Century Milestone

Spotlight on GLI: The GLI Roundtablemarks a Quarter-Century Milestone

Shedding Light on the GLI Regulators Roundtable

In the realm of gaming and technology, attending conferences annually is par for the course, but keeping attendees engaged is a whole different ball game - especially when the event in question has been running for 25 years like Gaming Laboratories International's (GLI) Roundtable for regulators, operators, and other stakeholders. The conference is scheduled for April 16-17 at the swanky Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

The Roundtable usually boasts keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops focusing on a variety of pressing topics, such as sports betting, iGaming, cybersecurity, and combating illegal gambling. The conference's "Innovation Tech Hub" is a big draw, and this year, you can expect to be wowed by technologies from Bulletproof, IXUP, Kobetron, Marbles.io, and PokerLab.

The conference's humble beginnings were in a conference room in Denver, Colorado, hosting just 30 regulators. Fast forward to the present, and the conference is a globally renowned event with more than 300 attendees expected from all corners of the earth.

GLI has steadfastly stuck to the core values that formed the event's foundation. As Christie Eickelman, VP of Global Marketing, puts it: "We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of new technology and concepts that are developed for the industry by suppliers and manufacturers, and present them from a technical point of view, while considering each jurisdiction's unique regulations and technical standards." That's why GLI surveys regulators throughout the year to get a sense of their top concerns, which then inform the agenda for the Roundtable.

One of the factors contributing to the Roundtable's longevity is that it's a peer-to-peer event where regulators can attend a conference without being bombarded by sales pitches. Instead, it's focused on discussing issues that are top of mind for regulators, past and present.

Over the years, the Roundtable has grown beyond a traditional conference, incorporating elements that are not specifically industry-focused, such as keynote speakers. These speakers deliver messages that resonate with industry professionals and help to bring a fun, entertainment-centric flavor to the conference.

The first keynote speaker for the Roundtable was Rep. Dina Titus, a Professor of Political Science at UNLV and a member of the United States Civil Rights Commission, in 2011. Other keynote speakers have included Mark Eaton, an NBA All-Star, motivational speaker, and team building expert (2015); Lt. Colonel Kevin Sweeney (2016); Nate Silver, author of FiveThirtyEight.com (2022); Jeffrey Ma, former VP of Analytics and Data Science for Twitter, predictive analytics expert for ESPN, and Kingpin of the famous MIT Blackjack Team (2024); and Kerry Bubolz, President of the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL (2018). Each of these speakers has delivered thought-provoking messages that resonate with the industry attendees.

This year, the keynote speaker will be Molly Bloom, author of Molly's Game, famously known as the "Poker Princess" in the 2000s for organizing high-stakes underground poker games in L.A. that attracted A-List actors. Her book was later turned into a movie starring Jessica Chastain.

The conference will also feature a 5K regulators fun run on April 16, plenty of networking opportunities, and an Innovation Tech Hub where regulators can get hands-on with the latest tech in an educational setting. James Maida, President and CEO of GLI, and Mackenzie Haugh, Chief Delivery Officer at GLI, will lead an insightful panel discussion on the "Top 10 Trends in Tech" to start off two days of engaging panel discussions and breakout sessions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss technology and other industry-related topics in smaller groups during the breakout sessions.

Ultimately, the Roundtable gives regulators an opportunity to come together, share their experiences, and form meaningful relationships. As Christie Eickelman puts it, "It's always great to see people coming back, forming those deep and meaningful relationships. I've watched regulators attend all of them, who have retired. The support the event has received from regulators has been truly remarkable."

1. Stakeholders in the gaming industry, including regulators and operators, will convene at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for the GLI Roundtable in 2024.
2. Keynote speeches at the GLI Roundtable often feature high-profile figures, such as former MIT Blackjack Team member Jeffrey Ma, who is scheduled to speak in 2024.
3. Apart from keynote speeches, the GLI Roundtable also offers a variety of engaging activities, such as panel discussions, workshops, and the Innovation Tech Hub showing off the latest technology from companies like Bulletproof.
4. In the coming years, the GLI Roundtable is expected to continue its tradition of bringing together industry stakeholders in Las Vegas to discuss relevant topics and foster relationships.

Read also: