Gaming insights Gaming

G2E Asia: It’s showtime!

Written by Pai Yao

This article first appeared in the May/Jun 2012 issue of World Gaming magazine.

Booming industries such as gaming rely on cutting edge management, expertise and hardware. They need conferences and trade fairs to showcase their wares, and networking opportunities for industry leaders to discuss strategy and share industry acumen.

What: G2E (Global Gaming Expo) Asia
When: 22 to 24 May 2012
Where: The Venetian Macau
Website: g2easia.com

G2E’s Las Vegas version held in October each year is still considerably larger than its Asian cousin. But like most things in the world of gaming the focus is inexorably moving towards Asia and her gambling capital, Macau. There is no argument that G2E Asia is the biggest gaming showcase in Asia, and one of the industry’s most attended and respected conferences. New gaming information and technology from all over the world travels to Macau and every industry heavyweight is represented.

A session entitled 'VIP Vision: How Junkets Work Across Asia' at the 2011 G2E Asia conference.

A session entitled ‘VIP Vision: How Junkets Work Across Asia’ at the 2011 G2E Asia conference.

There are some excellent gaming conferences in Asia, but most are smaller events targeted at the hierarchy of the industry focusing on one or two key aspects of gaming. G2E is the only conference that goes out of its way to cater to the entire industry from hands-on gaming floor technology to top-end executive forums. It covers gaming both here in Asia and from a global perspective.

There are three key elements to G2E Asia. First is the main floor exhibition, which features everything from the world of gaming that will hit casino floors in the next few years. The latest table games, furniture, chips, cards, e-games and more; if it has anything to do with the gaming industry it will be at G2E and you will be able to speak to people who know their product inside out.

The next element of G2E is the conference, attended by delegates and executives from Asia and the wider gaming world. A long list of expert speakers give their views on what’s hot and what’s not in Asia and the world of gaming. For a behind the scenes look at the gaming industry this is a conference you can’t afford to miss.

Gaming expert Sal Piacente demonstrating cheating techniques at the G2E Asia 2011 Game Protection Seminar. Sal returns to G2E in 2012.

Gaming expert Sal Piacente demonstrating cheating techniques at the G2E Asia 2011 Game Protection Seminar. Sal returns to G2E in 2012.

The third element is the chance to network. Imagine being able to rub shoulders with the biggest and most powerful people in the industry. Everyone who is anyone in gaming is in town, so it is the time to take advantage of the many networking events that occur during G2E. These range from small, invite-only cocktail affairs to large-scale official parties, but the potential for networking reaches far beyond organized social gatherings. Will a random chance meeting lead to a connection that will change your life?

G2E Asia is a fast-paced roller coaster that will see the biggest names in the industry strut their stuff. Be prepared to survive on minimal sleep, and drink lots of coffee. Keep your eyes and ears open, as you never know whom you might bump into or what you might hear.

G2E Asia: It's show time!

G2E Asia: It’s show time!

G2E ” Must Sees”
WGM has the inside running on who you should make a beeline towards at this year’s G2E Asia.

Shuffle Master (booth 801)

Shuffle Master has been an integral part of casino gaming for many years. Casino operators and casino patrons alike have enjoyed the benefits of Shuffle Master’s time saving machines. They have made operators’ lives simpler and have given the modern day gamer more hands, more often. Shuffle Master has never been a company to rest on their laurels. They continue to push the bar higher when it comes to delivering innovative gaming products to the industry. Progressive Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker is one of the most interesting new table game products seen in the market place for some time. It has everything about caribbean stud poker that players love, using the format of the wildly popular texas hold’ em poker. Go to wgm8.com and type in “twist on Texas” to read more.

Drop in to Shuffle Master’s booth at G2E to see what all the fuss is about.

LT Game (booth 1200)

LT is a company that knows all about playing the game. LT has been Macau’s big mover regarding live dealer baccarat. If you check out our website, wgm8.com, you can read about live dealer baccarat in our recent articles on the unique Kampek casino and the Imperial Stadiums at the Venetian and the Sands. Just type in “Imperial Stadium to offer” (including the quote marks), in the wgm8.com search box to find these articles. LT Game is the company behind this live dealer baccarat technology.

There are also 151 LT Game terminals at Sands Cotai Central, which opened on April 11. This again underpins this emerging company’s contribution to the gaming industry in Macau. If you are interested in live dealer baccarat terminal betting, then LT Game is one company you will want to learn more about.

Aristocrat (booth 201)

Aristocrat always has one of the best booths at any gaming conference. The iconic slot machine company has been on the frontline of modern slot machine technology for decades. Cutting edge machines like Golden Pyramids and Five Dragons have changed the face of slot gaming forever, and Aristocrat have plenty of emerging hall-of-fame standard slots ready to be unleashed on the Asian gaming scene.

This year at G2E Aristocrat is focussing on the year of the dragon, continuing their quest to create slot machines that Asian players especially love to play. Not only will they be featuring a large range of Five Dragon hybrid machines like Dragon Superior, Dragons Divine, 50 Dragons, Heaven and Earth and Year of the Dragon, they are also showcasing some interesting twists on 5 Koi, Fortune King and their iconic FaFaFa product.

They will also show you how more Hyperlink options will see big winners more often, so put Aristocrat at the top of your list to see where the slot machine future lies in the Asia Pacific region.

Inspired Gaming Group (booth 743)

Inspired operates approximately 50,000 machines worldwide, and is expanding into new international markets. Their “Sabre” electronic roulette was launched at G2E Asia in 2011, and we were so impressed we wrote the article “Inspired Gaming rattles its sabre” in our Jul/Aug 2011 issue. Just go to wgm8.com and type the word “sabre” in the search box to find it. Since then, over 1,000 Sabres have been installed in Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America and the UK.

Inspired’s “Virtual Sports” became China’s first government approved rapid-draw lottery game in August 2011 and is live in the National Sports Lottery venues. Sports include horse and greyhound racing, soccer, motor racing and tennis.

Inspired’s “Bingo Blaze” is another product we think will be perfect for the Asian market. It will be making its debut at G2E Asia this year, after a successful Latin American launch in 2011.

It’s well worth taking a trip to Inspired’s booth to check out their innovative new products.