As Global Gaming Business Magazine approaches our 20th anniversary in 2022, we have to point out what is probably the single most important annual feature of those 20 years, the Global Games article penned by Editor Frank Legato in every October issue, the month of the traditional largest trade show in the industry. This feature actually pre-dates the existence of GGB, and dates back to the time when I was the editor of Casino Journal magazine and Frank was our cub reporter. At that time, the October issue was linked to the World Gaming Congress, which ironically was produced by Casino Journal’s competitor in those days, International Gaming & Wagering Business magazine. IGWB had cut in the American Gaming Association for a part of the WGC’s revenue, but when the AGA realized it could do it better with another partner, Global Gaming Expo (G2E) was founded along with Reed Exhibitions.
Since IGWB and Casino Journal were the only North American gaming trade publications in those days, IGWB simply bought Casino Journal and refused to accept advertising from G2E. I left Casino Journal at that time because I had no interest in working for IGWB and took a consulting position with G2E to help produce the conference program. But without an advertising vehicle, the then-president and CEO of the AGA, Frank Fahrenkopf came to me with a proposal. The AGA would invest some money in a new trade magazine if I could go out and raise and equal amount of money. Thanks to the foresight of other savvy members of the industry, I was able to do so, and GGB was born.
The first thing I did was reach out to Frank and offer him the position of editor at GGB. He is such a valuable commodity to any publication because of his knowledge of the slot business, his relationships with the slot manufacturers and of course his writing skills. To this day, it’s very difficult to find someone who knows about the industry and has the ability to string together an interesting narrative, so recruiting Frank was crucial to the success of GGB. And he’s funny too! One of the favorite elements of each issue of GGB, as judged by our readers, is his Frankly Speaking column, where nothing is sacred.
About two months before G2E and our October deadline, Frank ventures out to Las Vegas to visit the headquarters of the major slot companies. Sometimes he visits Austin, Texas and Chicago if the need arises. After signing an non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in many cases, Frank spends hours with the slot execs viewing their latest and greatest designs and math models.
This year, Frank says that there are many innovations that weren’t around at the last live G2E in 2019. That’s because most of the slot companies didn’t shut down their R&D departments during the pandemic. With developers working from home in most cases, the productivity rate soared. Companies at his year’s G2E will display radically changed cabinets, new and larger screens, graphics that knock your eyes out and new bonusing systems that make the reel-spinners of the past look like covered wagons.
GGB is the only magazine in the world that continues to present a print version every month. Yes, we also offer a digital version of the magazine. You can sign for the digital version at GGBMagazine.com. GGB is also the only publication that presents such a full reveal of all the slots that will be on sale or lease in 2022 and beyond. And you know you’re getting the best information because there literally is no one more informed about slot design, slot play and slot strategies as Frank Legato.
So click here to see this year’s Global Games and discover why this is going to be a banner year for slot sales.
And don’t miss our Progressive Products Preview magazine (P3) to see all the innovative non-slot products and services that will be on display at G2E and some that will only be visible through P3.
