Former NBA Commissioner David Stern is coming to Las Vegas next month to speak at the world’s largest casino industry trade show in support of legalizing sports betting in the United States.
Stern will appear at Global Gaming Expo 2016 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center to discuss legalization and its possible impacts on major professional sports with President and CEO of the American Gaming Association Geoff Freeman.
“Commissioner Emeritus Stern, a proponent of legalized, regulated sports betting, will offer a unique perspective on an issue that has rapidly evolved and represents a significant growth opportunity for the industry,” said Andrew Ortale, the AGA’s vice president of industry services.
The Washington, D.C.-based AGA, the casino industry’s federal lobbying arm, co-produces the expo, G2E as it’s called, in partnership with Reed Exhibitions. This year’s event will be held September 26-29.
Stern is credited in his 30 years at the helm of the National Basketball Association with helping to increase the popularity of basketball worldwide, shaping the league into the mega-industry it is today.
For all of those years he also adamantly opposed sports betting. His successor, current Commissioner Adam Silver, has since come out in support of legalization and has called on Congress to create a regulatory framework to allow states to offer betting on professional sports. The NBA also has invested in the burgeoning daily fantasy sports industry, which many consider a form of gambling
“I’m with Commissioner Silver,” Stern said at a conference last year. “There should be a federal legislation that says, ‘Let’s go all the way’ and have betting on sports. It’s OK. It’s going to be properly regulated.”
In addition to Stern, for the first time, G2E will feature keynote presentations on all four days of the show. Other keynotes include:
• Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush – Monday, September 26: Townsend’s presentation, “The Power of Being Fearless presented by Global Gaming Women,” will inspire attendees to have the courage to lead. After her time serving on the Homeland Security Council, Townsend joined CNN in 2008 and currently serves as a senior national security analyst for CBS News. Additionally, Townsend is the president of the Counter Extremism Project, a not-for-profit, non-partisan, international policy organization formed to combat the growing threat from extremist ideologies.
• National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest L. Stevens, Jr. and AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman – Tuesday, September 27: Marking the first time the leaders of the casino industry’s two key sectors share the G2E main stage together, Stevens and Freeman will focus on how both associations can benefit one another and truly represent the industry as a whole. Attendees will learn the issues facing gaming today and understand how unity makes the entire gaming industry stronger.
• Scott Klososky, tech expert and author – Wednesday, September 28: Known for his unique perspectives on technology and business culture, Klososky will detail how casinos can best align with new developments in technology including the Internet of Things, wearable devices, big data, the cashless society and cyber security. Klososky is a former CEO of three successful tech start-up companies; and principal of Future Point of View, a digital consulting firm focused on teaching technology to non-technology leaders. He is a founder and part owner of Alkami Technology, a second-generation online banking platform that provides users with expanded banking options. As a leader in digital and online tools, he shares a uniquely new but seasoned view of the trends and topics that are changing the business landscape.
“Commissioner Emeritus Stern, a proponent of legalized, regulated sports betting, will offer a unique perspective on an issue that has rapidly evolved and represents a significant growth opportunity for the industry,” said Andrew Ortale, AGA’s vice president of industry services. “Our robust lineup of speakers will help to make G2E a must-attend event for gaming industry professionals for all four days of the show.”
