Arizona Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill to Headline Global Gaming Expo Final Keynote

First NFL Executive to Keynote G2E will Discuss Convergence of Legal Sports Betting, Professional Sports

The Global Gaming Expo (G2E)—presented by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and organized by RX (Reed Exhibitions)—announced Arizona Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill will headline the G2E 2021 final keynote as the annual conference returns to Las Vegas from Oct. 4-7.

“The expansion of legal sports betting is deepening fan engagement and driving new business opportunities for sports leagues and teams,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “I look forward to welcoming Michael to the G2E keynote stage to hear his unique perspective on the dynamic, evolving sports landscape.”

Cards on the Table: A Conversation with Arizona Cardinals’ Michael Bidwill will feature a discussion between Bidwill and Miller on the convergence of legal sports betting and professional sports. The conversation, on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 1 PM, will examine the thinking behind the team’s recently-announced sports betting partnership with Gila River Hotels & Casino and BetMGM, the important role of responsibility in sports betting, and what’s next as legal sports betting matures.

“Cardinals fans are very passionate, and the launch of legal sports betting in Arizona provides a new and innovative way to interact with them,” said Bidwill. “With our partners at Gila River Hotels & Casino and BetMGM, we are excited to bring this emerging market to Arizona.”

The Cards on the Table with Bill Miller series features one-on-one discussions with gaming’s top leaders on how they have navigated COVID-19 and gaming’s road to recovery. From casino and sportsbook operators to gaming suppliers, each interview has highlighted the innovative thinking propelling gaming forward on the path to recovery.

Recent AGA research found that due to expanded sports betting legalization and high fan enthusiasm for the season, a record 45.2 million Americans (18%) will wager on this year’s NFL season, a 36% increase from the 2020 NFL season. Legal sports betting is now live in 26 states and Washington, DC. Since 2019, when G2E was last held in Las Vegas, the number of operational markets has doubled, and 13 additional states have legalized sports betting.