GMB – How do you evaluate this year's show; how would you rate it?
Brendan Bussmann - This was another great G2E. It's always great to get friends back together. I think back over the last four years and how everything's finally come back, and there were lots of people, lots. Not just the typical suspects here in the US, since this is a US-centric show, but a lot of the Americas, a lot more Europeans. So people are realizing this is much more international coming over to Vegas, and we love having them here, love hosting them.
Would you say that compared to the past the fair has grown?
I would say it's probably a little bit more than last year. Good crowd, very excited crowd, good to see the industry back, good to see the industry moving forward in all different facets along the way. And it's a spectacular diverse industry that continues to evolve.
This year a new iGaming section was included in the event. Why did this happen and how would people react to it?
I think it's good to have the sector segmented and not that you want the floor to be segmented at all. So growing suppliers, community, and sellers out there that have an interest in this because this vertical is growing exponentially, not just here in the United States, as we're seeing, but all over the world. I mention Brazil and all of Latin America. iGaming is definitely one of those growth areas.
Did you see many Brazilians present at the event?
Like I said before we started. I just ran into one in the hallway. There are many Brazilians here, and many people from LatAm, who promoted many conversations with an eye on this market. Brazil is one of those markets that I probably have two or three conversations about a day. So people are excited about this jurisdiction, interested in the Brazilian market. I've been involved in this for at least a decade and look forward to getting down there again soon.
How do you see the regulatory process progressing in Brazil?
That's always the crux of any jurisdiction, what's in the regulations and how does that work for operators to follow the regulations. Likewise, how will they earn their licenses and offer quality products with the best resources available. So, I'm hopeful that it will move in the right direction, but obviously the proof of market consistency will be seen at the end of this process.
Regarding the Brazilians present, what did they look for during the event?
I think they are the most interested in everything related to regulation while also seeking the innovations offered by the exhibitors. Brazilians have high expectations for the future, both in the sports betting sector and in other opportunities showcased at the Global Gaming Expo.
What is the importance of Brazil to the gaming industry and what kind of role can it play in helping G2E in the future?
I look at this. Brazil is one of those emerging markets that everyone is closely monitoring, along with others I can highlight, such as the United Arab Emirates and Thailand. These are the major focal points going forward because they are emerging and on the verge of regulation, allowing companies to enter. Those who have been seeking to fill a part of the global gap are keeping an eye on countries like Brazil, which plays a very significant role in this.
What does this mean for G2E?
I think you will continue to see more people coming here to see advancements in technology and how to offer increasingly higher quality to the Brazilian audience. This is one of the largest gaming shows in the world.
Source: Exclusive GMB
