G2E 2026 Main Stage to Feature Wayne Gretzky with BetMGM CEO and Elizabeth Smart Resilience Discussion
TL;DR — Wayne Gretzky will discuss the convergence of sports, digital innovation, sports betting and what it takes to achieve greatness with BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt at this year’s G2E. Elizabeth Smart will discuss resilience, mental adversity and showing up as whole humans, not headlines on September 30. The conference runs from September 28–October 1 with more than 100 sessions and more than 300 speakers.
SCCG Take — The lineup pairs sports celebrity and personal resilience topics with operator executive perspectives on commercial expansion.
The American Gaming Association has announced that Wayne Gretzky and Elizabeth Smart will appear in main stage sessions at this year’s Global Gaming Expo.
The conference runs from September 28 to October 1 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas. It will host gaming executives examining trends, challenges and opportunities in the sector. As reported by CDC Gaming, the event includes more than 100 sessions and more than 300 speakers.
Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to welcome an exceptional lineup of industry leaders and speakers to the G2E main stage. These conversations will bring together influential voices to share insights, spark meaningful conversations and discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for our industry.”
Executive Panels on Growth and Achievement
Miller’s keynote is followed by Gretzky’s participation in “CEO Outlook: The Global State of Gaming” and “Defining Greatness: A Conversation with Adam Greenblatt and Wayne Gretzky.” Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM, will join Gretzky to address the convergence of sports, digital innovation, sports betting and the requirements for achieving greatness.
A preceding panel features three chief executives. Bill Hornbuckle of MGM Resorts, Tom Reeg of Caesars Entertainment and Craig Billings of Wynn Resorts will examine expansion in Las Vegas and internationally along with forces shaping long-term growth. CNBC correspondent Contessa Brewer will moderate.
Resilience Session Presented by Global Gaming Women
Elizabeth Smart appears on September 30 in “Identity Beyond the Headline: Power, Voice and Resilience at Work.” The discussion with Meghan Speranzo, Global Gaming Women’s co-chair of mentorship, focuses on resilience, mental adversity and how professionals, particularly women, present as complete individuals rather than headlines. The session explores reclaiming authorship of one’s story beyond external definitions.
Reporting: CDC Gaming
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
G2E's headliner strategy pairs celebrity star power with resilience messaging—content designed to draw crowds, not just operators.
We track every major conference because the speaker lineup tells us where the industry wants the conversation to go. G2E is mixing commercial growth panels—Hornbuckle, Reeg, Billings—with broader cultural topics. That signals operators want to reach beyond the usual compliance-and-tech crowd. For SCCG partners, that's positioning insight.
- Gretzky and BetMGM CEO Greenblatt will discuss sports betting, digital innovation and achievement
- Hornbuckle, Reeg and Billings examine Vegas and international expansion September 28–October 1
- Elizabeth Smart's resilience session reflects industry focus on culture and mental health
SCCG angle: SCCG has deep relationships with the operators on those stages—MGM, Caesars, Wynn, BetMGM—and we help partners access the decision-makers behind the headlines. If your brand, tech or content play fits the sports-digital-resilience themes G2E is spotlighting, we connect you to the right room before and after the conference.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
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