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September 17, 2025

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Keynote Panelists Highlight Successes, Challenges For Evolving Gaming Industry
Unfair State Taxation, Continued Misperceptions of Industry Named Biggest Concerns

LAS VEGAS—Excessive taxation of the gaming industry at the state level and continued misconceptions about the industry among the general public are the biggest challenges now facing the American gaming industry, according to participants in Global Gaming Expo’s (G2E) State of the Industry panel discussion, held this morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Panel participants included G. Thomas Baker, president and CEO, International Game Technology; Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO, American Gaming Association (AGA); Gary Loveman, president and CEO, Harrah’s Entertainment; and Ernie Stevens, chairman, National Indian Gaming Association. 

In a lively exchange moderated by Emmy Award-winning television personality Larry King, panelists shared candid insight into several leading issues, including the relationship between Native American tribal gaming and the commercial casino industry, the outlook for the development of racinos in various states across the country, the level of industry regulation, the proliferation of theme-based slot machines, the dangers of state ownership of gaming facilities, and the industry’s efforts to promote responsible gaming, among others.

Several topics raised in the standing-room-only session incited friendly debate among the panelists, but all agreed the gaming tax proposals recently introduced in several individual states - most notably in Illinois - stand to cause great harm to the industry as well as the state and local governments that hope to solve their fiscal crises by inflicting these excessive tax rates on gaming.

“We are traveling down a road of tortured logic in terms of state tax rates,” Loveman said. 

Loveman added it is dangerous for states to approach the expansion or introduction of gaming solely to resolve fiscal problems, and warned against state governments taking over the operations of commercial casinos because regulatory oversight could easily be compromised. 

“I think most reasonable people hold the view that private enterprise should handle commerce,” Loveman said.  “If states were to take over the industry, there would be rampant conflict of interest, and ultimately…the decision would result in smaller tax revenues rather than larger ones.”

Fahrenkopf, who is charged with representing the commercial casino industry at the federal level, implored the industry to get more involved in these state issues, which he views as the biggest threat facing the gaming industry in the near future. 

Baker and Stevens pointed to the continued misconceptions about the gaming industry among the media and the general public as another significant problem the industry must address.  According to Baker, perceptions of the industry have changed a lot in the past 10 years, primarily due to the dramatic increase in the number of people who have experienced gaming in the United States.

“Things have certainly changed, but we can do better,” Baker said. “As an industry, we must continue to re-evaluate our message and educate people about the industry.”

All four panelists heralded the industry’s collective efforts to combat problem gambling.  While research has shown that approximately 1 percent of the American population suffers from pathological gambling, the industry is committed to helping reduce and understand the problem.

“We support those organizations and programs that reach out to problem gamblers as well as the groups and people performing cutting-edge research on the issue,” Loveman said.  “The more we are enlightened about the reality of gambling disorders and the science behind the issue, the more effective we will be in treating it and engaging it.  We have made tremendous progress on this front in the past couple of years.”

G2E, the largest trade show and conference event for the international gaming industry, will run through tomorrow at the Las Vegas Convention Center

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G2E is the international gaming trade show and conference “by the industry and for the industry.” Organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, G2E made its debut in fall 2001, defining itself as the pre-eminent show for the gaming-entertainment industry. 

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues.  The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.

Reed Exhibitions is a world leader in creating high profile, targeted industry events where buyers and suppliers come together to do business.  Every year, Reed events bring together some 160,000 suppliers and over nine million buyers from around the world.  Today, Reed events are held in 35 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific, and are organized by 30 fully staffed offices.  Reed’s portfolio of 470 events services 49 industries in 12 key sectors.

For more information about G2E 2003 or to register and enjoy discounts to the Show and Conference, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com. 

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