G2E moving to October starting next year

The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is changing homes and dates starting in 2011. The gambling industry's largest conference will be moving from the Las Vegas Convention Center in November to the Sands Expo and Convention Center in the first week of October.

The calendar shift is permanent, says American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf.

"The show has been happening after companies have submitted annual budgets," Fahrenkopf said. "(This shift) allows planning for the coming year with greater ease."

The AGA, along with Reed Exhibitions, organizes the conference.

Fahrenkopf also said that the change in dates reflects the global nature of the business, giving exhibitors at G2E and London's International Gaming Expo in January "more breathing room and planning time."

And while the Sands Expo and Convention Center has just 1.8 million square feet (including the Venetian Congress facility) of meeting space compared to the Las Vegas Convention Center's 2.3 million square feet, conference organizers believe attendees will like the shift in locations.

"The move to the Sands Expo and Convention Center provides (the) convenience of rooms, dinning and entertainment under the same roof," said Fahrenkopf.

The dates of G2E in Asia have also been shifted to smooth out the convention schedule.

The three-year calendar of future G2E events is as follows:

G2E 2011 - Oct. 4-6
G2E Asia 2011 - June 8-9
G2E 2012 - Oct. 2-4
G2E Asia 2012 - May 22-24
G2E 2013 - Sept. 24-26 (Date shifted to accommodate the Jewish holidays)
G2E Asia 2013 - May 21-23