Innovators Will Brave the ‘Sharks’ at G2E 2018

This year’s Global Gaming Expo, October 8-11 in Las Vegas, is featuring something entirely new—a chance for gaming industry startups and students to pitch their ideas and innovations in a setting based on the popular TV show Shark Tank.

G2E, as the annual Las Vegas mega-trade show and conference is known, will host one of the stars of the ABC/CNBC series, Fubu founder and CEO Daymond John, to serve as a judge along with Cindy Eckert, founder of Pink Ceiling and CEO of Sprout, as contestants present their creations before a live audience at the G2E Innovation Incubator on October 11.

The two will select a winner, the “Shark’s Choice,” who will receive $10,000 and a complimentary 10-foot-by-10-foot booth to showcase their product at the 2019 show.

A panel of gaming industry experts will select four finalists to present their concepts to John and Eckert, where they’ll submit to a fast-paced question and answer session as the two business leaders look to explore each of the opportunities.

The finalists will compete in four categories: gaming floor innovation; hospitality and resort developments; solving/streamlining regulatory challenges; and greater efficiencies for operators/suppliers.

There also will be a second-place “Customer’s Choice” winner, selected by the audience, who also will receive complimentary exhibit space at the 2019 show. Six additional runners-up, chosen by the panel of experts, will be able to present their ideas throughout the day on October 11 at the AGA’s Innovation Lab on the main show floor.