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The 2013 edition of the world’s largest gaming industry trade show promised plenty— and delivered.

The energy was palpable as attendees packed in close to watch dignitaries, flanked by actors portraying Na’vi warriors from the blockbuster “Avatar,” zombies from “The Walking Dead” and the title character from “Beetlejuice” snip the scissors at the ribbon-cutting that signaled the opening of the 2013 Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Crowds of attendees then flowed into the Sands Expo and Convention Center to see the gaming industry’s latest crop of new products and services.

They weren’t disappointed as this year’s trade show proved to be one of the biggest and best in years, reflecting continued improvement in the economy post-recession. The event from Sept. 24 through Sept. 26 drew an estimated 27,000 attendees and more than 455 exhibitors, including more than 125 first-time exhibitors from 32 countries, according to Reed Exhibitions, which co-hosts the expo with the American Gaming Association (AGA). The show floor was nearly 10 percent larger than last year’s G2E and the largest showcase since 2008, said Courtney Muller, senior vice president for Reed Exhibitions, in a news release.

Across the expo’s vast show floor, covering approximately 286,000 square feet of exhibit space, attendees could find all manner of gaming industry products, including the newest slot and table games,  systems, i-gaming products, peripheral devices, marketing, signage and lighting, security and surveillance, architecture and interior design, food and beverage, hospitality and entertainment, and much more.

Attendees also rubbed elbows with the gruesome zombies strolling the aisles to promote Aristocrat Technologies’ new slot, Na’vi warriors from IGT’s groundbreaking AVATAR™ game and Multimedia Games’ top-hat and sunglasses-sporting mascot, The Money Man®. They also might have spied the title character from the movie “Beetlejuice” near the slot of the same name at WMS’ booth.

There were special booth visits from Adam West of  “Batman” fame checking out the Batmobile replica in the Aristocrat booth that showcased a new game based on the “Batman” television series, and in the Bally booth, “The World’s Greatest Illusionist” David Copperfield stopped by to promote Bally’s new slot game, The Magic of David Copperfield™.

Those who attended G2E’s 14 cutting-edge conference tracks faced the dilemma of choosing from among more than 100 powerful sessions all offering insights that would prepare them to handle the industry’s competitive, constantly changing dynamics. The event also offered opportunities on Sept. 22 and 23 for specialized, intensive training in areas such as i-gaming, social media and responsible gaming.

One of the biggest session draws was Robert Tercek, a leading authority on digital media, who delivered an address titled “What Every Gaming Executive Needs to Know about The Cloud, The Crowd, Big Data and Mobile.”

Tercek described how his mass media clients are taking urgent steps to reinvent themselves as new, personalized media experiences optimal for smart phones and tablets—and how the same disruptive dynamics will reinvent the casino. Tercek’s keynote presentation was followed by three forward-looking talks from thought-leaders Peter Yesawich of the travel industry consulting firm MMGY Global; Ramesh Srinivasan, CEO of Bally Technologies; and Tom Brosig, former head of Grand Casinos, who all offered perspectives on hospitality, gaming technology and operations.

Yesawich presented a detailed look at a “portrait of the American traveler” and noted that gaming casino operators must continue to reinvent themselves to enhance their appeal to a broader range of travelers. He noted that many may not be as interested in gaming as much as the nightclub scene or other amenities, such as entertainment and spas. Yesawich also warned attendees that they must pay attention to the growing polarization of income in the United States, as well as the continuing need to offer more new things and options in order to lure the millennial generation to the casinos. Yesawich also noted the industry dare not risk forgetting its older key audience—which he called the “matures”—and its crucial contribution to the casino business.

G2E also featured a diverse lineup of keynote events, which kicked off Sept. 24 with a performance by the improv comedy troupe The Second City, followed by State of the Industry and tribal gaming panel discussions.

On Sept. 25, the annual State of the Industry keynote session featured five top executives from gaming’s leading operators and suppliers. The panel of experts included Holly Gagnon, president and CEO of Pearl River Resort; Virginia McDowell, president and CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos Inc.; Tobin Prior, CEO of Ultimate Gaming; Anthony Sanfilippo, president and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.; and Timothy J. Wilmott, president and COO of Penn National Gaming Inc.

“The challenge for us right now is the consumer,”  McDowell said. “The consumer is still skittish and trying to protect their pocketbook. We have to figure out how to be profitable when people aren’t spending as much.”

Other topics included expansion into new markets and recent i-gaming legalization.  Gaming operators are anxious to learn how online gaming will affect their business. “It’s clear as mud as to how online gambling will impact bricks-and-mortar,” Wilmott said.

Rounding out the keynote series was a Sept. 26 roundtable discussion featuring Victor Rocha, owner and editor of Pechanga.net, as moderator of an 8-member panel, including Eddie Ayoob, partner at Barnes & Thornburg; Chuck Bunnell, chief of staff for External & Governmental Affairs for the Mohegan Tribe; Jason Giles, executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association; John Guzik, founding partner of The Franklin Partnership LLP; John Harte, member of the Mapetsi Policy Group; Pete Kirkham, president of Red Maple Consulting LLC; Jana McKeag, president of Lowry Strategies; and John Tahsuda, vice president of tribal affairs at Navigators Global.

G2E also kicked off a new video initiative. Sponsored by Bally Technologies, the series entitled “Inside the Industry: Insights from Today’s Movers and Shakers” featured interviews with top gaming executives discussing the industry’s most pressing issues. The “Inside the Industry” interviews will be distributed via the G2E website and other social media platforms following the event.

Among the interview subjects were Jim Allen, chairman, Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming; Mark Birtha, vice president and general manager, Station Casinos Inc.; Gary Loveman, president, CEO and chairman, Caesars Entertainment; McDowell; and Wilmott.

“We are pleased to be sponsoring G2E’s ’Inside the Industry’ video series,” said Dan Savage, vice president of corporate marketing of Bally Technologies. “We understand how critically important it is for gaming professionals, as well as those outside of the industry, to stay informed about today’s most pressing gaming issues and opportunities. This new program will provide exclusive access to some of the sharpest, most successful and innovate executives in our industry.”

G2E also was the scene of a major announcement, when Global Gaming Women (GGW) unveiled a first-of-its-kind online mentoring network designed to connect female professionals in the international gaming industry. This latest resource provided by GGW can be accessed at GlobalGamingNetwork.org and was developed in conjunction with gaming manufacturer SHFL entertainment Inc.

“Now all women in our industry—regardless of where in the world they live or work—can enhance their careers through an innovative use of technology that will connect them to other professionals,” said Patti Hart, GGW co-chair and CEO of International Game Technology, during the Sept. 25 breakfast launch of the program.

“My career was certainly invigorated with the help of strong mentorships, so I’m very happy to see that this important resource can now help many other women in gaming do the same,” McDowell said.

Katie Lever, executive vice president and general counsel for SHFL entertainment Inc., said the company is proud to have played a part in creating the network. “Mentoring has been very important to me throughout my career, and I envision Global Gaming Network being able to create similarly valuable relationships for so many others,” Lever said.

Like so many past G2Es, this year’s event offered so much to learn and absorb that many attendees, despite fatigue and sore feet, wished for another few hours or even another day to see that groundbreaking slot or visit that new company’s booth. But as always, G2E ends too quickly. So with another Global Gaming Expo in the rear-view mirror, Casino Enterprise Management offers a look at the show.