Arizona Cardinals team owner Michael Bidwill will be featured on a panel at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). As the first NFL executive to give a presentation at the conference, Bidwill will discuss the relationship of legal sports betting and professional sports.
As the exhibition, presented by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and organized by RX (Reed Exhibitions), prepares for its return to Las Vegas from October 4-7, final details are being released. Titled ‘Letters on the Table: A Conversation with Michael Bidwill of the Arizona Cardinals’, the debate will take place on Wednesday, October 6th.
“The expansion of legal sports betting is deepening fan engagement and generating new business opportunities for sports leagues and teams,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller, who added: “I look forward to welcoming you to Michael on the G2E main stage to hear his perspective on the dynamic and evolving sports landscape.”
The panel, which will involve a debate between Bidwill and Miller, will examine the thinking behind the team’s recently announced betting partnership with Gila River Hotels & Casino and BetMGM, the important role of responsible gaming and what to expect as the market consolidates cool sports betting.
“Cardinals fans are very passionate, and the launch of exciting sportsbook in Arizona offers a new and innovative way to interact with them. With our partners Gila River Hotels & Casino and BetMGM, we are excited to bring this emerging market to Arizona,” said Bidwill.
New NFL season set to record sports betting record
The debate with Bidwill will address recent AGA polls which found that, with the expansion of legal sports betting and fan enthusiasm for the season, a record 45.2 million Americans are expected to bet on this year’s NFL season.
That number shows a 36% increase over last NFL season. Legal sports betting is now available in 26 states and Washington, DC. Since 2019, when G2E was last held in Las Vegas, the number of legal markets has doubled.
Sports betting launched in Arizona on September 9, with the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) granting 18 of the 20 sports betting licenses available to 10 tribes and eight sports organizations.
The return of G2E as a face-to-face event is requiring proof of the COVID-19 vaccine and the use of masks by all participants, in order to provide a safe experience.
