LAS VEGAS (June 3, 2026) – Last week, the 19th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking welcomed more than 500 attendees from 26 countries for three days of discussion and research focused on the forces shaping gambling, gaming and risk behavior. Hosted by UNLV International Gaming Institute (UNLV IGI) at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the event brought together academics, regulators, operators, investors and industry leaders to examine topics including artificial intelligence, sports betting, responsible gambling, regulatory oversight and risk across the entertainment industry.
The conference opened on Tuesday, May 26, with remarks from U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus, who addressed attendees on current developments surrounding sports betting and gaming regulation. Throughout the week, keynote sessions highlighted the evolving relationship between risk across sports betting and the entertainment industry.
Highlights of the conference included a keynote by Dr. Anette “Peko” Hosoi, professor at MIT and the conference’s first academic keynote speaker in more than a decade. Additionally, the event hosted an unscripted discussion on sports betting with Chad Millman, co-founder of The Action Network, and ESPN betting analyst Pamela Maldonado. The conference also featured a discussion examining risk-taking across arts and entertainment with Jeanne Elfant Festa, co-president of White Horse Pictures, and Myron Martin, president and CEO of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. The conversation was moderated by Alan Feldman, director of strategic initiatives at UNLV International Gaming Institute.
Throughout the week, keynote sessions, research presentations and candid discussions highlighted the evolving relationship between technology, consumer behavior and regulation across the global gaming landscape. Highlights include:
- Keynote Session with MIT Professor Anette “Peko” Hosoi – Dr. Hosoi is widely recognized for her work analyzing sports through a mathematical lens. Hosoi has applied her skill-versus-luck framework to professional sports, fantasy sports, cyclocross racing, coin flipping and mutual funds, demonstrating how each activity falls along the spectrum between skill and chance.
- Candid Conversations – This series featured expert pairs in an unscripted, peer-to-peer format that highlights candid dialogue between industry leaders across sectors.
- Sports Betting – Millman and Maldonado.
- C-Suite – WONDR NATION CEO, Anika Howard and Wynn Resorts Chief Compliance Gaming Officer, Omar Khoury.
- Regulators – Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman, Chris Hebert, and Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman, Mike Dreitzer.
- Poker Players – Andy Bloch and Russell Rosenblum.
- Media Experts – Howard Stutz of The Nevada Independent and Hillary McAfee of MaxBet Media.
- UNLV IGI’s State of AI in Gaming Report – UNLV IGI’s AI Research Hub (AiR Hub) in collaboration with KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, released The State of AI in Gaming 2026, the inaugural edition of an annual global benchmarking series tracking how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the global gambling industry. This series further explored key findings and emerging trends highlighted in the report.
- The Industry Index – Melissa Swinehart, research assistant of UNLV IGI, and Rick Arpin of KPMG presented findings from the KPMG State of AI in Gaming 2026 report. This was based on a survey of 83 gambling companies and discusses implications for operators and suppliers.
- Regulatory Pulse – Cesar Lozoya Martinez, research assistant of UNLV IGI, and Zachary Birnbaum of VIXIO presented findings from a global regulator survey and examined AI governance gaps and emerging oversight priorities. Afterward, Simo Dragicevic of UNLV IGI moderated a panel of regulatory experts to discuss the survey results.
- Research & Advancements – Swinehart, Antonio Le and Samantha Wells of the UNLV IGI research team presented findings on AI-related academic publications, patent filings and key themes from industry conferences. Moderated by Piyush Puranik of UNLV IGI, the session also featured Ryan Rubio of Zero Labs and Simo Dragicevic of UNLV IGI in a discussion on startups, innovation and media narratives shaping AI in gaming.
- The Workshop – An interactive closing session of the “State of AI in Gaming” track fostered collaboration and candid discussion across industry, regulation and research. Participants rotated through themed tables to engage with peers and experts, exchanging ideas, challenging perspectives and surfacing practical takeaways on the evolving role of AI in gambling. Tables were led by Arpin, Dragicevic and Kasra Ghaharian of UNLV IGI, with Bronwen Gregg of Insight Global serving as the host.
- Taste of G2E – These sessions offered a look at content and themes featured at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the gambling industry’s leading trade show.
- Signals from the Frontier: How Early-Stage Founders Are Building Gaming’s Next Five Years – Benson Bleier of Regen and Rebecca Martin of Spin Pass, along with moderator Ryan Rubio of Zero Labs examined how early-stage founders reshaped gaming through AI, gamification and behavioral design. The session also explored how the convergence of gaming and fintech changed operator and consumer relationships and created new risks and opportunities for the industry.
- Casino Game Design: New Trends and the Player Experience – Daniel Sahl, director of the UNLV Center for Gaming Innovation, Anika Howard, president and CEO of Wondr Nation and Brett Vela, vice president of product management and analytics at Bluberi, explored how innovations in slot machine hardware, game mechanics and audiovisual experiences are reshaping player engagement and product performance. The panel also examined the growing influence of mobile gaming and its implications for the future of game development and research.
- AI in Gambling: Machine Learning & Risk Detection
- Real-Time AI for Predictive Responsible Gambling Using Live Wagering Transaction Data – Earle Hall, president and CEO of AXES.ai, described an AI system that monitored live betting behavior to detect risky gambling patterns in real time and identify opportunities for responsible gambling interventions.
- Law, Regulation, and Compliance
- Gaming Regulation and Operator/Regulator Relations – Jordan Hollander, assistant director of the New Jersey Racing Commission, Ian Smith, esports integrity commissioner at ESIC, Steven Brody, founder and CEO of Silver Garden Entertainment LLC, and Ron Jacobs, director of operational compliance for the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, discussed how operators and regulators can work together to promote market integrity, consumer protection and sustainable industry growth. The session explored regulatory frameworks, compliance best practices and emerging issues including online gaming, technological innovation and responsible gaming.
- Lobbying and Tribal Gaming – This session explored the similarities and differences between commercial and tribal gaming lobbying needs. Jonathan Bing, shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and former assemblyman for the State of New York, discussed the vast knowledge base needed to be an effective, responsible lobbyist in the commercial gaming industry while navigating evolving legislative landscapes around the US. Juan Herrera, director for state intergovernmental affairs, and Eric Ustation, director for local intergovernmental affairs, both with the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, discussed strategies for effective advocacy and government engagement in the gaming industry.
Additional details for the 20th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking, scheduled for 2029, will be announced at a later date.