I think I’ve used the quote below from Albert Einstein over a hundred times in various articles and classes I have given over the years. But it always seems worth repeating:
“Once you stop learning, you start dying.”
At the same time, I’ll agree that it is not so easy to keep learning about our world of casino gaming. For about 75% of it, there is just no alternative to hands-on-experience and a good apprenticeship; at least up to a point. But, by the time anyone writes a manual on how to get a stuck door open on an old Bally S6000 or how to configure the latest IGT video poker multi-game (that requires an advanced computer science degree), they’ll change the technology (thankfully, the doors are slightly better today).
But what do you do when no one on your team seems to have the knowledge to keep ahead in our changing world? It becomes even more difficult because of the all-too-common industry problem of departmental “silos”.
This has been an epidemic with no vaccine for years. It must have been written somewhere that Marketing should never talk to Slots; IT types were too nerdy to take to lunch; Leadership never associated with Housekeeping; and no one had any idea where or who was in the Surveillance department. Even worse were the walls and moats between competing casinos. Sharing amongst your fellow competitors was often considered treasonous.
This flies in the face of many professions where sharing and continuing education are both encouraged and often mandatory. The employment site Indeed gives this advice: “Attending professional events is another way to continue your education. Events can take place through employers, professional organizations and other entities in your industry. Some common professional events include conferences, seminars and workshops.”
Echoing their suggestion, I strongly urge everyone to attend G2E, IGA and ICE[i], if they can. There is no place better than these three-letter giants for networking, building relationships, and seeing the latest equipment and technology. But the formal learning part of their program has declined over the years, despite lengthy agendas.
Once upon a time at both G2E and IGA, there were pre-expo workshops dedicated to casino basic training. Most classes had a single instructor on a limited topic (like slot analytics, floor layouts or email effectiveness).
But today at the Big Three shows it is rare to find a “non-panel” session. I can only assume this is due to Capitalism 101 (of which I’m also a fan). These shows produce most of their revenue from vendor booth rentals. Naturally, they work hard to avoid any conflicts or perceived preferential treatment within that group. Thus, “panels” might be their form of Swiss-neutralism. Admittedly, a few of these sessions have been superb, but those are rare. I think there is a better way.
That’s an overly long introduction to my unbiased (see Disclaimer) recommendation to take a look at the annual World Game Protection Conference this year. I believe this show sets a model for others to emulate.
While it is gaining recognition, many of you may not have heard of the WGPC. In one way, that’s surprising since producers Willy and Jo Allison are celebrating 20 years since they left behind their former careers and jumped into the world of gaming education.
Perhaps their relatively low profile is due to their primary subject matter: casino surveillance and security. It is a topic that has not always been “top-of-mind” for casino management.
But a flock of recent news now makes a better understanding of these subjects critical for us all.
There have been multi-million-dollar fines for compliance violations, hackers and ransomware attacks continue to cost casinos more and more millions, and the latest deep-fake AI generated “requests” have conned casino cashiers to hand over thousands and thousands of dollars in cash to fraudsters. That doesn’t even count the cumulative fortune that advantage players, casino cheats and thieves cost us every day.
After working 18 years in the field, Willy Allison is intimately familiar with these and many other threats to our profitability. In 2005, after varied stints in surveillance leadership from corporate casinos to small operations and cruise ships to camera sales, he began to realize, “There was no event, a global event, where people could come and learn what other people do. I strongly feel that you’re always learning in this game, right, especially to keep up with the bad guys.”
For the last several years, his Las Vegas conference format (while always new and updated) is pretty similar:
But unlike the big shows, Allison says, “From the beginning, we always tell (our new exhibitors), ‘It’s about education; it’s the conference first’.” He adds that, despite the admonishment, many of the vendors have remained with him for all 20 years. And he loves that they showcase the latest technologies.
This philosophy of “education first” is one reason that Allison has so much flexibility in setting the annual agenda. “I don’t mind a bit of controversy. I don’t mind someone who’s going to go against the grain and throw something else up there.”
Some of those unorthodox presentations can come from speakers who are the very ones that security pros hope they will never see on their floors. This lot includes hackers, slot cheats, card counters, dice sliders, sleight-of-hand wizards and advantage players. When you think about it, who better is there to help you understand what you’re up against?
But why would these types want to talk with (or in any way help) operators? Allison says it is pretty simple, “I pay them!”
But he goes on to add, “Over the years, people get to a retirement stage where they’ve sort of got past card counting, and they’ve written a book like the late Arnold Snyder and all these guys. The reason I like having them is because I don’t look at them adversarial, like some surveillance guys and casinos do. I have the utmost respect for them. I actually think casinos should hire them, because all they do is think 24/7 about how they can exploit a vulnerability.” He also admires their knowledge: “These guys live and breathe our games. I find them to be very intelligent, mathematically minded people. They have casino brains, and they bring a lot to the table.”
The two have been inseparable since they first met in a small-town bar in Kentucky. He says on his website, “There, I met my bride. A coal miner’s daughter from Hazard. Jo appeared from amidst a sea of tobacco chewing, baseball cap wearing, half-price drinking college students.” She hit him with the line, “You look like a man who knows how to dance.” His thought was, “Thankfully, I had more moves than a monkey on a jungle gym. That was 1985. We’re still dancing.”
She quickly retired from her teaching gig and has been doing the critical WGPC work of logistical planning, registrations, payables, hosting and management ever since. Today they have a small team to assist, but the show really rests on the shoulders of Willy and Jo.
When the event wraps in mid-March, the couple takes a three-month sabbatical until, as Willy says, “We officially start work on the next show after the July 4 break.” However, Jo is quick to argue, “Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s already started with a list for 2026. As soon as we’re breaking down for this coming show, we’re already looking hard at the next show.”
Willy admits, “During the period off, our favorite thing to do is travel. We end up catching up with old casino friends all around the world. So that gives us fresh ideas, right? Because we do want to be global, right? Yeah, so she’s right. You know, when you own a business, you never stop thinking about it.”
He also spends much of that “off time” reading books on a variety of topics in a hunt for interesting and entertaining speakers. That has led to what may seem like unlikely choices for casino education. One year it was a combat fighter pilot who talked about handling stress, another was a CIA intelligence officer who served as a spy. An FBI hostage negotiator talked about dealing with tough situations. And you’ll never forget the lessons about overcoming adversity and the value of persistence when you see one of the best card magicians ever…only to realize he is completely blind.
Richard Turner, that amazing card mechanic, returns in 2025 after a few years away. Debi Nutton, the newest inductee to the AGA’s Gaming Hall of Fame, is also a keynote speaker. She rose from a dice dealer to executive management at several major casino chains. She currently serves on the board of directors at Everi.
They are joined by human resource mitigator and author Christian Hunt. His latest book is about “bringing behavioural science to ethics and compliance.” Michael Kaplan is another speaker who has a new book coming out very soon. He is a prolific author in both magazines and books. His sixth and latest publication will be titled, “Advantage Players”.
The day one “Core” classes are led by Allison himself, respected table game operator Bill Zender, slot security pro Darrin Hoke and several others. While the show starts in just a few weeks, Jo Allison said it is never too late to register. Unfortunately, her invitation does not apply to the general public, even though I know they would pay a premium just to see the fascinating surveillance videos shown from around the world.
While attendance has been strong for their target audiences (expected to be over 600 this year), the number of gaming department operators and even general managers has been relatively low. That is a shame since knowing what you are facing is half the battle for all of us to protect profitability…no matter what department you represent.
The event kicks off on March 11th at the Rio Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. You can Google “WGPC Las Vegas” to find more information.
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Disclaimer – For the last four years, the Allisons have been paying my expenses to attend this show in exchange for my role acting as an MC between segments. That certainly could lead to you questioning my “objectivity” on the matter. Fair enough. But please do not let Willy or Jo know that I would pay my own way to attend the WGPC each year even if they didn’t chip in. I would not, and you should not, miss this event.
[i] G2E = Global Gaming Exposition held annually in the fall in Las Vegas, NV.
IGA = Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow & Convention – commonly held in San Diego in the spring.
ICE = International Casinos Exhibition – traditionally held in London at the beginning of the new year, but moved to Barcelona for 2025 & 2026.
