Playing to win: Magic Johnson to speak at G2E Las Vegas

Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson is scheduled to grace this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

On Thursday, the NBA legend and two-time Hall of Famer will deliver a 30-minute keynote address in which he will share how he transitioned from an athlete into a business executive, parlaying the skills and tenacity he acquired on the court into a winning formula for successful business ventures.

Johnson retired from the NBA over 20 years ago, and has since morphed into a business powerhouse. Currently, he is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate valued at an estimated $1 billion, whose business interests include EquiTrust, a $14 billion financial services company; ASPiRE, an African-American television network; and SodexoMAGIC, a food service and facilities management company. In 2012, Johnson made history when he paid $2 billion to become a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After his speech, Johnson will engage in a 15-minute conversation with American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Geoff Freeman. The two will talk about the future of sports betting legalization in the United States.