The US gambling sector’s biggest annual get-together has been scrapped for 2020 due to fears over surging COVID-19 infections.

On Wednesday, the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions officially called time on the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Las Vegas 2020 conference. The conference, which was scheduled for October 5-8, has been rescheduled for October 4-7, 2021 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.  

AGA CEO Bill Miller said Wednesday that “in light of continued uncertainty around a viable marketplace at a physical G2E show, global travel restrictions, and currently unknown guidance on large public gatherings this fall, we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that we simply cannot hold an in-person G2E this year.”

Reed Exhibitions America president Hervé Sedky added that discussions with health authorities, exhibitors and buyers made it clear that “proceeding with an in-person gathering simply was not feasible.” The organizers pledged that they would soon be announcing plans for virtual events that “better reflect the current environment.”