Atlantic City Conference Topics: North Jersey Casinos, Younger Gamblers

Hundreds of the gambling industry's major players will descend on Atlantic City this week to discuss gaming's most pressing issues.

The 20th annual East Coast Gaming Congress runs Wednesday and Thursday at Harrah's, featuring a jam-packed agenda of panel discussions and speeches, including a keynote address from Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Among the planned sessions are:

• "Daily Fantasy Sports & Sports Betting: What are the Odds?"
• "Gender Equality in the Gaming Industry: Leveraging Talent for Sustainable Growth"
• "Wall Street: Where Are Investors Placing Their Bets?"
• "The Casino Floor of Tomorrow"
• "Northeast Gaming: Who Wins and Who Loses in the Continuing Expansion?"

Experts will also tackle the issue of attracting millennials, the generation that's in line to replace the Baby Boomers currently populating casino floors, according to the event agenda.

"This is the first generation to grow up using the internet and mobile devices," said Lloyd D. Levenson, co-founder of the East Coast Gaming Congress. "The gaming customer of 20 years ago is not the gaming customer of today, so we have to adapt."

Levenson insisted the younger generation will be less interested in playing "Dolly Parton slot machines" and more interested in more interactive, mobile and skill-based gambling.

Perhaps the hottest item on the two-day itinerary is an issue that's seen plenty of debate over the past several months in New Jersey. "Atlantic City. .. and North Jersey? What's Best for New Jersey?" takes on the recent push to legalize the establishment of casinos in the northern portion of the state, particularly in Jersey City and the Meadowlands.

The issue goes before New Jersey voters in November. In light of the recent financial turmoil in Atlantic City, Gov. Chris Christie has said he'd campaign against the ballot measure if state-takeover legislation wasn't sent to his desk. State lawmakers on Monday reached a deal — a deal they expect will get the governor's support — to rescue Atlantic City from bankruptcy.