Atlantic City will once again take center stage in the gaming industry this spring when leading regulators from major gaming states converge on our shores for a critical conversation about the future of their industry.
The 29th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress (ECGC) returns to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on April 14-15, 2026, bringing together decision-makers who will shape how gaming evolves in response to technological innovation, changing consumer preferences, and emerging market opportunities.
An Industry at a Crossroads
This year's conference theme, Gaming in Transition, reflects the significant changes sweeping through an industry that has been central to our region's economic identity for decades. From artificial intelligence integration to the expansion of online gaming platforms, regulators face unprecedented challenges in balancing innovation with consumer protection.
Conference co-founder Lloyd D. Levenson, CEO of Cooper Levenson, emphasized the historical context of these challenges. According to Levenson, the entire history of legal gaming in America has been defined by adaptation—responding to everything from technological breakthroughs to political headwinds. The upcoming panel discussions are designed to build on past lessons while charting a course for the future.
Regulatory Leaders Take the Stage
A powerhouse panel titled Gaming Regulation in Transition: Charting a New Course in a Changing Future will feature regulatory chiefs from five major gaming states. Our own Mary Jo Flaherty, Interim Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, will join colleagues from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida to discuss emerging gaming verticals, evolving licensing standards, and the surge of new applicants entering the market.
The distinguished panel includes Everett Browning, Sr., Chair of Maryland's Lottery and Gaming Control Commission; Kevin O'Toole, Executive Director of Pennsylvania's Gaming Control Board; Kurt Steinkamp, Chief of Staff for Michigan's Gaming Control Board; and Alana Zimmer, Executive Director of Florida's Gaming Control Commission. Lucas R. Levenson, Partner at Cooper Levenson, will moderate the discussion.
What's at Stake for Our Community
For Atlantic City residents and businesses, these conversations carry real weight. The conference agenda includes discussions on topics that directly impact our local economy: the expansion of internet gaming, the development of new casino resorts in downstate New York that could compete with our market, and the integration of prediction markets into the gaming ecosystem.
Michael Pollock, conference co-founder and Senior Policy Advisor at Spectrum Gaming Group, noted that while the industry continues to transform, one fundamental truth remains constant: gaming will always be regulated. The speakers gathering in our community represent the bridge between gaming's established foundations and its innovative future.
A Legacy of Leadership
As the longest-running gaming conference in the United States, ECGC has established itself as the premier venue for industry dialogue. Over nearly three decades, our community has welcomed an impressive roster of speakers, including six New Jersey governors—sitting, former, and acting—along with every CEO who has led the American Gaming Association.
This year's event will also recognize the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) with the ECGC Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring the organization's longstanding commitment to gaming integrity and licensing principles.
Looking Ahead
Additional speakers and panel topics will be announced in the coming weeks. The conference organizers promise keynote addresses from distinguished gaming CEOs and other industry leaders, along with premier opportunities for networking, professional development, and high-level business engagement.
For Atlantic City, hosting ECGC represents more than just another convention. It's a reminder that our community remains at the heart of conversations shaping gaming's future—a future that will continue to influence jobs, tax revenues, and economic opportunities throughout our region.
Those interested in attending or learning more about sponsorship opportunities can visit www.ecgc.us or contact Angela Robinson at arobinson@cooperlevenson.com.
About the Author
Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
