ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Feb. 2, 2026 — The coming of three destination resorts to downstate New York is expected to significantly reshape the East Coast gaming landscape. The potential regional and economic implications will be a central focus of the 29th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress (ECGC) to be held April 14–15, 2026, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
“ECGC — the longest-running gaming conference in the country — is the perfect forum for a comprehensive assessment of what may become one of the most consequential developments the industry has seen in decades,” said conference co-founder Lloyd D. Levenson, CEO of Cooper Levenson.
Conference co-founder and Senior Policy Advisor to Spectrum Gaming Group Michael Pollock noted, “We have assembled a panel of industry leaders representing both those driving these developments and those who will be most directly affected by them. The panel will discuss the future of gaming, including the growth of New York destinations, expansion plans in northern and central New Jersey, and the potential impact on other states.”
The panel discussion, East Coast Gaming: The New Frontier, sponsored by strategic communications and capital markets advisory firm ICR, will feature:
- Jacques Cornet, Partner, ICR (moderator)
- Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO, Monmouth Park
- Mark Giannantonio, President, Casino Association of New Jersey
- George Goldhoff, President, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
- Kevin Jones, Chief Strategy & Legal Officer, Genting Americas
A distinguished group of gaming CEOs and other leaders will deliver keynote addresses at the event. Additional speakers and panel topics will be announced in coming weeks.
The entire 2026 ECGC program will tackle key issues including artificial intelligence, prediction markets, iGaming expansion, and the anticipated impact following the development of full-service casino resorts in the Downstate New York market.
ECGC will also present its Lifetime Achievement Award to the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) in recognition of its longstanding commitment to the integrity and principles of gaming licensure.
Over nearly three decades, ECGC has welcomed an unmatched roster of speakers, including six sitting, former, and acting governors of New Jersey and every CEO who has led the American Gaming Association. The 2026 conference will again offer premier opportunities for sponsorship, networking, professional development, and high-level business-to-business engagement.
For more information or to register, visit www.ecgc.us or contact Angela Robinson at arobinson@cooperlevenson.com.