Gretzky headlines G2E as MGM and Hard Rock reshape the Strip

Wayne Gretzky delivered a keynote at the 2026 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas this week, interviewed on stage by BetMGM chief executive Adam Greenblatt, according to iGaming Business.

The appearance fell on the same day Michael Jordan sat on a panel at the SBC Summit Lisbon alongside Sportradar chief executive Carsten Koerl and DraftKings chief executive Jason Robins, the outlet reported.

Jordan, named Athlete of the 20th Century by an ESPN panel in 2000, acknowledged having gambled heavily in the past on table games and on the golf course, though he has never been accused of betting on games involving his own team. Asked about wagering against him, Jordan said: "I'm the worst person to bet against. If you're going to bet, bet on me, not against me."

Gretzky's conversation with Greenblatt steered clear of gambling and focused instead on competitive drive. "The best athletes in the world, and I mean this in a nice way, are really selfish," Gretzky said, adding that reaching the top demands dedication to practice, preparation and routine.

The two sat for their respective audiences at a moment the iGaming Business report frames as a crossroads for sports integrity. A trial for two Cleveland Guardians pitchers accused of rigging pitch sequences is due to begin next month in Brooklyn, a case expected to precede separate proceedings touching NBA and college basketball figures.

Those matters include an illegal poker case involving Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, and prop-betting manipulation charges against former Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier and ex-Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley. Prosecutors said on Thursday that a co-defendant in the Beasley case plans to plead guilty.

The report also revisits a 2006 scandal known as Operation Slapshot, in which Gretzky's wife Janet and roughly half a dozen NHL players were alleged to have placed bets through a mob-linked ring, though none was accused of wagering on hockey. Gretzky has consistently denied any personal involvement.

Vegas building sites and ownership moves

G2E took place opposite the rising Hard Rock Las Vegas guitar tower, a 660-foot, 42-storey structure that iGaming Business describes as nearing completion and set to become the first tribally owned and operated casino on the Strip, with Hard Rock now targeting a fourth-quarter opening next year after some delays. Nearby, Yaamava' Resort & Casino, a tribal property in Highland, California, ran a prominent advertisement across from The Cosmopolitan during the expo, part of a broader tribal gaming presence as operators and states continue to clash with prediction-market firms.

The conference also played out against turbulence at MGM Resorts. Barry Diller's People Inc remains MGM's largest external shareholder, holding roughly 66.8 million shares, about 27% of the company, after withdrawing last month an offer to buy out the remaining stock in a deal that would have valued MGM near $18 billion, equivalent to $48.30 per share. Following that withdrawal, MGM was reported to have weighed a counter-bid to acquire People Inc itself.