The Global Gaming Expo is the casino industry’s largest pep rally.

For the past several years, the convention where the gambling world’s latest and greatest bells and whistles are unveiled has been full of managerial bravado and bluster.

Not this year.

The three-day event, which wrapped up Thursday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, sounded more like a group-therapy session. Amid the economic downturn of a lifetime, it was a chance for industry leaders to commiserate.

Surrounded by peers and encouraged to talk about their troubles, executives sounded humbled, even introspective as they talked about strategies for surviving this down economy.

For the complete story, please see Liz Benston, At expo, talk of leaner times replaces bombast, Las Vegas Sun, November 23, 2008.