The European Casino Association (ECA), representing over 700 casinos and 60,000 employees across 29 countries, is gearing up for a historic turnout at ICE 2025, scheduled for January 20-22 in Barcelona. This marks the first time the prestigious casino industry event will be hosted outside the UK, signaling a new era for the event with expectations of record attendance.

Barcelona to Host Landmark Casino Industry Event

ECA Secretary General Hermann Pamminger, a veteran in the casino industry since his start at Casinos Austria International in 1991, shared his excitement about the upcoming event.

“ICE has historically been a pivotal event for our industry, held in locations like London Olympia and ExCeL London. The move to Barcelona represents a significant transition to a vibrant, dynamic city that promises to bring fresh energy and a broader European perspective to our gathering,” stated Pamminger.

The decision to move ICE from the UK to Barcelona has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among ECA members. The event will occupy 120,000 square meters at The Gran Via, compared to the 100,000 sqm in previous venues in London, offering more space for the anticipated influx of professionals from across the globe.

Record Participation and Expanded Offerings

The relocation is expected to attract a larger number of casino executives and industry buyers from across Europe, drawn by the opportunity to network, engage with a world-leading content programme, and explore innovations from a record 1,000 exhibitors. These exhibitors represent a wide range of sectors and jurisdictions, showcasing the latest in technology, regulatory updates, and market opportunities.

“The feedback from our members indicates that we will see more casino industry executives than ever before at ICE, engaging with the extensive array of exhibitors and participating in sessions that span all verticals of the industry,” Pamminger added. The event will also continue to host significant meetings and events, such as the ECA Board Meeting, General Assembly, and the traditional CEO dinner, to cater to the growing needs of attendees.

A New Chapter for Europe’s Casino Industry

The move to Barcelona is viewed not just as a change in venue but as a strategic shift that could redefine the future of Europe’s land-based casino industry. With ICE 2025, the ECA aims to set a new benchmark for industry gatherings, enhancing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and innovation.

ICE and the co-located iGB Affiliate event will provide a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to gain insights into entering new markets and expanding their market share. The Gran Via’s modular and versatile Convention Centre, with seating for up to 12,000 people, is ideally suited to accommodate the expanded scale of ICE, promising a landmark event that will celebrate and catalyze growth in the casino industry.

Source:

“ICE Barcelona will host biggest participation of European casino industry professionals – predict ECA”, europeangaming.eu, May 9, 2024.

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One of the leading mobile game developers, publishers, and investors in the gaming industry, Sandsoft, has opened a new mobile game development studio in Barcelona.

Team of experts

Alexandre Besenval, a new member of the team and newly appointed VP of Studio Barcelona, will lead the project. The main idea behind opening the new studio is to become a global gaming powerhouse, and opening a studio in Europe marks a significant milestone towards that goal.

The office in Barcelona was opened almost two years ago, in January 2022. Back then, the company’s team grew by joining two big industry names, David Fernandez, a CEO, and Pasqual Patalla, COO, who previously was employed at Socialpoint, the famous subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive.

Sandsoft is known for employing local experts and globally famous names in all markets they’re expanding to, and this isn’t the exception. Now, when the new Barcelona studio is opened, this Riyadh-based company will become one of the leaders in this key European market. As expected, in the next three years, the company will create about 60 new positions for local residents.

Besenval, the new head of the Barcelona studio, is a former Head of New Games and Studio Manager at Madbox. His experience in the mobile gaming industry is impressive, considering that he was also a VP of product at Socialpoint and Gameloft’s studio manager.

Expansion to the global market

When it comes to Sandsoft, Besenval will work with the company’s leadership, including Yahsir Qureshi, a VP from Riyadh studio and former EA and Zynga employee. They will be working closely to establish the right global expansion strategy, and the main focus in the upcoming period will be creating innovative and unique social games that will help the company upgrade the player experience and help people from all around the world socialize and enjoy Sandsoft’s impressive portfolio.

David Fernandez, CEO at Sandsoft, said: “Barcelona is a city that’s close to my heart and which already houses a thriving community of game makers. It’s also a perfect place for talented devs from across Europe to come and be part of what we’re building at Sandsoft. As a relatively new company, this is an opportunity to be part of making brand-new games and creating new IPs at a time in the industry where new titles are scarce. I can’t think of anyone better to lead this exciting phase of our growth than Alexandre.”

Alexandre Besenval, VP of Studio Barcelona at Sandsoft, added: “Sandsoft has the ambition to build a truly global and diverse gaming company, and I’m excited to play my part. I was instantly impressed by the team’s commitment to creating engaging experiences for players across the world, and the opportunity to shape these from an early stage alongside talented colleagues was a big draw. A studio is only as good as its people, and we want to surround ourselves with the best talent to build a mobile gaming dream team.”

Source: Sarkany, Adrienn. “Sandsoft opens Barcelona development studio to work on brand new mobile titles”. European Gaming. December 12, 2023.

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Over the years, SBC Events has garnered tremendous support from the iGaming industry globally, which is why SBC cited that support as a primary reason for the unparalleled 2023 edition of SBC Summit Barcelona.

An awe-inspiring audience

The 2023 conference and exhibition attracted an astonishing audience of nearly 15,000 participants, a three-fold growth over 2022 numbers, cementing its status as the industry’s fastest-growing event. Additionally, post-event poll data discovered a Net Promoter Score of 49 for the aforementioned event, emphasizing the SBC’s commitment to maintaining a high-quality standards, even despite the significant increase in participation compared to 2022.

As for the event itself, it got off to a great start at the SBC Leaders Summit, the introductory edition of the private “pre-event, invite-only” event that lured 500 of the industry’s best executives. It also lasted all day and included plenty of conference content, involving Frank Abagnale’s keynote, the man who was the main inspiration behind Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me if You Can,” a poker tournament and networking chances.

An important peak of the event was the initiation of Jordan Levin (OpenBet, CEO), Brigid Simmonds OBE (Betting and Gaming Council, Chair) and Gustaf Hagman (LeoVegas, CEO and Co-Founder) into the SBC’s Hall of Fame.

Description of SBC Summit Barcelona

The aforementioned SBC Summit Barcelona, which was held from September 19 to September 21, was held in a large conference area of 38.000 square meters conference area that gathered 350 exhibitors, which represented a growth of 175% compared to 2022. Commenting on the event, VP of Global Gaming at IDnow, one of the exhibitors and provider of identity verification solutions, Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, said: “We are being treated as a partner, not just as a company that pays money to get services. We’re being taken to events and get introduced to people. SBC is a solution-finding partner for us.”

The 2023 exhibition space is practically divided into 5 zones that mark the crucial areas of the industry, such as: Affiliate, Media and Marketing, Emerging Tech, Payments & Compliance, Casino & iGaming and Sports Wagering. Additionally, there was an appointed “Festival area,” which, in addition to exhibitor’s displays, also offered the ultimate casual networking environment, consisting of a tapas & sangria bar, smoothie and juice bar and an ice cream bar in addition to other benefits.

As for the exhibition space, it was enhanced with many networking zones, and the SBC Content+ Lounge acted as a central meeting centre for representatives who arranged their meeting via the official event app. Interestingly, the app involved a lead scoring feature that was actively used, amounting to 2,560 interactions. Answering the question about what makes the SBC Summit in Barcelona special when compared to other events, the Founder & CEO of investment firm Bonmoja, Sab Jhooti, commented: “It’s the community element. Whenever I come, I have the opportunity to meet the who’s who in this industry. Everybody you want to meet comes to this event, so I don’t really have to go anywhere else.”

Involving seven stages, the extensive conference program featured more than 80 hours of conference content and provided insights from more than 450 of the industry’s top firms. In this regard, of the speakers, 89.4% were C-level officials, 63.7% were operators and 8.9% were subsidiaries. However, the standing 24.7% was made up of providers, regulators, associations, sports teams, investors and the media. All of them had to answer a total of 302 questions, which further added to the interactivity of the mentioned event.

Moreover, according to the insights from SBC Connect+, it’s obvious that the next 5 panels were the most requested by the users of the application.

• “Sports Betting’s Makeover: The Influence of Gamification, Streaming, and Stats”
• “Affiliate Leaders Panel: Leading Partnerships in Emerging Markets”
• “Sports & Sponsorship Landscape: Growth Markets and Partnerships”
• “SBC Leaders: Exploring Global Growth Markets”
• “Everything, Everywhere, All-of-the-Time: Managing Marketing, Tech & Compliance”

One of the significant events of the aforementioned 2023 agenda was the opening remarks by reputable bestselling author and metaverse expert, Matthew Ball, and chief executive of Flutter International, Daniel Taylor. With enhanced participation, every day’s program in 2023 completed educational roundtable meetings on verticals, topics or particular markets, of which there were 30 in total.

The ultimate peak of SBC’s events, the First Pitch contest, was created to help startups bring their inventive visions to life, according to its newest champion, SnapOdds. In addition, it also won a desired reward package of more than 60,000 euros, which involves a 2-day workshop experience in Tallinn, offered by Yolo Investments, who is sponsoring the contest, among the list of rewards.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the SBC Awards ceremony took place in the famous Caves Codorníu and gave the official recognition to the industry’s flagship firms in 39 distinguished categories. The MCs of the event were already a familiar face at the SBC Awards, Kirsty Gallacher, TV presenter and Clarence Seedorf, previous professional football player and now manager, and one of the best midfielders of today. However, what is a ceremony without a special guest, which is why Luis Figo, the previous “World and European Footballer of the Year,” who played for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and is a Digitain ambassador at the moment, appeared as a special guest. On that note, CEO and Founder of SBC, Rasmus Sojmark, commented: “The Barcelona chapter for SBC came to a spectacular close. This event exceeded our wildest dreams as we worked tirelessly to make it the industry’s fastest-growing gathering. With 15,000 attendees filling the exhibition floor, this show will forever be a cherished part of SBC’s history. However, as you all probably know, we’re far from done. The success of this edition paves the way for an even more prosperous next edition. We can’t wait to welcome you all in Lisbon for SBC Summit 2024!” Additionally, Managing Director of Brazilian operator VaiDeBob, Thomas Carvalhaes, added: “The quality and calibre of people attending is very impressive. I was on a podcast recently and they asked what my favourite event was. I said it’s SBC Summit Barcelona – for its relevance, for the people who are here and for giving us a sense of what’s about to come.”

Next location

The SBC has revealed the next location for its famous international leading event, which has now been officially rebranded as the SBC Summit to emphasize its global significance. The next location will be Lisbon’s Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and the summit will start from September 24 to 26 and is projected to take place at the massive area of more than 100,000 square meters, where 25,000 participants and 600 exhibitors are expected. It will also include insights from 500 speakers who will be experts in the category they’re speaking about.

Source: “SBC Summit Powers Onto Lisbon After Record 2023 Performance”, European Gaming. October 6, 2023.

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The bustling streets of Barcelona welcomed the gaming world to the SBC Summit from September 19th to 21st, 2023. With over 15,000 delegates hailing from various regions, this event stands as one of the industry’s largest gatherings. Among the prominent attendees was Slotegrator, ready to unveil its cutting-edge turnkey online casino solution infused with the prowess of artificial intelligence (AI). As the Catalan capital played host to this grand affair, Slotegrator took center stage to showcase its technological marvels.

Tapping into Spain’s Gaming Enthusiasm

Spain, one of Western Europe’s gaming giants, boasts a combined Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of a staggering €7.6 billion. The Spanish population’s ardent love for gaming and esports is evident in annual studies, with more than 80% participating in gambling activities between 2010 and 2020, according to Statista. This fervor makes Spain a market ripe with potential and a community deeply invested in gaming.

Slotegrator leveraged the brilliance of the SBC Summit Barcelona to reveal the unique capabilities of its platform, leaving the audience in awe. Here’s a closer look at the innovative features that stole the show:

1. Artificial BI Module: Streamlining Strategic Decision-Making

Slotegrator’s AI-infused platform incorporates an Artificial BI (Business Intelligence) module that streamlines analytical processes and expedites strategic decision-making. This advanced module equips operators with the tools to track crucial analytical data, facilitating a more serious version of their business’s performance. Operators can also compare their profitability and other essential metrics with peers operating in the same market segment, fostering healthy competition.

2. Chatbot Powered by ChatGPT: 24/7 Support and Insights

Enhancing the customer support experience, Slotegrator introduced a responsive chatbot powered by ChatGPT. This ever-ready assistant is available round the clock to guide operators on maximizing their project’s income and address various concerns. The chatbot doesn’t just solve problems; it provides real-time advice and insights, helping operators in navigating the dynamic iGaming industry.

3. Multiplayer Chat Function: Fostering Player Communities

Slotegrator’s loyalty to creating a dynamic player society shines through its multiplayer chat function. This feature delegates players to initiate conversations across the casino’s front pages, promoting networking and community building. It acts as a powerful tool for player retention, supplying an engaging and interactive experience.

In the vibrant backdrop of Barcelona, Slotegrator’s AI-powered innovations took center stage, promising to elevate the online casino experience for operators and players alike.

Commenting on the latest innovation, Yana Khaidukova, Managing Director at Slotegrator said: “We presented the new AI-powered capabilities of Slotegrator’s turnkey online casino solution at one of the industry’s most anticipated events – the SBC Barcelona Summit. We believe in AI and embrace this technology because of its efficiency and inexhaustibility. AI has fantastic potential for development in the areas of accelerated data processing, smart analysis, behavioral detection, and accurate prediction. All these options are useful in the iGaming sphere because they help to save time on routine, time-consuming, but nevertheless essential tasks.”

Source: ”Slotegrator presented its solutions at SBC Summit Barcelona 2023: AI, Telegram Casino, and new features”. European Gaming. September 28, 2023

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This event is one of the “go-to” events of the iGaming industry, where visionaries come together to shape the future, exchange insights, and forge invaluable connections. SBC Summit Barcelona has rightfully earned its place as an unmissable gathering for iGaming professionals, fostering engagement with a diverse global audience.

SBC Summit Barcelona 2023: An Unparalleled Event

This year’s SBC Summit series promises to be the biggest yet and attendees can expect to be dazzled by an array of product launches and an impressive lineup featuring over 350 operators, suppliers, affiliates, media representatives, and innovative startups. With a projected attendance of 15,000 industry insiders, the event space has been helpfully segmented into five distinct zones: Casino & iGaming, Sports Betting, Payments & Compliance, Affiliate, Marketing & Media, and Emerging Tech, Blockchain, and Metaverse. Each zone boasts its own conference stage, exhibition floor, and networking hubs, ensuring comprehensive coverage and immersive engagement.

The conference agenda comprises a distinguished assembly of 450 industry experts, including CoinPayments CEO, Sean Mackay. Sean will share his insights as a speaker during the following session:

• Emulating E-commerce: Payment Leaders’ Acquisition Challenge
• Track: Payment Innovation Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 11:20 – 12:00 CEST | 12:20 – 13:00 EEST

CoinPayments’ Booth: A Fusion of iGaming and Cryptocurrency

iGaming is undergoing a profound transformation, largely driven by technological advancements. Within this evolution, cryptocurrencies have emerged as a pivotal catalyst, reshaping the payment landscape. Recognising the inherent synergy between iGaming and cryptocurrencies, operators are eagerly embracing digital payment solutions.

Cryptocurrency payments offer an unmatched fusion of security and privacy, addressing shortcomings often associated with traditional payment methods. Operating on decentralised networks, cryptocurrencies add an additional layer of security and anonymity, catering to the paramount concern of players keen on safeguarding their personal information.

The borderless nature of cryptocurrencies delivers a game-changing advantage to iGaming platforms, eradicating the complexities tied to currency conversion and cross-border transactions. This translates into a seamless user experience characterised by swift transaction times and reduced fees.

By adopting cryptocurrency payments, iGaming companies can secure and future-proof their revenue streams, resulting in enhanced profitability, minimised operational costs, and increased credibility.

As a pioneering crypto payment provider, CoinPayments has sealed its position as the premier gateway for crypto payment processing within the iGaming sector. By addressing critical challenges such as chargebacks and settlement delays faced by the iGaming industry, CoinPayments strengthens its network through strategic iGaming partnerships, reaffirming its commitment to the synergistic fusion of iGaming and cryptocurrency payments.

Seamless Integration: CoinPayments’ Gateway to iGaming Crypto Payments

Incorporating crypto payments into your business is effortless with CoinPayments. Armed with cutting-edge technologies and features, CoinPayments empowers businesses to seamlessly capture, retain, and expand their market share. In this ever-evolving landscape, CoinPayments stands as your ideal partner.

We extend a warm invitation to connect with us in person at Stand No. E40. Our team of experts will be readily available to provide comprehensive insights into seamlessly integrating our iGaming crypto payment solutions into your business operations.

CoinPayments: Pioneering the Cryptocurrency Payment Gateway

CoinPayments reigns as the first and leading crypto payment gateway worldwide, with over a decade of operational excellence. The platform supports over 100 cryptocurrencies and has earned the trust of more than 120,000 merchants worldwide enabling them to embrace an extensive range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins.

As iGaming operators increasingly explore cryptocurrency options, CoinPayments remains steadfast in delivering an exceptional experience while adapting to the evolving dynamics of the industry. Globally recognised and reputable, CoinPayments takes pride in its established position at the forefront of the global landscape.

CoinPayments is your gateway to unlocking the future of iGaming payments through cryptocurrency. Visit Stand No. E40 to embark on this exciting journey!

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During this year’s upcoming SBC Summit Barcelona to be held from September 19 to 21 at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuic, Groove Gaming, the world’s fastest-growing content aggregator based in Curacao, intends to showcase its brand alongside its newest message which says “we are aggregation” to the international online gaming community at its stand CG810.

Rebranded brand

The firm recently rebranded and part of the rebranding process was a site introduced at www.GrooveTech.com along with a “dedicated” webpage put together for the aforementioned summit.

Officially in the iGaming industry for 7 years, the aggregator has long been officially recognized as an implementer of reliable and stable technology related to global solutions, as a flagship content supplier with more than 100 flagship content partners, more than 100 newest games debuting every month and more than 15,000 games available in a large game library.

The company collaborates with “tier-one” operators and beyond to modify technology solutions that bring high-speed performance and maintain income from aggregated content ranging from live casino and slots to table games and poker, as well as suite of the latest crash games. In addition, few of the firm’s effective marketing tools involve tournaments, free spins, jackpots, promotions, quests and anything involving gamification.

Although Groove is rightfully known for its solutions in the field of technology that revolve around sweepstakes and crypto currencies, among others, the company’s real aces are “innovations around Groove’s data-driven information, such as insightful reports, the new recommender and a host of smart lobby tools,” which have largely been in the headlines during recent months.

Commenting on the innovations and technology that the aggregator will showcase at its stand during the summit, Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer for Groove, commented: “In the Casino and iGaming Zone, event visitors can learn about the keys to creating a successful casino offering by visiting the Groove stand. The Groove team at the show look forward to guiding operators, casinos and game providers through the potential and the challenges of various casino products and innovations; as well as explaining how our new recommender is literally a game-changer for casino management.”

Description of SBC Summit Barcelona

The aforementioned SBC Summit Barcelona represents a conference and “exhibition” for international flagship companies in online gaming and sports wagering who come together to talk about the “future” of both industries, share their expertise and form strong alliances in 38,000 square meters of conference area, which would expect more than 15,000 participants and more than 350 exhibitors involving Groove.

Source: “Groove Proudly Proclaims “We Are Aggregation” for SBC Barcelona”, European Gaming, September 11, 2023

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The innovative sportsbook supplier, BETBY, expanded its global footprint by opening a new office located in Barcelona, Spain. The new office location comes at a time when the company anticipates increasing its workforce exponentially and growing further on a global scale. On Thursday, BETBY confirmed that opened its new Barcelona office, complementing its European footprint.

The new office marks a milestone moment in the company’s ambitious expansion strategy. So far, BETBY has seen a successful year, expanding its presence and increasing its headcount. By now, the company has more than 100 employees and it will continue increasing its headcount throughout 2023 and beyond.

Leonid Pertsovskiy, BETBY’s CEO, highlighted the importance of the new Barcelona office. He said that the company is delighted to expand further its global footprint and explained that the new office location is a part of its growth plan.

Moreover, Pertsovskiy praised Barcelona, saying that the beautiful city is home to passionate sports fans and bettors. Finally, BETBY’s CEO pointed out: “The site will strongly focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and innovative technologies in sports technology and betting, and we are excited for our latest location to become our brand’s research and development hub.”

“The new office is the latest step in our ambitious growth plans, and we couldn’t be happier to have a hub in such a beautiful city that is full of passionate sports betting fans.“

Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO at BETBY

The Company Continues to Expand

The news about BETBY’s new office comes on the heels of an important partnership announced by the company. Early last month, the company confirmed it joined forces with NuxGame, the leading gambling platform provider that offers a plethora of casino-style games.

Under the terms of the partnership, BETBY agreed to provide NuxGame with its leading proprietary solutions. While this partnership helped strengthen NuxGame’s operations, it also helped expand the reach of the innovative sportsbook supplier.

Barcelona has established itself as a leading hub for the gaming sector, thanks to the SBC Summit Barcelona, one of the most-anticipated events for the sector. This year’s SBC Summit Barcelona is scheduled to take place between September 19 and September 21, 2023, attracting some of the most recognized gaming, sports and entertainment providers, as well as industry stakeholders.

It’s no surprise that BETBY won’t miss the prestigious event for the gambling industry. The company confirmed that it will showcase its products at stand SB712.

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The upcoming industry pow-wow is taking place on September 19-21 and will be one of the biggest gatherings to date, hosting more than 10,000 delegates and hundreds of companies from the sector.

7777 Gaming Brings Its Latest Releases and Concepts to Barcelona

7777 gaming will take this opportunity to introduce five of its titles, including its fresh jackpot concept and more. Among the new titles that will be presented at the event are such options as Book of Thracians, Barbarian, Cash 20, Lucky Clover, Club Mr. Luck 50, Club Mr Luck 10, and Juicy Cash Jackpot, adding to the company’s portfolio of more than 120 distinct games and opportunities.

7777 gaming CCO Elena Shaterova has welcomed the opportunity and said that the entire company was very excited about the upcoming SBC Summit Barcelona event.

“This is a great opportunity for us to present our team’s design work and show off the results of their efforts,” Shaterova said, adding that the company had the great opportunity to meet market demand and “fill a void in content” in the industry.

Presently, 7777 already features more than 50 licensed games by the Malta Gaming Authority, all of which introduce players to interesting concepts and themes, all in a bid to make the experience more satisfying for players across the board.

7777 gaming has been pushing out at a rapid pace, hoping to secure further expansion in key European markets. The company launched in Romania with Betano and NetBet, and Montenegro, establishing its Eastern European pivot, but the supplier has also been targeting markets and jurisdictions well beyond that.

For example, 7777 gaming is also launching in markets across Latin America, with the supplier recently teaming up with leading gaming brands in Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador, among others.

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ICE, Clarion Gaming’s famous B2B industry show, will no longer take place in London. After careful consideration, the company decided to relocate the event to Barcelona starting in 2025. Clarion Gaming noted that it also considered either moving the event to Madrid or Paris, or keeping it in London.

The company noted that its iGB Affiliate conference will also move to the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region. The events will be hosted there for five years, in accordance with the agreement with Fira de Barcelona, the city’s trade fair institution.

Equimore, a proven event specialist, will assist Clarion with its relocation project. The move was greenlit by ICE’s advisory board.

Meanwhile, iGB L!VE will instead relocate to London in 2025.

The Relocation Will Create New Opportunities for the Industry

Addressing the elephant in the room, Alex Pratt, Clarion Gaming’s managing director, said that the event will relocate to Barcelona because of the city’s “world-class facilities, outstanding hospitality infrastructure, logistics, ROI for customers and ability to scale.”

The move will effectively conclude a 12-year tenure at ExCeL London. Instead, the event will now be hosted at the 240,000-square-meter Fira de Barcelona property. The 2025 edition of ICE is planned to run for three days between January 20 and 22.

In addition, the move will form an alliance between the international gaming industry, Fira de Barcelona and stakeholders across Spain. Finally, Clarion Gaming noted that ICE and iGB Affiliate will be the only major events in Barcelona at the time, providing the industry with additional exposure.

Barcelona Was the Best-Equipped to Accommodate ICE

Pratt added that all four cities on Clarion’s shortlist had submitted “highly professional and impressive bids.” As a result, the decision to move the event to Barcelona didn’t come easily.

In the end, Clarion decided that Barcelona was “the best equipped” to be ICE’s strategic partner for the future. Pratt thanked ICE’s stakeholders for helping Clarion reach a decision and Equimore for its assistance.

The process [of selecting a location] enabled us to identify the city that our customers believe is best equipped to be our strategic partner for the future and is able to host two world-class events which meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and locations across every part of the gaming and ICE community.

Alex Pratt, MD, Clarion Gaming

In the meantime, iGB L!VE will move to London in 2025. Previously hosted in Amsterdam, the event will now be hosted at ExCeL London. Pratt noted that his team believes ExCeL London to be a “great destination” and believes that it will provide an amazing backdrop for the event.

Now that Clarion Gaming has reached a decision, it will focus on organizing next year’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate. For reference, the first event will run from February 6 to 8, 2024, while the latter will follow on February 7-8.

In other news, Clarion Gaming recently extended its ICE agreement with the European Casino Association.

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