The Clarion Gaming team promised that ICE 2026 would raise the bar and it absolutely did. ICE 2026, you delivered! Huge congrats to the organisers. Same time next year? 😉
The doors are now closing for ICE. Another week went by so quick - and the sheer size of the venue was even more noticeable this year. We had highlights on our Huddle interviews, including Bill Miller, Soo Kim and many more. We had highlights across our many exhibitor spotlights. And ICE, as a whole, had plenty to remember, from huge stands to great networking events. Sprawled across the entrance are the words: "See you next year!"
ICE’s Day 3 ESG panel moves on to the topic of sustainability and ESG marketing. Betsson’s Head of ESG Jonna Danlund explains that the gambling industry in general markets less aggressively than it used to, and operators underlining the fact that they are legal and regulated has now become a strategy in some markets.
There is a perception that the customer doesn’t care in the industry,
she explains,
this is not true for the majority. They want to know that they are playing with a legal provider.
JVH Gaming’ Head of ESG Liesbeth Oost jumps in to contribute to the marketing discussion - stating that five years ago you wouldn’t have imagined gambling and ESG being in the same conversation. She agrees that the road is a long one, but it has to start somewhere. Providing the US perspective once again, Noah Horton - Chief Growth Officer of Greater Good Charities - concurs that the customer absolutely care about ESG, and that through strong ESG marketing, you can create an element of trust and value with players, helping to improve the bottom line at the end of the day.
Driving on in this panel discussion around the cost of ESG, moderator David da Silva poses the question of public perception within the gambling industry and how they feel it has changed in recent years. Brandie E Black, Co-Founder of ESG iGaming explains that she feels public perception taken a dip in recent times and requires more work to help improve again.
She believes that operators need to own their narrative and promote their role as licensed and regulated entities to ensure transparency as a starting point - so they can then begin working on closing the knowledge gap and tackle ESG misconceptions around the industry.
Betsson’s Hear of ESG Jonna Danlund builds on this by stating that many people outside of the industry still do not realise how heavily regulated it is.
There’s always headwind, and it is going to be a long journey. But progress is always being made.
ESG can be defined by running a business that benefits all of its stakeholders
- Betsson’s Head of ESG Joanna Danlund underlines the core purpose and definition of ESG in the modern era, stating the importance of retaining this definition as ESG evolves in the gaming world.
The conversation around the cost of ESG and sustainability continues as Noah Horton, Chief Growth Officer of Greater Good Charities explains the US perspective, where he says businesses want to deliver ESG not because it’s a regulatory requirement, but because they know consumers care about it.
Liesbeth Oost of EVH Gaming builds on this by saying that, within the EU the industry and the companies within it are very much changing their approaches to ensure they remain more environmentally vigilant - consistent attempting to go far beyond what is legally required.
Any business' entire framework is built upon consumer trust. You lose that, you lose everything.
Noah Horton, Chief Growth Officer of Greater Good Charities, provides a key quote on day three of ICE Barcelona 2026 as part of this panel on ESG and the cost of sustainability.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board, of which he is Chair, filed a lawsuit against Polymarket this week and has been a staunch opponent of sports event contracts.
Chairman Dreitzer wanted to make one thing quite clear though, saying: "We're not anti-prediction markets, we're pro technology."
The Chairman, who has a background in gaming technology, seemed notably open to conversations about properly regulated, law-abiding prediction market products and innovations.
American Gaming Association President & CEO Bill Miller joined us at the Huddle booth this morning. As always, stayed tuned for the full interview after ICE. But, as you might expect, he described the idea if prediction markets legally self-certifying and being federally regulated as "laughable." He is confident prediction markets will lose the long-term battle on gambling.
Wow, is it almost time for day 3 already? A busy ICE week has flown by but there's still a final day of stands to visit, conference panels to attend... and deals to be made!
Global Gaming Insider was joined by PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco earlier on, to discuss the decoupling of the Philippines' authority's revenue creation function and the regulatory aspect of its work.
I believe you cannot be both an operator and a regulator.
The Chairman also spoke on the enforced delinking of gambling platforms and e-wallets, a measure that has slashed gambling revenues by nearly half in the country.
He revealed that he is in the process of putting together a position paper to recommend the review and potential reversal of this policy. Something to keep an eye on!
The Portugal, Barcelona and Real Madrid star, Luis Figo, takes the mic.
Both men have been reaching back into their playing careers to try to pinpoint just what existed in their mentality to make them the legends they eventually became.
Italian footballing legend, Alessandro Del Piero, tried hard to explain to Global Gaming Insider why there are fewer players in the modern game as good at free kicks as him.
He asks his fellow Digitain ambassador Luis Figo:
Remember when each team you played used their own ball?
And in the end, he concludes that really, it should be much easier for players these days.
“Lawmakers still need educating on prediction markets!” - Quote of the day from David Bean, Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association?
Discussing the imminent battle between the Tribal gaming sector and prediction markets, Bean explains that what he is hearing out of Washington - one of the most heavily guarded jurisdictions in the US regarding gambling regulations - is that lawmakers need to be educated on prediction markets.
He believes that many still don’t understand how powerful prediction markets currently are and are potentially fearful of the current administration, which is largely pro-predictions.
None other than Soo Kim joined us for our latest Huddle. Stay tuned for that one releasing after the show. He had a lot to say about lottery, as well as talking up The Star's prospects in Australia. Where others may have been critical in the past, the Bally's Chairman sees opportunity.
Ciara Nic Liam, MD of Gaming at Entain, was our first guest on the Huddle this morning. She spoke of using responsible gambling as a design principle, not just an add-on feature. Stay tuned after ICE for the full video interview!
Back in the mix, and back at the Sustainable Gambling Zone, where Ladipo Abiose Akolade, Founder of the Gamble Pause Initiative Africa, is painting a troubling picture of addiction across the continent.
He has no issue with gambling as entertainment, but the problem he sees is a growing trend of seeing it as a form of income.
Congratulations to Players Publishing COO and Founder Julian Perry for his well deserved recognition for contributions to gaming industry media and commentary over the past 15 years!
The Global Gaming Insider team is at the Enterprise Stage ahead of Clarion's Landmark Awards ceremomy, celebrating 15 years of working in gaming media as Players Publishing... with a very special honouree! 👀
Plenty going on at the Delasport stand (5P20), including the launch of Betiator - which we posted about earlier. Stay tuned on the Huddle channel after ICE to watch our Exhibitor Spotlight video with Delasport CEO Oren Cohen Shwartz!
Great to catch up with Australian gambling law specialist Jamie Nettleton at the Global Gaming Insider booth! Big things on the horizon down under and more from Jamie to be expected in the magazine soon... this is what ICE is all about! 🇦🇺
How to make sure players don't migrate to the unregulated market, according to Arno Nagelschmied, Managing Director of Responsible Gambling for Casinos Austria AG.
Communication at the point of intervention is the key.
I tell my employees to explain why this step is necessary and help people understand why they need the intervention.
He then shares a remarkable anecdote of giving tough but transparent communications to players. When one individual explained how they would simply travel over the border to another jurisdiction and gamble there if they were forced to temporarily exclude. Nagelschmied's response was:
It's your decision whether you want to ruin your life, it's mine whether I watch you do that.
At the Sustainable Gambling Zone, the Entain Group's Director of International Regulatory Affairs has just illustrated how bold black market operators are getting infringing on IP.
In Spain, one unlicensed operator, he tells us, created an app which had the name of the regulator itself (the DGOJ).
As well as quality conference content, we'll be filming plenty of Huddle video at ICE this week. We've already spoken to Svenska Spel's Head of Lottery Anna Romboli, with many more to come.
Instasoft has confirmed the upcoming January launch of its new turnkey iGaming platform, marking the company’s official entry into the global B2B market with a technology-driven proposition aimed at modern operators.
The platform brings together casino, sportsbook and poker within a single, unified ecosystem, designed to significantly reduce time-to-market while enhancing flexibility, scalability and player engagement. Built as a complete end-to-end solution, Instasoft enables operators to deploy a fully branded and operational iGaming product in as little as seven days.
Positioned as a next-generation alternative to traditional platform builds, Instasoft addresses long-standing industry challenges related to complex integrations, fragmented technology stacks and limited differentiation. By consolidating core products, payments and compliance into one modular infrastructure, operators can focus on growth, retention and long-term player value.
Boyan Todorov, CEO of Instasoft, commented:
For years, the industry has accepted slow, expensive and overly complex platform launches as the standard. With Instasoft, we set out to change that mindset. Our platform is built to be fast, secure and scalable from day one – without compromising on innovation or player experience.
He added:
January represents a major milestone for us. We are excited to officially launch the platform and to give the industry its first hands-on look at what makes Instasoft one step ahead of the competition.
Focus on Engagement and Retention
A key differentiator of the Instasoft platform lies in its approach to player engagement, loyalty and retention. Rather than relying on traditional bonus mechanics, the platform introduces a new generation of engagement tools designed to reward player activity across all verticals and encourage long-term interaction in more dynamic and personalised ways.
While Instasoft is keeping specific details under wraps ahead of launch, the company confirms that its loyalty and engagement framework has been designed to support future-ready mechanics that go beyond what is currently available on the market.
Instasoft platform include:
Fully customisable sportsbook
Integrated 240 + casino providers
Complete poker solution
Unified multi-currency wallet supporting both crypto and fiat
Built-in compliance, AML and security features
Modular architecture enabling rapid scaling and localisation
Global Reach and Deployment
Instasoft’s infrastructure supports operators across Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and beyond, with a focus on low latency, high availability and regulatory readiness. The platform is designed to perform consistently even during peak traffic periods.
First Public Showcase at ICE Barcelona
Following its January launch, Instasoft will present the platform publicly for the first time at ICE Barcelona, where attendees will be able to explore the full solution and book live demos at Stand 1K32, Hall 1.
Operators, partners and industry stakeholders are invited to visit the stand to discover how Instasoft is redefining speed-to-market and player engagement in iGaming.
Delasport Revolutionizes Sports Betting and Launches Betiator: The World’s First Crash-Style Game Built for Sports Betting
January 19th, 2026 - Barcelona, Spain
Today, during the biggest industry expo - ICE Barcelona - Delasport, an award-winning Sport, Casino, and Platform provider, revealed its revolutionary new innovation: Betiator, a category-defining product that changes live sports betting forever.
Betiator is the first-ever crash-style game designed exclusively for sportsbook, merging the raw drama of live sports with the heart-pounding tension of crash mechanics.
For decades, sportsbook innovation has revolved around the same core ingredients: odds, markets, and bonuses. Betiator breaks that cycle with a whole new way to play - it’s all about timing. Every second matters. Every moment builds suspense. And every decision feels immediate, emotional, and alive.
Inspired by the explosive popularity of crash games in casino, Betiator brings that same simplicity and adrenaline into live sports. Players follow real in-play action through a highly visual interface, decide when to jump in, and choose when to cash out - before the moment hits. The result is a fast, intuitive, and thrilling experience that feels as exciting to watch as it is to play.
Betiator is not an add-on, and it’s not another market,
said Oren Cohen Shwartz, CEO of Delasport.
It’s a revolutionary new Sports product. We’ve taken the tension people love in crash games and fused it with the emotional peaks of live sports. This is the next evolution of gambling in general and of in-play betting in particular.
For operators, Betiator delivers more than excitement. It unlocks higher engagement, longer sessions, increased bet frequency, and new cross-sell opportunities, while attracting audiences that traditional sportsbooks struggle to convert - especially bingo, casino-first and younger, mobile-native players.
With Betiator, Delasport redefines live sports betting - elevating it from static odds into a fast, visual, emotion-driven entertainment experience.
Betiator made its official debut at ICE Barcelona 2026, where partners and operators can experience the future of live betting firsthand.
Our first sighting of prediction markets! And it certainly won't be the last. But what do the investors think?
Is it the new DFS asks moderator Michael Caselli?
Smith thinks it could be:
I've sat on many stages and said I don't believe in exchange betting, but this isn't hype it's a reality. It has high-level federal support, so it's going to have a nice runaway, but the question is does that runway continue past the next presidential election in the US. It's a solution to a lack of regulation and that's why it's taken off like wildfire.
Now, onto what's hot and what's not, according to the investors themselves.
It's the 'Investor Playbook' on the Enterprise Stage now, and it's clear that AI doesn't impress this panel much - not unless it's really baked into a company.
Paris Smith, panelist and industry expert, is particularly strong on this and says AI needs to be part of the DNA of a product.
Alex Tomic, Co-Founder of Alea is giving a keynote at the Enterprise Stage.
Soon at this stage we'll find out where the smart money is being invested at the moment. But in advance of that, Tomic just told the gathered crowd why he makes hires directly from hospitality.
He stands by the idea that by going into a bar or restaurant over a period of weeks, you can really get to know people's characters, shake their hand and understand their potential, before the idea of recruitment even makes its way into that person's thinking.
Continuing the forward thinking ‘master plan’ for Marjan’s vision for the emirate in the UAE, Marjan’s Group Chief Strategy Officer Tariq Bsharat explains plans for a 85 million square feet Marjan beachside development, which has been in planned, approved and begun receiving investors. This development is designed to compliment the island casino resort location.
Explaining some of the key selling points of the idea, Grinnell outlines that one of the things that initially attracted Wynn to the idea of a new casino project in the UAE, specifically, was the fact that the resort would provide a geographically centralised location that could link its US and Macanese locations - bridging the gap between its Western and Eastern operations.
Concluding their panel, Marjan’s Alison Grinnell underlines the impact of gaming - before these land-based assets began development - on the UAE’s economy. The integrated staff already introduced for Wynn’s casino resort has topped 9,000+ and investment in the location’s gaming industry has reportedly begun to flood in from worldwide. She explains the rapid economical and occupancy growth of Ras Al Khaimah, which now sits almost in line with Abu Dhabi and just behind Dubai. The pair conclude that the project began in 2020, and late Q1 will see the official opening of the Wynn Al Marjan Island project: ‘The countdown has begun.’
Tariq Bsharat builds on Alison Grinnell’s introduction to Marjan’s panel on Wynn Al Marjan Island by explaining key targets for Wynn that inspired the development. He underlines that the visitor-ship of previously opened locations in Las Vegas or Macau, highlighting how overall visitation spiked in these locations after the opening of casino-resort locations. He anticipates that the UAE will reach 5 million additional overnight visitors by 2030 at Wynn’s Al Marjan Island. Bsharat further explains how pivotal this additional visitation will be for the nation’s investment and tourism economies moving forward.
Evidencing this prediction, he outlines that Wynn partnered with EY to study multiple sectors in the Emirate - including hospitality, residential and retail. They estimated that the overall development could lead to a population growth of up to 600,000 people in the Ras Al Khaimah by 2030 as a direct consequence of employment from the development.
‘I think most people thought we were crazy in 2022 when we announced our intentions to build a casino resort in the UAE’
Alison Grinnell opens Marjan’s panel on the development of Wynn’s Al Marjan Island casino resort reflecting on the initial scepticism that surrounded the plans upon their release four years ago. She recalls overviewing Ras Al Khaimah’s strategic geographical strengths as an emirate that boasts stunning coastline, mountainous regions and versatile topography in the north of the UAE when the organisation pitched to Wynn ahead of the new development.
Alison Grinnell and Tariq Bsharat, Group Chief Strategy Officers of Marjan Hospitality review Wynn’s UAE Al Marjan Island casino resort development almost 4 years to the day for its announcement.
Lisa Corti is the Head of Safer Gambling at BVGroup and appeared at the Sustainable Gambling Zone to speak powerfully on the tools that the operator is using to get ahead of problem gambling.
I see that our whole purpose is to get to the customer before there is a need to take any strong action. People should be using a deposit limit not because they have a problem but because why wouldn't they?
Corti rounds off her thought with a fairly compelling rollercoaster analogy, comparing innovative safer gambling financial tools to a seatbelt on a rollercoaster. An essential precaution.
A little more on the Novomatic press conference. There was plenty to say about South Africa and Germany.
We heard that Stargame is the second largest German online casino brand and that, promisingly for Novomatic, stake limits could be lifted in the mid-term, easing the unfavourable regulatory conditions. On this, Graf said:
We hope regulators realise they have to speed up the process of making the industry more attractive.
While South Africa seems to have surprised Novomatic officials with the level of success the company has achieved there, there's clearly still significant ambition to build on that situation.
Graf also took a moment to address the “elephant in the room” that is Brazil, reassuring investors that with the market in the fragmented state that it is, a longer-term, staggered outlook on integration is required.
Novomatic kicked off Day 1 at ICE with a press conference at the Alexandre Hotel. From left to right we were faced with VP of Global Sales & Product Management Thomas Schmalzer, Greentube CEO Thomas Graf, Executive Board Member Stefan Krenn and Managing Director of Product and Technology for Spain Bernhard Teuchmann.
While full-year results won’t emerge until around March, Krenn was keen to stress the group’s confidence that they could reach or even exceed 2024’s €3.5bn ($4.07bn) revenue figure.
France was an area of particular discussion in this regard, given Novomatic's acquisition of Vikings Casinos. Graf, son of Novomatic Founder Johan, also expressed his hopes that new online casino licence procedures will re-emerge from their legislative mothballing later in 2026. In the meantime however, Greentube and Novomatic are going to be focused on growing their social casino product:
Why? We want to build our database so we can launch with a critical mass of players when we get the licence.
Novomatic kicked off Day 1 at ICE with a press conference at the Alexandre Hotel. From left to right we were faced with VP of Global Sales & Product Management Thomas Schmalzer, Greentube CEO Thomas Graf, Executive Board Member Stefan Krenn and Managing Director of Product and Technology for Spain Bernhard Teuchmann.
While full-year results won’t emerge until around March, Krenn was keen to stress the group’s confidence that they could reach or even exceed 2024’s €3.5bn ($4.07bn) revenue figure.
France was an area of particular discussion in this regard, given Novomatic's acquisition of Vikings Casinos. Graf, son of Novomatic Founder Johan, also expressed his hopes that new online casino licence procedures will re-emerge from their legislative mothballing later in 2026. In the meantime however, Greentube and Novomatic are going to be focused on growing their social casino product:
Why? We want to build our database so we can launch with a critical mass of players when we get the licence.
Novomatic kicked off Day 1 at ICE with a press conference at the Alexandre Hotel. From left to right we were faced with VP of Global Sales & Product Management Thomas Schmalzer, Greentube CEO Thomas Graf, Executive Board Member Stefan Krenn and Managing Director of Product and Technology for Spain Bernhard Teuchmann.
While full-year results won’t emerge until around March, Krenn was keen to stress the group’s confidence that they could reach or even exceed 2024’s €3.5bn ($4.07bn) revenue figure.
France was an area of particular discussion in this regard, given Novomatic's acquisition of Vikings Casinos. Graf, son of Novomatic Founder Johan, also expressed his hopes that new online casino licence procedures will re-emerge from their legislative mothballing later in 2026. In the meantime however, Greentube and Novomatic are going to be focused on growing their social casino product:
Why? We want to build our database so we can launch with a critical mass of players when we get the licence.
Feliz Lunes to all ahead of what's sure to be an unforgettable week at ICE Barcelona. The Global Gaming Insider team will bring you coverage from every corner of the show - all week - as well as iGB Affiliate from tomorrow.
And, of course, we'll have all the action later today at the most prestigious awards in the industry: the Global Gaming Awards!
ICE Barcelona will begin on a progressive and positive note with the presentation of this year’s charity fund beneficiaries. The ceremony will take place at 11am on Monday 19 January on the Sustainable Gambling Zone stage, where a total of €80,000 will be awarded.
The 2026 charity fund, made possible through the generous support of leading brands including Zitro, Acordjoc, Cirsa, Flutter, Orenes, Betsson Group, Merkur, Merkur Dosniha, BGaming and Novomatic, brings the total amount donated since ICE 2019 to €462,500.
7777 gaming raises the stakes at ICE Barcelona... Located at stand 1H50 (Hall 1), the company will unveil a significantly larger booth and its richest product portfolio ever - an expression of steady growth, creative confidence, and a clear vision for the future of iGaming. This year, visitors are not simply invited to see games, they are invited to move through the world of 7777 gaming, guided across its three core verticals: Sports, Casino, and Lottery.
Trueigtech, a global technology provider specialising in iGaming solutions development, will announce the launch of its prediction market platform at ICE.
You can find them at Booth 2C62, Hall 2 for a demonstration.
Fast Track has just introduced 'Tournaments,' a new feature within Rewards, its AI-driven gamification platform.The company will be demonstrating 'Tournaments' live at ICE and has invited operators interested in seeing AI-driven gamification in action to visit Stand 2H70A.
With Finland set to re-regulate its iGaming market this year, Gaming in Europe, in close collaboration with local stakeholders, has decided to host a Gaming in Finland Evening Conference at ICE Barcelona 2026.
The event takes place Monday, January 19, 2026, from 18:00 until 22:00 at the five-star Renaissance Barcelona Hotel – close to the Fira de Barcelona, where the main ICE event is located.
Topics and speakers
Legal & regulatory update: Preparing your entry into the regulated Finnish iGaming marketPekka Ilmivalta, Head of Finnish Office, Nordic Legal; Morten Ronde, Founding Partner, Nordic Legal
What sets Finland apart: The unique characteristics of the Finnish gambling marketJari Vähänen, Founding Partner, The Finnish Gambling Consultants
Will the Finnish market be profitable? A scenario: 2027-2031Mika Kuismanen, CEO, The Finnish Trade Association for Online Gambling
The Finnish iGaming market in numbersJosh Hodgson, COO, H2 Gambling Capital
Knowns and unknowns of Finnish gambling compliance & how to prepare in the meantimeNiklas Bondestam, CEO, Ubetec; Jessica Maier, Co-Founder, EGARA; Paul Foster, CEO, Crucial Compliance
ICE Barcelona has announced a formal partnership with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). UNLV is a highly regarded academic institution and holds the highest level of recognition for research and community engagement from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
This jointly funded collaboration is one of the few initiatives of its kind connecting academia and the gambling industry. It enables students from UNLV’s top ranked William F. Harrah College of Hospitality to take part in ICE Barcelona, giving them a valuable platform for industry exposure, learning, and professional development.
As we look ahead to ICE 2026 and other major industry events over the next 12 months, we will continue to work across industry and all agencies to ensure the Isle of Man remains a secure, stable and trusted jurisdiction for high quality and well-regulated iGaming businesses.
The Chief Minister of the Isle of Man Government, Alfred Cannan, has shared his thoughts in advance of ICE. Seemingly Digital Isle of Man will be at the conference, with the statement suggesting that attendance is going to mark the beginning of a coordinated programme of industry engagement.
In the face of a more complex and challenging global environment in recent years, Government has invested significantly in strengthening our understanding of risk and ensuring we have the right resources and frameworks in place to recognise and respond effectively to emerging threats.
Now live: the ICE Preview 2026 issue from Global Gaming Insider.As the industry convenes in Barcelona, hear from some of the exhibitors about what to expect at this year's ICE. Check out all articles in our magazine section.
GamblePause, an independent social impact organisation focused on reducing gambling-related harm across Africa, has been appointed Clarion Gaming’s Safer Gambling Charity Partner for 2026. The partnership spans the January editions of ICE Barcelona and iGB Affiliate Barcelona, as well as iGB L!VE London in July. Now in its fourth year, the initiative remains a central pillar of Clarion Gaming’s responsible gambling strategy.
Visitors to the EGT Digital stand at ICE Barcelona 2026 (Hall 1, Stand 1D30) can experience EGT Lounge in action and get an early hands-on look at Ola Diego, while exploring how both fit into the company’s broader online casino portfolio.Together, the two showcases reflect EGT Digital’s focus on expanding its casino ecosystem through authentic experiences and scalable online content.
Amusnet will present a comprehensive, product-led showcase at ICE Barcelona 2026, bringing together the latest advancements across its Online Casino, Live Casino, and Land-Based portfolio.
The appearance will also mark the start of the company’s 10th anniversary milestone, reflecting a decade of evolution, expansion, and trusted partnerships across global markets.
ICE has once again partnered with Betconstruct to make getting to Fira Gran Via simple and stress free. All attendees will enjoy free metro travel for all three show days, offering the quickest and most convenient way to reach the event while skipping city traffic. With metro stations only a short walk from the exhibition halls, travelling to ICE is easier than ever. Pick up your free Metro Pass at the designated desk at the South Entrance.
World Gaming Week will bring a record-breaking global gambling audience to Barcelona, with more than 65,000 delegates from over 180 countries gathering for ICE and iGB Affiliate, the industry’s most important annual events. The week is expected to generate around 1.5 million business meetings and feature 750+ exhibitors unveiling an estimated 25,000 new products and services, highlighting the latest innovations across all gaming sectors. With a strong focus on technology, responsible play, and future-facing collaboration, the events will help shape the global gaming landscape for 2026 and beyond.
Gamecheck has been named headline sponsor of the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ) at ICE Barcelona. The company uses blockchain-based technology to help operators verify the legitimacy of every game on their platform, protecting brands from exploitation through fake game implementations.
Pitch ICE applications are up 200 percent since the ICE moved from London. 12 start-ups from nine countries have been shortlisted to pitch their gaming tech innovations live at ICE Barcelona 2026.
Finalists will present to a high-profile panel of investors and industry leaders, competing for the Pitch ICE 2026 Trophy and €15,000 in AWS credits. From AI and compliance to gamification and next-gen player experiences, the showcase highlights the future of gaming innovation.
Pitch ICE takes place Tuesday 20 January, 11:00 to 12:30, with all shortlisted start-ups also exhibiting on the show floor between Halls 4 and 5.
The shortlisted businesses are: eyeDP, Whizdom AI, Tugi Tark OÜ, The Casino Factory with Longford International College, PROMOFY, Research iGaming, Complianceplay AI, THNDR, Master Affiliates Network, Swiss Shufflers Ltd, Fantasy Gambling League, Inc. and Loserball.
ICE has reinforced its strong commitment to the regulated gambling market by confirming the launch of an expanded Regulatory Programme. Organisers say the enhanced initiative is expected to attract around 400 regulators to the January event, rising from the record 300 who attended ICE Barcelona 2025.
Soo Kim, Chairman of Bally’s Corporation, will share exclusive insight into the company’s ‘Always-On’ vision when he delivers the 2026 opening keynote for ICE’s World Gaming Forum on Monday, 19 January. His appearance underscores the Forum’s expanding status as the industry’s leading strategic platform for high-level debate, analysis and policy discussion among senior gaming leaders and regulators.
ICE Barcelona 25 Sustainable Gambling Zone donors including Cirsa, Acordjoc, Grupo Orenes, Novomatic Spain, Novomatic Group, Betsson Group and ALEA have funded the launch of a new educational programme in Catalonia aimed at preventing behavioural addiction and digital dependency among teenagers.
The initiative, Proyecto FES, was created by the non profit Plataforma del Juego Sostenible, an industry organisation focused on advancing sustainability. The programme provides schools and families with educational tools and resources designed to highlight the risks tied to digital media use.
Working with FECACEN, the Catalan Federation of Educational Centers, Proyecto FES has already seen success in several other regions of Spain. It officially launched in Barcelona on 13 November, supported by Catalan language materials made possible through donations from the ICE Barcelona 2025 Sustainable Gambling Zone sponsors.
ICE has renewed and strengthened its long-standing partnership with CIBELAE to further promote responsible gaming and sustainability across Latin America. The collaboration builds on more than a decade of cooperation with the association representing government-regulated lotteries in the Ibero-American region.
Gaming Compliance International (GCI) has been announced as the headline sponsor of the ICE World Gaming Forum as the industry intensifies efforts to combat the black market. The partnership highlights GCI’s mission to support regulators and operators with AI-driven intelligence and promote a safer, more transparent global gaming environment. The Forum, taking place 19–21 January in Barcelona, will provide a high-level platform for strategic dialogue on responsible governance and industry integrity.
Clarion Gaming is introducing new sustainability measures for ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona 2026, including the Better Stands Initiative and a new Most Sustainable Stand Award. Exhibitors will be evaluated on reusable stand design, eco-friendly practices, and their ability to achieve a Gold Better Stands certificate. The top three sustainable stands for each show will be shortlisted and winners announced on 23 January 2026.
Clarion Gaming has revealed the first three judges for the ICE Innovators Challenge 2026 (in partnership with Microsoft) - Alon Ben David, Chief Technology Officer at Super Group; Dan Stillwell, Director of AI & Data at Microsoft, and Simo Dragicevic, Safer Gaming Specialist. Companies can still submit their entries until 21 November.
🚨Clarion Gaming reported record-breaking interest as registration for ICE Barcelona 2026 opened, with 1,266 professionals signing up within the first 24 hours. Head of Marketing, Jody Frost, confirmed that registrations are tracking 10% higher than the 2025 show, indicating unprecedented potential attendance.
New hall to explore at ICE. 🚨
For its 2026 edition, ICE is expanding and is taking over a whole new Hall, adding 8,000 sqm of space. Hall 1 at the South Entrance (formerly home to iGB Affiliate) will feature new exhibitors and top-tier iGaming brands including EGT Digital, SPRIBE, RedCore, Hub88 and more.
Clarion Gaming, the organizer of ICE, has opened applications for its next Sustainable Gambling Charity Partner for the 2025/2026 event cycle. Organisations from across the globe can put themselves forward for the partnership. The chosen applicant will become an integral part of the industry conversation at ICE Barcelona, iGB Affiliate Barcelona, and iGB L!VE London.
Clarion Gaming, the organizer of ICE, has announced a ground-breaking safer gambling AI partnership with tech giant Microsoft.
Taking place at ICE Barcelona, the world’s biggest gaming technology event, the ICE Innovators Challenge invites operators and their partners to submit AI-powered concepts designed to promote responsible play. From all submissions, five finalists will be chosen to build MVPs with expert guidance from Microsoft and its partners, including tailored tech consultancy and coaching. The competition will kick off online, culminating in a live showdown on the main stage at ICE 2026, where the finalists will present their solutions head-to-head. The winning team will receive £15,000 worth of consultancy, visibility, and continued support to help bring their idea to market.
Registration for ICE 2026 is NOW OPEN!
✅ 65,000+ gaming professionals
✅ 3 days of business & exciting networking events
✅ Cutting-edge innovation & market insights
📍 19–21 January 2026 | Fira Barcelona Gran Via
On 10 September, Global Gaming Insider attended a press event, hosted by the ICE and iGB Affiliate teams at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, to unveil their plans for World Gaming Week 2026.
The organizers outlined their ambitions, new initiatives and commitment to sustainable growth.
Tim Poole
Rory Calland
Julian Perry
