ICE London and iGB Affiliate London 2024 insights

London recently hosted the annual ICE London and iGB Affiliate London events, which provided a deep insight into the changing world of global gaming.

Representatives from Casino Guru actively participated in various conferences, contributing to the lively atmosphere that captured the very heart of the industry.

Here, we provide a complete overview of our firsthand observations, including significant insights and highlights from February 6th to 8th.

Farewell to London

The sheer size of ICE London 2024 was overwhelming as we entered the huge Excel venue. On the second day, approximately 45,000 gaming professionals and industry leaders attended as the event welcomed 632 exhibitors from 76 countries.

ICE's position as the gaming industry's epicenter has only grown stronger. It was the perfect finale, as ICE said goodbye to its usual residence. The wonderful news is that ICE and IGB Affiliates will make Barcelona their home for at least the next five years. ICE 2025 promises to be another pivotal moment in the world's greatest gaming event.

What dominated the ICE event?

ICE is well-known for its diversified conference program and outstanding exhibitions. At the event, conversation drivers were primarily about:

Esports Betting Conference (EBC):

As part of ICE, the world's largest gaming event, the EBC featured prominent voices from game developers, betting operators, and tournament organizers.

With esports emerging as a new revenue stream for operators looking to interact with diverse demographics, the EBC provided an important platform for exploring potential and tactics.

ICE VOX’s World Regulatory Briefing (WRB):

The conference, led by Nadine Dereza, an award-winning international broadcaster, journalist, and Chair of the WRB for ICE 2024, included crucial sessions that addressed pressing regulatory challenges in the gaming sector.

Highlights included the ‘Global Regulator Town Hall,’ discussions on ‘Easing the Burden: How Can Regulation Keep Pace with New Technology?’, insights into ‘Setting the Standard on Responsible Marketing,’ and exploration of ‘Regulating Gen Z: Key Considerations, Challenges, and Approaches.’

International Casino Conference (ICC):

Top leaders from the global casino industry gathered to plan the course for the future of the land-based business.

This conference offered notable sessions including the ‘European Casino Association Opening: Global Associations Panel,’ which provided insights into collaborative efforts among gaming associations worldwide.

Additionally, discussions revolved around ‘Creating a Global Blueprint for Gaming to Develop New and Developing Economies,’ addressing the industry’s role in economic growth.

The conference also tackled critical issues such as ‘Risks to the Gaming Industry: Cybersecurity, Organized Crime, Illegal Gambling.’

iGB Affiliate 2024

During the iGB Affiliate 2024, industry professionals shared vital insights and guidance to help businesses manage the ever-changing igaming ecosystem in the coming 12-24 months and beyond.

Highlighted seminars included: "Using AI-Led Strategies to Re-Shape SEO" about cutting-edge ways that use artificial intelligence to transform SEO strategies and increase online exposure.

"How to Survive an Ad Ban" taught the key techniques and tactics for navigating ad bans and maintaining business growth in a challenging regulatory climate.

"Scaling Your Affiliate Business 101" presented key principles and practical techniques to scaling an affiliate business for long-term success and profitability.

Casino Guru work

We accomplished a lot in three productive days. Our Affiliates team attended fruitful meetings, developing connections to strengthen collaborative efforts. Simultaneously, our Complaint Resolution Center demonstrated its commitment to transparency and responsible gambling by addressing complaints and creating a fair gambling environment.

Our Global Self-Exclusion Initiative (GSES) leader, Šimon Vinzce, emphasized the importance of looking ahead. Visitors could meet Šimon at his dedicated stand in the Consumer Protection zone.

Šimon completed his busy agenda on Thursday as a speaker in a panel on the topic Standardization of global approaches to safer gambling and sustainability: What drives standardization efforts?

Our Content team participated in expositions that featured the most recent innovations and illustrated the industry's evolution. We gained insight into the gaming industry, staying up to date on trends, innovations, and regulatory developments.

Thursday night's celebration was a success for Casino Guru, as we won the iGB Affiliate Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year award for the second year running.

The award recognizes Casino Guru's collaborative efforts and our commitment to creating a safer and more sustainable gambling environment for everyone. It was a wonderful way to say goodbye to London after many years.

What happened in London, don't just stay in London.

It is critical to leave ICE and iGB 2024 with fresh information, experience, and an up-to-date comprehensive understanding of the gaming industry.

Perhaps even more vital is to share this knowledge with our colleagues and readers. That is why we present essential takeaways.

1. As an operator, look for growth opportunities in crash games

Simplicity, swift action, and social connection are critical to any casino's success. Crash games cater to millennials and Generation Z, with dominance in markets such as Brazil, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Italy, Romania, Croatia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

2. Use content reviews for SEO.

Content reviews are critical to improving SEO visibility, especially when targeting a younger audience.

3. Use marketing strategy for LATAM.

Different marketing strategies are required for Brazil and the Hispanic market. Understanding multiple cultures and languages is critical to success. Key techniques include clarifying information and increasing player confidence.

4. How on SEO strategies for gambling sites?

Building trust, creating compelling content, strategically placing backlinks, and optimizing for conversions and mobile friendliness are all necessary for success. The latest news is technical SEO, with a focus on the robots.txt file, which is critical for search engine interaction.

5. What’s new in the regulations?

As it turns out, the US sports betting market is saturated, forcing operators to innovate and handle rules effectively. North Carolina plans to launch sports betting on March 11, 2024.

Brazil's regulated gaming business has great potential, and legalization and clear legislation for operators are critical. The regulated online gaming market in Latin America is predicted to triple by 2027.

Changes in the Peruvian gambling business, such as higher license fees and a point-of-consumption regime for online games, provide further challenges.

All in all, it’s safe to say that the gambling industry is set for another colorful year, as proven at this year’s ICE and iGB Affiliate London 2024. We must admit that the combined experience of ICE London and the iGB Awards 2024 was nothing short of amazing.

These events emphasized the industry's dedication to growth, accountability, and excellence, with innovation serving as a compass and collaboration as a driving force. We were pleased to be a part of it!

Image credit: Excel London