Gambling professionals attending ICE Barcelona will have the opportunity to explore the biggest ever edition of the show comprising 120,000 square meters of space compared to the 100,000 sqm at ICE 2024. Fira Gran Via Barcelona will be home to the industry’s best ever line-up of exhibitors including the world’s biggest and most respected innovator brands from every gambling vertical. The industry’s leading trade associations, strategic bodies, regulators, CEOs of tier-1 operators and games creators will all be at Barcelona in record-breaking numbers underlining the show’s reputation for being the 'Davos of Gambling.'
Simon Thomas
Simon Thomas, Executive Chairman of London’s iconic Hippodrome Casino has highlighted Sustainability, AI and the convergence of online and land-based gaming as the three ‘key trends’ that he believes will stand out at ICE Barcelona.
Looking ahead to what will be the biggest gaming show in history Simon Thomas said: “From energy-efficient gaming machines to green certifications for venues, the industry is prioritizing environmental responsibility. This shift isn’t just about corporate responsibility; it’s a response to the growing demand from players and stakeholders for all-round greener operations.”
The development of cutting-edge technology will, he believes be applied in a number of different ways. “As the trend continues to use technology such as AI to create safer gaming environments, while also developing more engaging gaming solutions for customers, I expect ICE to reflect this” he stated. “This will include applications that refine customer personalization, optimize staff placement and enhance/encourage responsible gaming.”
On a macro level Thomas believes there will be a more pronounced convergence of online and land-based gaming as operators look to offer seamless transitions between physical and digital gaming, in the process appealing to a broader demographic.
Looking forward to the first edition of ICE to take place outside the UK he stated: “With the move to Barcelona, I’m particularly excited about the city’s vibrant culture and its potential to foster fresh perspectives in networking and innovation. Barcelona’s global appeal aligns perfectly with ICE’s international reach, providing a backdrop that promises inspiration for all attendees. This is a new chapter for ICE in one of the most iconic locations in the world. Bienvenidos a todos!”
Celebrated game designer Joe Kaminkow confirmed as keynote at ICE World Gaming ForumClarion Gaming has added to the A-List of luminaries participating in the ICE World Gaming Forum with confirmation that Joe Kaminkow, the powerhouse behind the success of Aristocrat and IGT will be one of the headline speakers at the Casino & Leaders Conference (CLC) taking place on 20 January.
Joe who holds over 150 patents throughout the fields of game design, operations, and networks, creating or contributing game design intellectual property to more than 1,500 games across multiple formats and markets joins a line-up of headliners which includes Vicente Fox, 62nd President of Mexico, and Akhil Sarin, CMO of online brands Stake and Kick, as well as over 100 other speakers so far announced including Simon Thomas, Chairman of the Hippodrome Casino, Marcel Tobler, CEO, Swiss Casinos, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, Chair, French Gambling Authority, Rhea Loney, Chief Compliance Officer, BetMGM, Sana Ali Aamir, European GM of Fever, and Warren Cho, Worldwide Gaming Leader, Microsoft.
Aristocrat’s Chief Innovation Officer will be leading a headline talk on attracting a diverse global audience through branded IP, drawing on his lessons from secured licensing rights from Batman, Star Trek, and Wheel of Fortune to Sex in the City and Game of Thrones. He will then join a panel of brand experts, including HASBRO, who will explore how to attract Millennial and Gen Z players in both the land-based and online space.
Announcing the news, Clarion Gaming’s Senior Conference Producer Damien Ashton-Wellman said: “The World Gaming Forum is about delivering thought provoking, authoritative insight delivered by Tier 1 thought leaders. Joe Kaminkow meets all of those criteria.
“He has been inducted into the Pinball Hall of Fame, the American Gaming Association's Hall of Fame, the Licensing International Hall of Fame, the Coin-Op Hall of Fame, the Amusement Expo International’s Hall of Fame and the EKG Hall of Fame, as well as being named a ‘Top Ten Most Influential Person in Gaming’ by Strictly Slots Magazine.
“At Williams Electronics he secured licensing rights from NASA that led to the 1984 smash hit game Space Shuttle. Following that success he was recruited by International Game Technology (IGT) to revolutionize slot machines through the extensive use of licensed titles like the iconic Wheel of Fortune deal. Joe went on to found Spooky Cool Labs in Chicago, where he developed an online Wizard of Oz city builder, before the company was acquired by Farmville creator Zynga.
The participation of Joe Kaminknow will add to the profile of the program which in 2024 succeeded in bringing together over 1,210 senior decision makers from 79 countries, including 621 operator C-Level, 87 global CEOs, 72 national and regional regulatory bodies, and 7 government ministers.
BetBlocker named Clarion Gaming charity partnerBetBlocker the ground-breaking initiative which provides a free, anonymous, accessible, and robust gambling-blocking tool that empowers users to control their gambling behavior, has been named Clarion Gaming’s charity partner for 2024/25.
Responding to the news Pedro Romero Chief of SG Partnerships at BetBlocker said: “Being named Clarion Gaming charity partner is a fantastic honor and is recognition of our commitment to promoting safer gambling worldwide. This partnership also underscores the gaming industry’s growing awareness and commitment to social responsibility.”
He added: “The partnership will enable us to amplify our message, connect with key stakeholders, and showcase how BetBlocker can make a real difference in minimizing gambling harm. This opportunity strengthens our resolve to collaborate with all stakeholders, including the gambling industry, to prioritize the well-being of players.”
“Throughout the year, we’ll leverage the visibility and connections arising from this partnership in order to expand awareness campaigns globally, develop educational materials and initiatives targeting operators, affiliates, and players and enhance our technology to ensure that BetBlocker remains at the forefront of innovation in player protection.”
ICE Landmark Awards to recognize the industry’s innovators, creators, entrepreneurs, pioneers and personalitiesClarion Gaming has confirmed that it will be making its unique Landmark Awards to winners on the show floor at ICE Barcelona.
Following their Introduction in 2019 the Awards have recognized outstanding or milestone achievements and recipients have included the innovators, the games creators, the entrepreneurs, the pioneers and the personalities that make the international gambling industry so unique.
Stuart Hunter
Expanding on the ‘Landmark’s’ Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “We felt that there was a place for a totally original Awards program which was accessible, open to everyone in the industry and recognized a very significant milestone or achievement. Since their introduction Landmark Awards have been made in recognition of the fund-raising achievements of industry charities, to businesses for their commitment to sustainability, to individuals and companies for their especially long-service and to those organizations which have raised the bar in terms of nurturing safer or sustainable gambling.”
He added: “ICE Barcelona will be the greatest gathering of gaming professionals ever and it is totally appropriate that the Landmark achievements of the industry are recognized in this way on the show floor.”