Five of the Most Anticipated iGaming Events of 2022

With the dust having settled on a successful return to action for ICE London, thoughts are inevitably turning towards future events that provide value for the iGaming industry’s decision-makers.

Organisers Clarion Gaming were forced to contend with a switch in date due to the ongoing pandemic, which meant squeezing in the three-day show to a less-than-ideal period close to Easter. In addition, there were a series of high-profile pull-outs from major land-based providers that meant the show floor at ExCeL London carried fewer machines (and noise) than usual.

However, in the assessment of most who attended, ICE London proved the value of face-to-face interactions in this new era where Zoom and Teams had reigned supreme. Both on the show floor and after-hours in London’s bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, existing partnerships were reinforced and new alliances struck.

Where next, then, can iGaming’s best and brightest plan to rub shoulders in the rest of 2022? Here, iGamingFuture provides a run-down of the leading contenders:

iGaming NEXT New York City ’22 (May 12-13)

This new, boutique event appears to be particularly crucial given the wealth of opportunities that exist in the US as sports betting and iGaming continue to roll out from state to state. Figures from the American Gambling Association (AGA) showed that the US gaming industry produced revenues of $53 billion in 2021, up from $23bn in 2020. iGaming NEXT, an organisation founded with the purpose to help connect and push the iGaming and sports betting industry forward by promoting thought leadership, appears to have timed its inaugural Manhattan event perfectly amid the betting and gaming boon. Billed as a boutique show featuring a wide range of high-profile speakers, iGaming NEXT New York City ’22 stands out from the crowd with its investment focus. Across two days promised to be packed with insightful and informative content, networking will play a pivotal role with multiple evening receptions scheduled at some of the city’s quintessential venues including Yankee Stadium.

SBC Summit North America (July 12-14)

SBC Summit North America is the leading conference and tradeshow dedicated to the high-growth online betting and gaming industry in the U.S. and Canada.

Taking place in New Jersey, home to one of the largest sports betting and iGaming markets in North America, the third edition of the event will again see executives from every major operator in the region gather to exchange ideas about emerging opportunities and how to handle the inevitable growing pains that will accompany the industry’s expansion.

SiGMA Europe, Malta (November 14-18)

Returning to its roots, the SiGMA Group is aiming to draw industry leaders from across the globe to the sunny isles of the Maltese archipelago for a week of networking, workshops and brainstorming. Long-standing as the spiritual home of the iGaming world, Malta was one of the first European states to regulate the gambling sector and the country is set to once again play host to a conference that unites the biggest players across the worlds of affiliates, operators and suppliers. The event is big on promoting start-ups and offers 100 free booths on the expo floor, while SiGMA Pitch sees competitors battle it out for a prize pool including mentorship and investment. Networking opportunities are plentiful, with top-tier industry leaders convening for drinks, sit-down dinners and gala events in some beautiful and memorable venues.

SBC Summit Barcelona (September 20-22)

The sumptuous Spanish city of Barcelona provides the glamorous backdrop for a conference and exhibition where global leaders in sports betting and iGaming assemble to discuss the future of the industry, exchanging knowledge and building connections. The European city is expected to host up to 6,000 senior executives for an event that is this year split across four different zones. Each of the Sports Betting, Casino & iGaming, Payments & Compliance, and Affiliate, Marketing and Media zones will have their own conference stage, exhibition floor and networking areas, where delegates can meet fellow professionals, take a deep dive into key insights and ideas and see the most exciting new specialist products.

iGB Live! 2022, Amsterdam (July 5-8)

Amsterdam’s RAI will again host this key event from organisers Clarion Gaming, which returns in 2022 with three goals in mind: Connect, Converse and Convert. The Connect strand refers to the 4,500-plus iGaming and affiliate attendees expected to flood into the city of canals, cycles and cafes, while Converse refers to discussions that can be held with experts in developing successful strategies for entering new markets, reducing ad-spend and standing above the competition. Convert links to leads, with the event promising to foster relationships that can help upgrade product and game development. Legitimate affiliates are highlighted too, with plenty on hand to assist with that key high-converting player traffic.