iGB L!VE in London a success?

The quality of any gaming show is partly defined by its agenda, but more importantly by what is happening in the industry at that moment. When judging a conference, one must consider the ease of travel to the country and venue, accommodation options, content quality (aligned to the top topics of the time) and calibre of attendees.

Historically a great conference would accommodate exhibition and staged spaces, was well laid out, easy to navigate, and with enough spaces designed to foster genuine conversations, while running operations smoothly to keep everything professional and on time. The secret sauce was the carefully curated audience and delivering high-value, practical content that went beyond sales pitches.

These days, organisers have a lot more to consider. Not only do they need to consider all these factors, but they also need to balance scale with intimacy, offering real opportunities for people (not businesses) to engage, creating an experience where people learn, connect, and feel it was worth their time and money, as measured by both ROI and general sentiment.

iGB L!VE’s move to the Excel Centre felt like a bit of a risk and as much as we enjoyed Amsterdam, the Excel is a great venue and well executed by the organisers. It was admittedly odd at first to be at the Excel for a gaming conference that wasn’t ICE. But the venue lived up to expectations, packed with businesses eager to shape the next phase of growth and innovation.

But for all the excitement around new technologies and emerging verticals, the most telling conversations we had weren't about innovation for its own sake. They were about sustainability in an increasingly complex compliance and responsible gambling web of obligations.

Real Priorities

Across dozens of discussions at iGB L!VE, licence selection and multi-jurisdictional licensing were at the forefront. There is uncertainty globally with new licensing jurisdictions seemingly undercutting the more traditional regimes, but with limited cost-effective banking, reputation or M&A possibilities. Balancing speed and price versus reputation and ancillary services has become an interesting strategic point, albeit with the right support partners the potential negatives may be mitigated for the sharper operators. 

It is now the top strategic priority for ambitious brands. Regulators worldwide are tightening frameworks to protect consumers and preserve market integrity, so responsible gambling was more than just a discussion point, it was an actionable matter also.

Furthermore, as the industry matures, our network is advising us that their investors and shareholders are more cautious, placing a premium on operational resilience and legal clarity.

What is clear is that as competition heats up, the ability to enter and remain compliant in multiple markets is becoming a key differentiator.

A Success?

Following the event schedule reshuffle of ICE’s departure from London to Barcelona, and SBC moving from Barcelona to Lisbon, it was important to have a large-scale industry conference in London.

Thankfully, iGB L!VE stepped in. Despite UK immigration proving a timely reminder of post-Brexit norms for some, overall, iGB L!VE was a huge success.

The show floor buzzed with genuine energy, with many exhibitors noting the quality of conversations felt higher than more scattered events. Several attendees shared that it was easier to connect with serious decision-makers and strike meaningful partnerships, not just collect business cards.

The well-paced schedule, thoughtfully designed networking areas, and impressive turnout demonstrated that London remains a key hub for the global gaming industry, and that iGB L!VE can more than fill the gap left by ICE. If anything, the event’s success has set a high bar for future editions, reinforcing London’s relevance on the gaming calendar and giving operators and suppliers a compelling reason to keep it in their annual plans.