For the second consecutive year, one of the most important iGaming events in the world is coming to Africa. Between the 2nd and 3rd of October, South Africa’s Johannesburg will be home to — the first extension of ICE London outside the British capital.

The exhibition will bring in one place visitors and industry leaders from all over the world and will foster the growth and investment in Africa’s iGaming scene. The event will consist of two parts—an exhibition of the latest breakthroughs in iGaming, and a conference where more than 60 experts will host talks.

John Kamara, Director of Global Gaming Africa, has been the event’s brand ambassador since its initiation. This year’s edition will take place under the motto “Shining a light on Africa's gaming ecosystem.”

ICE Africa

More than 50 iGaming companies are expected to showcase their products during the exhibition part of the event.

The conference will feature talks on critical topics such as regulation, online presence, integrated resorts, branding, marketing, product development, and eSports , as announced by the organisers. The event will also feature (paid) slot machine and sports betting masterclasses organised by Totally Gaming Academy, where participants will learn best business practices from the industry. The conference will also host Pitch ICE Africa—a pitching event for start-ups; The Executive Network (TeN)—a networking event exclusive to ten selected industry experts; and the International Legislators’ Agenda—an event for regulators and legislators.

The first edition of ICE Africa happened last year, at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa’s largest city.

“Following the hugely positive coming together of all sectors of the industry at the inaugural ICE Africa last year, we saw over 1500 visitors flock from across Africa and the world to join invaluable conversations about the development of this market,” says on the event’s website.

South Africa is emerging as an important link in the African iGaming market. Aside from ICE Africa, the country also hosts other important industry expos such as Sports Betting East Africa, while Cape Town was chosen by sports betting company Betway as home base for its Africa-oriented presence.

ICE North America

This year the ICE conference and exhibition also landed in North America; just months after the first edition in Africa. The happening took place 13-15 May in Boston and next year will be visiting Austin between 8-10 June. The event followed the traditional ICE format with a conference, exhibition, and networking parts. An interesting fact is that ICE North America happened a year after the US Constitutional court repealed a federal act that prohibited states from legalising sports betting.

ICE London

ICE Africa is an extension of ICE London, which is one of the most significant events of its kind. The next edition will take place on 4-6 February at the ExCeL London convention centre.

From online sports betting and bingo to mobile gaming and online payments, every aspect of the iGaming business is covered during ICE London’s exhibition and conference events.

At the 2018 edition, over 100 speakers gave talks that totaled over 64 hours, while more than 33,000 people from 150 countries visited the event. Among the topics covered by the conference, dubbed ICE VOX, were cybersecurity, world regulations, and AI.

ICE VOX happened in four formats—Hive, Counsel, Boardroom, and Elevator, each of which provided different opportunities to network, share ideas, and learn about the newest breakthroughs in the industry.

Like ICE Africa, the London edition features an exhibition, seminars, and a pitching session.

Overall, the ICE conferences are growing to be an essential part of the international iGaming industry. The London edition has been a popular happening for quite some time now, but with the expansion across continents, the brand is demonstrating its determination to provide platforms for thought leaders and experts in an industry that’s experiencing global growth.

On its website, ICE Africa quotes John Kamara saying that the event “can help develop a deeper understanding of the contribution the industry can make in relation to the social, economic development of many national economies in Africa.” Just days ago, South Africa’s National Gambling Board held a conference aimed at establishing better communication between regulators and gambling operators. One of the key takeaways of the event was the growing place of technology in iGaming, along with the expected continuous growth of the gambling industry.