iGaming Events Calendar 2023: top gambling conferences

Packing a wealth of information and networking opportunities, these iGaming events should be on your 2023 agenda.

The iGaming industry is growing rapidly, bringing with it more and more opportunities for everyone in the field. As gambling demand grows around the world, more professionals and companies are looking to enter the lucrative industry to take advantage of its potential. Because of its collaboration-heavy nature, it is vital for newcomers to the sector to build a partner network for themselves to be able to grow from zero. Established firms, on the other hand, will need to continually expand their partner networks to maintain their growth momentum and position in the industry.

One of the most prominent ways industry firms expand their networks is through iGaming events. The significance of gambling events in the growth of the industry and its companies is highlighted by the number of iGaming events out there, with at least a few taking place pretty much every month of the year. However, having so many choices can be quite overwhelming sometimes, so which ones should you mark on your calendar? Before diving into our main topic, let’s quickly explore some helpful information about it, starting off with the basics.

What is an iGaming event?

An iGaming event is an opportunity for online gambling industry professionals to network, share their knowledge on different aspects of the field, form new partnerships, and enhance existing ones. It can take the form of a networking dinner, a gambling conference, or an iGaming exhibition, usually covering a specific region around the world along with its quirks and features. iGaming events are great places to expand your business and feature many other benefits, which we will cover next.

Why should you attend an iGaming event?

iGaming events are the perfect place to meet new people, some of which may become invaluable partners. They can also give attendees lots of invaluable knowledge through panel discussions and speeches, and provide excellent opportunities to display new products, such as slot games, casino platforms, and player engagement solutions. This also makes them great for companies that are looking to implement such offerings. Coupled with the amenities provided by most conferences in the form of luxury hotels and prestigious dinners, these points make the sizable upfront costs, including travel and entry fees, worth it.

Here are the reasons why you should attend an iGaming event summarized:

• Networking
• Learning
• Exhibiting products
• Entering new partnerships

What to expect at an iGaming conference?

Exhibition Stands

A lot of gambling conferences feature exhibition panels, where companies can showcase their products and meet prospecting clients. Displaying everything from software solutions and games to retail gambling and betting terminals at major events can be an excellent form of advertisement for many companies in the space, however, exhibition stands are a bit less common than the two other points we are going to discuss next and are generally found only at larger shows, such as SiGMA Europe.

In addition to being excellent spaces for industry companies to discover and experience demos of various products and services, exhibition halls usually also provide great opportunities for professionals to connect with like-minded experts and expand their networks. Moreover, after finding a solution that piques their interest, attendees can form collaborations with various development firms in person, which gives them the ability to discuss and negotiate contract terms in person.

Discussion panels/Speeches

A very common thing you may find at various iGaming events is discussion and speech panels. These are excellent places to learn new things about the industry from various professionals. They often focus on educational topics and share insights on important aspects of the sector, such as the latest trends, regulations, and best practices for a particular region, among many others. These panels may also take the form of roundtable discussions, which will give attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussions themselves and share their insights and ideas about a variety of topics. Roundtable discussions also allow iGaming event attendees to learn from a wider selection of people, potentially giving them a more diverse set of information. Discussion panels of all kinds have become pretty widespread across many gambling events.

Networking opportunities

Another very common thing to expect at an iGaming conference is various networking opportunities, most commonly networking dinners, which are an excellent way of talking to industry professionals and making new connections. Most high-quality iGaming events will offer many other networking opportunities as part of their agendas as well, such as networking meetups, speed-dating programs, and dedicated networking breaks, all of which can allow attendees to meet prospecting partners and sign new contracts to expand their businesses.

Competitions and Giveaways

While competitions and giveaways are much rarer than some of our previously discussed points, some of the largest iGaming events do feature them. The former usually takes place at major international gambling conferences in the form of startup competitions, where up-and-coming gambling companies can showcase their ideas and attract investors to expand the scope of their innovations. Giveaways, on the other hand, are often held by exhibiting companies at large iGaming events, which they use as a way of attracting professionals to their booths to try out various solutions and products. Taking part in both of them at shows gives participants the chance of winning various prizes, further contributing to the productive nature of gambling events.

How to prepare for an iGaming event

Preparing for an iGaming event is quite a simple task. Depending on the type of show your company may be attending, purchasing tickets and preparing to send a few representatives may be the only thing required to do. You may also want to plan ahead of time which companies or people you want to network with to maximize your productivity at the event, but we will dive deeper into this topic a bit later when we cover how you can get the most from iGaming events.

Attending shows with the aim to showcase a product, however, will necessitate a more thorough plan. The participants will need to display their offerings in a manner that sparks the interest of their visitors, for example by setting up a themed booth or by offering an incentive in the form of a giveaway or a competition. Nevertheless, this will deliver a higher chance of striking a partnership, making the extra work worth it in the long term. After completing the preparations, now you may wonder what to do at the event itself, which is the next topic we will cover.

• Purchase tickets
• Send representatives
• Plan who to network with
• Prepare products to be showcased
• Set up a booth

What to do at an iGaming conference?

There are a few goals that everyone attending iGaming conferences should set out to achieve, with the main one of course being meeting as many new people as possible. As discussed previously, networking is the biggest reason to attend these shows, as it can lead to meeting prospecting partners and signing important contracts, so it should definitely be a part of your iGaming events calendar. Other than that, you should just enjoy your time at the conference and get the most from your time there. Speaking of the latter, let’s take a deeper dive into it next and explore a few ways you can maximize your event productivity.

Tips on how to get the most from iGaming events

iGaming events usually cost quite a bit of money to attend, as everything from travel and accommodation to entry passes can be expensive. Thus, it is important to get the most value for money possible at these shows.

1. Identify your priorities and accomplish them first
2. Plan your meetings ahead of time
3. Meet with existing partners
4. Keep in touch with newly met people
5. Meet as many people as possible
6. Bring lots of business cards and hand them out to anyone interested

iGaming events broken down by focus

Lastly, before taking a look at a few of the industry’s most prominent events, let’s quickly explore the different focuses iGaming conferences can have, starting with the regional one.

Regional focus

The majority of iGaming events usually focus on the countries they are held in, along with their surrounding regions. These sorts of regional summits often feature discussions of some of the most prominent local gambling topics, such as regulation, market conditions, player interests, and more. Regional iGaming events are excellent for operators who are looking to expand in a specific country or region, as they can learn a lot and grow quickly at these events. However, companies operating all around the globe may also be interested in international summits, where there will be a plethora of opportunities to network with industry experts from all across the world. Moreover, international summits are usually much larger than their regional counterparts, offering more opportunities for attendees to connect with new people and learn through discussions and speeches.

Business focus

While the majority of iGaming events around the world are open to all industry businesses, many gambling conferences and events are specifically tailored for a particular group, usually either operators, affiliates, or developers. These gambling events will usually host relatively niche discussions with topics specially selected for their targeted group, helping them gather insights to expand their businesses. Additionally, many iGaming events around the world often focus on multiple closely-related business types, such as affiliates and operators or developers and operators. These types of gambling conferences are usually geared toward networking and expanding through collaborations and often feature many dedicated opportunities for their attendees to connect with prospecting partners.

Niche focus

The vast majority of iGaming events cover the general gambling industry and feature an agenda with topics relating to various parts of the expansive sector. However, a few gambling events only cover one or a few niches, giving their attendees a more focused set of experiences. These types of gambling summits can typically focus on niches like sports betting, land-based gambling, crypto casinos, virtual reality gambling, and many other similar parts of the industry that may be popular or gaining traction in particular regions. These gambling events are usually excellent for industry companies that aim to implement emerging industry trends as soon as possible to stay ahead of the competition.

Top iGaming events 2023

Finally, let’s go over the iGaming events calendar and briefly talk about a number of shows that you will not want to miss in 2023. To learn more about conferences that we didn’t cover in this article, check out AffPapa’s iGaming Events page.

1. iGB Live! 2023

Dates: July 11 – 14, 2023
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Venue: RAI Amsterdam

iGB Live! 2023 is going to be held from the 11th to the 14th of July and is going to be uniting over 5000 industry experts in Amsterdam. The iGaming event will feature plenty of opportunities to meet new people and network. It will also have an exhibition section, where over 200 top companies are going to be showcasing their innovations and giving interested professionals demos and tours. iGB Live! Is more catered towards operators and affiliates, though its opportunities can be applicable to any business in the iGaming industry.

2. SBC Summit Barcelona 2023

Dates: September 19 – 21, 2023
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Venue: Fira Barcelona Montjuic

Scheduled to start on the 19th of September, the forthcoming edition of SBC Summit Barcelona will be presenting attendees with an unmatched experience in the southern region of Europe. Estimated to welcome more than 10 thousand industry professionals, 450 of which will be sharing their invaluable insights during the conference’s numerous panels. The event will cover many of the gambling industry’s most promising trends, such as blockchain technologies and the metaverse, further solidifying its international appeal.

3. GamingTech CEE 2023

Dates: September 26 – 27, 2023
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Budapest

Having recently undergone a brand transformation, the forthcoming installment of GamingTech CEE will be continuing the storied legacy of the Hipther Agency’s CEEGC series of conferences that have been at the forefront of the iGaming sector in the CEE region for more than half a decade. On the 26th of September, the event will be gathering some of the region’s best iGaming experts in Budapest, where they will be sharing their knowledge and expertise and making use of the conference’s networking opportunities.

4. Scandinavian Gaming Show 2023

Dates: November 2 – 3, 2023
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Venue: Carlsberg Museum & Business Centre

The Nordic region presents a set of excellent opportunities for the gambling industry, having one of the highest per-person gambling spending rates across the globe. The upcoming edition of the Scandinavian Gaming Show will be helping international iGaming professionals take advantage of these opportunities. Experts will gather on the 2nd of November in Stockholm, Sweden to discuss and learn about the promising region’s potential with like-minded individuals. The conference will also feature several dozen highly-esteemed speakers, who will be sharing their knowledge and helping participants take away the most value from the event’s two days.

5. SiGMA Europe 2023

Dates: November 13 – 17, 2023
Location: Attard, Malta
Venue: Malta Fairs and Conventions Center

Connecting some of the industry’s top executives in one of its most important jurisdictions, SiGMA Europe is one of the most important gaming conferences in the world. Being held in Malta, it is an international event with the aim of covering the entire world of iGaming. It is a gathering place for not only top executives, but also high-level government representatives, such as Malta’s prime minister. The gambling conference offers plenty of networking and learning opportunities, as its schedule is full of discussion panels and speeches. Furthermore, the event prides itself on the diversity of its audience, as every type of company from operators and suppliers to affiliates and media is represented fairly evenly.

6. ICE London 2024

Dates: February 6 – 7, 2024
Location: London, United Kingdom
Venue: ExCel London

Starting on the 6th of February and lasting till the 8th, ICE London 2024 is going to be one of the year’s first events for many attendees. It is going to feature plenty of networking opportunities, as it’s going to be a host to a massive audience of over 35 thousand people. Participants will get the opportunity to meet with and learn from some of the most knowledgeable executives from the region, as the event is going to be packed with informative discussion panels, presentations, and speeches. Furthermore, thanks to its numerous sections specializing in different topics, such as the eSports Arena or the consumer protection zone, ICE London 2024 will be able to please the pickiest of attendees.

7. SPiCE India 2024

Dates: February 27 – 29, 2024
Location: Goa, India
Venue: Goa Marriott Resort & Spa

As India continues to develop in various aspects and more and more locals get access to emerging technologies like 5G, the country’s iGaming market is expanding rapidly, giving various industry firms plenty of opportunities to capture their permanent spot in what will very soon be an invaluable region for the sector. The forthcoming installment of the SPiCE India conference will provide plenty of learning and networking opportunities that will make it a must-attend for firms and professionals looking to establish a foothold in the country. It will feature an audience full of decision-makers from different types of industry firms, such as operators, suppliers, and affiliates, and will even host representatives from local regulatory authorities, further solidifying the event’s prominence.

8. BiG Africa Summit 2024

Dates: March 26 – 28, 2024
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Venue: Emperors Palace Hotel

Focusing its coverage on the rapidly growing African iGaming market, the BiG Africa Summit 2024 is going to be a must-attend for companies looking to expand in the continent. It will present a lot of networking opportunities from the 26th and the 28th of March in Johannesburg, South Africa. Being organized by Eventus International, which has a lot of expertise in hosting similar events, the show will deliver a high-quality experience to its attendees.

9. SBC Summit North America 2024

Dates: May 9 – 11, 2024
Location: Secaucus, New Jersey
Venue: Meadowlands Exposition Center

SBC Summit North America is one of the continent’s leading gambling conferences. Planning to host over 3500 professionals from over a thousand companies across the continent, the event will present excellent opportunities over its three days starting on the 9th of May. Furthermore, on the last day of the conference, the SBC Awards 2024 show will be held, which will aim to celebrate some of the industry’s firms and individuals who left a positive mark on the world over the past year. SBC Summit North America 2024 will be held in the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.

10. CasinoBeats Summit 2024

Dates: May 21 – 23, 2024
Location: St Julian’s, Malta
Venue: Intercontinental Malta

Hosting over 3500 attendees in Malta, CasinoBeats Summit 2024 is going to be a must-attend conference for a wide variety of industry professionals. The conference will be welcoming representatives from over a thousand iGaming operators and over 400 affiliates, along with over 50 development studios that will be showcasing their innovative offerings on the conference’s exhibition floor. CasinoBeats Summit will offer its attendees plenty of opportunities to connect with like-minded gambling professionals through its dedicated breaks and meetups, as well as to learn from knowledgeable experts through its five conference tracks. Each track will be covering a distinct topic and will host numerous discussion and speech panels featuring a total of over 160 esteemed professionals.

11. iGaming Germany 2024

Dates: June 5 – 6, 2023
Location: Munich, Germany
Venue: Courtyard by Marriott Munich City East

Focusing on the German and European gambling markets, iGaming Germany 2024 is going to be an important event for companies and professionals interested in expanding their presence in the region. It will host an audience full of top industry professionals in Munich, where the conference’s attendees will be given plentiful opportunities to meet new business partners and make connections. The event will be welcoming representatives from all sorts of iGaming firms, such as development studios and operators, as well as regulatory and compliance experts.

12. Canadian Gaming Summit 2024

Dates: June 13 – 15, 2024
Location: Toronto, Canada
Venue: Metro Toronto Convention Center

Starting on the 13th of June, 2024, the 27th running of the Canadian Gaming Summit will be bringing together approximately 2000 of the region’s best professionals. The 3-day event will be an excellent place for companies and individuals interested in learning about the growing Canadian gambling market to explore some of its quirks and features. The conference will be a host to a vast array of discussion panels and speeches, the latter of which will feature over 150 highly experienced speakers who will share their invaluable insights throughout the event.

13. iGaming NEXT Valletta 2024

Dates: June 21 – 22, 2024
Location: Valletta, Malta
Venue: Mediterranean Conference Center

iGaming Next Valletta 2024 is going to bring together over four thousand of the industry’s best professionals and legal representatives in one of its most prominent jurisdictions. Starting on the 21st of June in Valletta, Malta, the event is going to have a two-day schedule packed with informative discussions and plenty of networking opportunities. One of the highlights of the conference is going to be the collaboration with iGaming Club powered by AffPapa, which will see the latter host its innovative speed-dating during the event, elevating the traditional networking experience and helping attendees make new industry connections in a matter of no time.

Conclusion

To sum it up, 2023’s iGaming events calendar is going to be packed with lots of gambling conferences that have the potential to benefit you greatly. Meeting new people is a vital part of any successful strategy in the iGaming industry, and attending gambling events is one of the best ways to accomplish that task.