Round Two in Barcelona: Looking forward to ICE 2026 and the EMEA Awards

It’s impossible to take part in G2E and witness the entire gambling world descend on Las Vegas without being struck dumb by the sheer mass of talent within the industry. We can’t wait to share in that awe come October when the conference kicks off. But no great industry summit is complete without the addition of the most prestigious Awards in gaming. Yes, the nominees are in, let the hush fall over the room, because the Global Gaming Awards Americas are back. Well, we can’t wait. But the the Awards train doesn’t stop rolling, either, so with the US event just around the corner, we’re taking a look a little further on down the track to January, when we’ll be heading over to ICE for round two in Barcelona and the ninth Global Gaming Awards for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. From Las Vegas to the cobbles of Las Ramblas. The Global Gaming Awards calendar is jam-packed these days – just how we like it. It was only in June that we headed out to Manila to celebrate the champions of the Asia-Pacific region, but we’re not the kind to rest on our laurels. It will be the second time that ICE and the Global Gaming Awards have taken place in Barcelona, and we’re not in the habit of complaining about hopping over to sunny Spain every now and again. Mariya Savova, Global Gaming Awards Event Manager: “Barcelona offers a unique blend of world-class hospitality and vibrant energy, making it the perfect setting to celebrate excellence in the gaming industry and there’s no better time to do that than during the industry’s biggest trade show – ICE.” The industry’s biggest show and the industry’s biggest Awards ceremony: a match made in Catalonia. While we grow and change, our commitment to integrity stays resolute. And we know it takes more than just words to make that a reality, which is why we’ve been partnered with KPMG as our independent adjudicator since the first EMEA Awards in 2014. We’ll be teamed up again this time, and our process remains as rigorous as it ever was. Micky Swindale, a Partner with the KPMG Global Gaming Team, is keen that “any company or individual who earns a place on the final Shortlist should feel a genuine sense of achievement.” That’s why each company is only able to be nominated once per category, so if that company runs multiple brands, they won’t get two bites at the apple. And when it comes to selecting a winner, the responsibility is diffused between a panel of more than 50 of the most highly regarded executives in the business. Again, that process is systematically vetted with our strict one-executive-per-company rule. KPMG makes sure the voting process is operated and recorded in the most robustly honest and transparent way possible. Rest assured, we know that, without trust, it can’t stand, and each time we put on an event, be that in Las Vegas, Barcelona, London or Manila, we aim to re-earn that trust. The Shortlisted nominees will be announced in our official Shortlist magazine. We won’t leave it up to your imagination either as to why either, we’ll tell you exactly what it was that’s impressed us so much about them over the past year. And what a year it has been across Europe, The Middle East and Africa. Over 70% of Africans now own a mobile phone, and with mobile money an established part of daily life, opportunities have been abound. InsaGames showed its business-canny and innovative spark by launching its mobile-first {cis777} platform, which crucially tends to the reality of some of these emerging regions. Where bandwidth is limited and internet connections volatile, there was a gap in the market for infrastructure-friendly, light-weight games. In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates is still readying itself to enter the regulated market. The land-based situation over there is ever-changing too, with that golden Wynn Resorts casino rising out of the shifting regulatory sands and scheduled to open in early 2027. The old heads of gambling in Europe have been mixing it again, of course, showing the depth of the continent’s gambling roots and the span of its branches. A report by the European Betting and Gaming Association highlighted that €123.4bn ($143.8m)was raised in gross gaming revenue in 2024. That’s a solid 5% annual increase. But who’s been marching at the vanguard this time? There’ll be winners to look out for in new categories and old favourites. For the first time we’ll find out who’s definitively been leading the charge on Crash Games. Plus, we’ll see if anyone can take the Social Responsibility crown from Betsson. With 15 categories, there is so much to play for. Soft2Bet was a very happy winnerslast year, taking home three prizes, including the Executive of the Year Award for Founder and CEO, Uri Poliavich. And after seven special years hosting the Awards at the Hippodrome in London, it had an added significance that The Hippodrome Casino took home the title of Casino of the Year. Like any industry that innovates, certain classifications and categories become blurred or irrelevant over time. Our Awards must change with them, and there has been a slight reshuffle, as Savova explains: “We’re always evolving the Awards to reflect the industry in this particular moment in time. The addition of the Crash Game of the Year category recognises the rapid growth of this genre, which has become a major talking point in the industry. We figured that now is the right time to shine a spotlight on it by creating a separate category. “As for merging the Retail and Online Sports Betting Operator categories, no one can deny that the future of the industry is omnichannel. We have heard top executives from the industry’s biggest companies say those exact words. If you look at Europe, most major brands operating high street betting shops now run thriving online platforms – and the retail and digital business arms increasingly support and strengthen each other. Recognising sports betting excellence as a whole simply felt like the most accurate reflection of today’s market.” Last year was a massive year of change, then, for both the Awards and ICE itself, but the Gran Via at Fira de Barcelona is an incredibly modern and spacious venue, and it made the upheaval feel like the most natural of steps. We’re very glad to be heading back. Savova hailed it as a phenomenally smooth transition, and a great success, pointing out: “There were challenges, but it wasn’t anything we couldn’t cope with.” It felt like an appropriate setting for the industry’s most prestigious of Awards and this year’s event will be even better as we settle back with some more familiarity into our new home. For those who attended last year, they may remember a certain piano bar going down particularly well. We can reveal that something special is being planned for 2026, though if you want to find out what it is you’ll have to come along and see for yourself. Make sure you’ve got your seat.