Five decades ago, before video games turned into the real craze we know it to be today, there wasn't any gaming industry. A few companies were struggling to chase a long shot. They apparently knew what they were doing, as the first arcade games recorded an incredible success. Later on, the rise of home computers and game consoles lead to the industry crayoning itself. In 1994, Microgaming, the biggest online gaming developer of its time, created the first gambling software for real money casinos online. This happened even before the first online casinos were created. At approximately the same time, Antigua Barbuda decided to pass the historical Free Trade & Processing Act. It became the pioneer nation to ever grant licenses to online casinos. The two events were the real turning points of the iGaming industry as we know it now.
Today, video games are projected to be worth $300 billion by 2025, while iGaming is expected to keep growing at a fast pace and reach over 94 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Needless to say, these industries employ tens of thousands of programmers, developers, projectors, designer and tester. It would be practically impossible to set up a meeting where they could all reunite. Or is it? Each year, industry groups concerned about the future of the iGaming industry host events for game developers from all parts of the world. They get a chance to discuss their latest advancements and discoveries, hunt for industry jobs, share their know-how, talk future collaborations and legislations and many more.
Here is a list of a few of the most significant iGaming conferences and events held periodically across the globe.
The Game Developers Conference
This event reunites the game development community and allows participants to exchange fresh ideas and reshape the industry's future. Game designers, business leaders, and programmers are just a few of the main attendees part of the roundtable talks, lectures, and panels introducing the most recent tools and services in the industry. High-tech companies like Google, Amazon, Sony, Intel, Epic or Oculus are just a few of the names that you will find here every year. Next event: March 16-20, 2020 in San Francisco, California.
ICE Africa
This event is the largest gaming exhibition on the continent. It offers iGaming industry operators, developers and regulators the chance to come together and debate the most burning topics of the moment, share ideas and reveal the latest technology advancements they plan on incorporating in their products and services while fashioning the future of the pan-African industry. The first edition was organized in 2018 and it was a great hit, given the large number of satisfied participants, sponsors, visitors, and exhibitors.
For 2020 the event is scheduled to take place during the 28-29th of October 2020 in Sandton South Africa.
The event covers anything related to gambling; casino, online and mobile gaming, lottery, sports betting, payment solutions, and even street gambling.
The conference/exhibition delivers a line-up made of more than 60 participants expert parts of the global gaming industry, as well as the pan-African gaming scene and is growing each year.
The 2019 edition took place 2-3 October 2019 in Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa.
ICE Totally Gaming In UK
This is the international hub of B2B Gaming and it will bring together more than 600 together experts, alongside 35,000 gaming pros covering all gaming sectors. The next upcoming event will be held 4-6 February 2020 in London and it will be a celebration of the global gaming community, as well as an excellent opportunity for developers to come together and exchange ideas and learn from one another.
ICE North America
The North American ICE started in 2019 but as it was very successful it will continue in 2020. The event will be held in New Orleans, USA during May 13-14, 2020.
It's another a huge ICE event that gathers solution providers, decision-makers, game developers and artists and allows them to explore an entire floor of product and service solutions. They will also get to freshest industry news from leading speakers involved in iLottery gaming, iGaming, eSports betting and affiliate marketing.
Unite by Unity Technologies
The event is held each year with the help of Unity Technologies and it targets everyone with a passion for creating games with the help of the game engine developed by Unity. The event is held in a different worldwide location each season – usually Austin in the USA or Amsterdam in Europe. Depending on the season, Unite takes place in various parts of the world, including the USA. It is a powerful platform that allows iGaming developers to reunite with artists and filmmakers in an attempt to pick the brains of important gaming developers, including Unity Technologies leaders.
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