This was perhaps the best ICE we’ve ever attended: traffic was down just enough that tables were possible to come by in the corridor of the Excel Centre, and it was a gorgeous 65° week in London without much rain. When we weren’t enjoying Hyde Park or watching Leeds pummel Watford, we were thrilled to see so many of you at ICE:

• Payments took up an enormous portion of the North Halls. This sector is niche and fragmented, and there seems to be a lot of opportunity for consolidation. Coupled with the payments theme was a conference-wide focus on responsible gaming and AML/KYC.
• Esports made headlines throughout the week and was disproportionately a conference theme. While popularity grows across the U.S. and the world, betting on esports still presents regulatory and ethical challenges that temper our optimism.
• Sports betting and iCasinos were prominent as expected, and we had productive discussions in the space. But, surprisingly, we found just as many people eager to discuss land-based casino development in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Indeed, there seemed to be tremendous interest in reaching Latin American audiences across the board.

For more on ICE, contact TIG SVP of Operations and Data Analytics Brian Wyman.

The following week, a mere 12-hour flight away, TIG attended the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention. “Indian gaming is back!” enthused Ernie Stevens, Jr., and with attendance near an all-time high, it was clear the industry is ready to get back out there and make something of its major, annual gaming events. Conference sessions seemed comparatively full to past, pre-COVID event levels, and its contents dovetailing with our conversations throughout the week highlighted the following trends: 

• It came as no surprise to see sports betting covered from virtually every possible angle. With so many states and tribes at varying points in the process, there were a wide range of discussions in play. Interest in California and Minnesota legislative efforts dominated, while market access discussions swirled around about a half dozen emerging or recently launched markets. There is continued interest in the numbers coming out of New York, Louisiana, and Arizona -- three major markets that recently have launched.
• As in London, payments were top of mind in Anaheim, with a heavy focus on the implementation of cashless wagering technology on casino floors and the opportunities they present for frictionless play, data gathering, and responsible gaming efforts.
• Despite industry concerns about the impacts of inflation and high gas prices, some suggested a possible silver lining for the regional and local markets where many Indian casinos operate: higher travel costs may discourage destination travel and bolster regional play, presenting opportunities to offer unique promotions and to capture more “staycation” visitors.

For more on the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, contact TIG VP of Native American Services Chris Irwin.