Innovation, inspiration, investment and internationalism are the foundation stones of iGB L!VE 2026
World Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter highlights how industry leaders, regulators, investors and startups will gather in London for what will be ‘the most dynamic and market-focused edition of iGB L!VE yet.’
New features, new opportunities and new experiences
‘New’ is a central aspect of the iGB L!VE experience, and attendees can expect that commitment to be evident throughout the event. Highlights will include the launch of the inaugural iGB L!VE Africa Summit, dedicated sessions on doing business in LatAm, and a significantly expanded Sustainable Gambling Zone, the largest in the event’s history. We have also reimagined the iGB Affiliate Awards. which will take place in the salubrious surroundings of The Shard, the iconic London landmark. The Shard was created as an architecturally stunning Vertical City emerging from the Thames and at just under 310 metres high (1,016 feet) is Western Europe’s tallest building.
The Awards will take place in the Aqua Shard Restaurant which is located on the 31st floor. We’ve replaced the traditional table lay-out with a standing format that that will enable everyone to network more widely and freely. The Shard is an unforgettable venue and I’m sure that the industry will embrace its outstanding architecture and ambience. We are on track to deliver the most dynamic and market-focused edition of iGB L!VE yet.
iGB L!VE London will continue the conversations started at ICE Barcelona
Our message for 2026 is ‘All In’ – a theme which relates to casino, to affiliates and in the year of the FIFA World Cup to sports betting operators. Delivered by the World Gaming team, iGB L!VE ’26 will bring together casino, sports betting operators, affiliates, tech vendors, and game providers who will be in London to to continue the industry conversations and connections that were started at January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona. It’s about building on those trust-based partnerships that drive business growth. In terms of its overarching credentials iGB L!VE is a tier 1 business event which showcases game-changing technologies, provides access to market insights, and delivers high-quality curated networking including exclusive industry gatherings. In keeping with all of our events iGB L!VE has been shaped in partnership with our international community of stakeholders and as a consequence is recognised for being the event that industry professionals attend in order to secure deals.
Summer Gala to take place at The Savoy Hotel
We know how important it is to provide attendees with the very best curated networking and hospitality. To deliver this we are hosting the first Summer Gala which will take place in the Beaufort Bar, at The Savoy Hotel, on Wednesday, 1 July (7 pm to 9 pm.) The Savoy was Britain’s first luxury hotel and became a legendary hub for film stars, artists, authors and royalty. This exclusive, invitation-only event will bring together senior leaders, regulators, and investors from the global gaming industry. The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy offers an elegant, intimate and luxurious setting which is ideal for meaningful conversation, networking and supporting the goal of fostering key connections among industry leaders. The Summer Gala is being jointly presented by iGB L!VE and ICE underlining how the conversations started in Barcelona in January are continued, developed and extended in London six-months later.
149 nations represented at iGB L!VE
The international credentials are a defining strength of iGB L!VE London. In 2025, professionals from 149 countries attended, international representation that’s second only to ICE Barcelona.
Maintaining and growing that reach requires ongoing effort, and we are committed to continuously investing in both our marketing and our partnerships across the industry. Feedback has highlighted the importance of making travel and business engagement in London as seamless as possible. In response, we have introduced a tailored Visa Support initiative in collaboration with the law firm Branch Austin McCormick. While most attendees can follow straightforward guidance via the event website, this service provides additional support for those with more complex requirements. It’s a practical enhancement that reinforces accessibility while reflecting the event’s increasingly global profile and our commitment to helping participants achieve their business goals.
M&A Summit is an industry first
The first World Gaming M&A Summit (WGM&A) which is taking place 1 July, serves as the curtain raiser to iGB L!VE. The WGM&A represents the only dedicated forum for corporate development officers and M&A advisors working in iGaming. Convening leadership from public and private operators alongside sector-focused investment banks, legal advisors and corporate finance specialists, attendees will benefit from a highly focussed opportunity to engage with key decision-makers, originate deal flow, assess strategic fit, and gain insights from active market participants.
The event provides direct access to London’s deep sector expertise built over decades of transactions and its unparalleled ecosystem of strategic acquirers, potential targets, leading advisory firms, and business leaders across the M&A value chain. M&A is a business imperative in the current iGaming landscape and this event features insights from sector-specialist advisors and industry leaders including Morgan Stanley’s Laurence Hopkins, Paolo Della Rovere and Bally’s Robeson Reeves. Also featuring Strategic Intent Sessions, industry leaders will host round-tables to explain their growth theses, define their M&A criteria and share their business’ vision for consolidation and growth. Following the sessions attendees are invited to the M&A Summit cocktail reception and dinner where conversations will continue and deals will be cemented. Legislative and fiscal developments including the increase in UK gaming taxes which were announced by the government in the November 2025 budget, evolving European regulations, and wider global legislative adjustments, have prompted the introduction of the World Gaming M&A Summit. The WGM&A, is part of a broader programme of business-critical events taking place at iGB L!VE.
Sharp focus on player protection at biggest Sustainable Gambling Zone
Responsible gambling and player protection have long been central to our events. We were the first organisers in the sector to introduce a dedicated player protection area with the launch of the Consumer Protection Zone at ICE 2018. Since then, that initiative has evolved into the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ), reflecting the broader industry focus on sustainability, compliance and duty of care.
This year, the SGZ at iGB L!VE will be the largest and most prominent we’ve ever delivered. Given the show’s digital-first audience, it provides an ideal platform for showcasing technology-led safer gambling and KYC solutions that are particularly relevant to the online gaming sector.
Many of the tier two and tier three operators, alongside businesses entering new or emerging markets, are actively seeking solutions that can help them prepare for future regulation or strengthen their long-term business positioning. The SGZ creates an important environment for networking, knowledge-sharing and collaboration among organisations that place sustainable play and consumer protection at the forefront of their operations.
Pitch iGB finalists to bring fresh thinking, creativity and innovation
I should start by saying that we were the first gambling industry event organiser to actively use the strength of our brands to help startups accelerate growth and build market visibility.
One of the strongest examples of that commitment is Pitch iGB, our live startup competition where five selected early-stage businesses present directly to a judging panel and industry audience. Each company delivers a four-minute presentation followed by a live Q&A session, creating valuable exposure to investors, operators, affiliates and potential partners.
While many of these businesses are still in the early stages of development, they bring fresh thinking, creativity and innovation to the sector. The programme is designed to help founders build the relationships and visibility needed to scale successfully.
At the 2025 edition, affiliate management platform BetPass stood out with its curated marketplace connecting affiliate networks with high-value opportunities. Founder Bruno Barroso described the win as transformational, giving the business immediate credibility and opening conversations with operators, investors and partners that could otherwise have taken years to secure. Like many startup founders in the sector, he also highlighted the challenges newer businesses face in attracting investment, particularly in emerging markets where financial institutions may not fully understand the dynamics of iGaming. That’s exactly why initiatives such as Pitch iGB are so important.
The iGB Startups Accelerator, taking place on 30 June, has been designed specifically for founders, innovators, investors and operators working within gaming and betting.
The half-day programme focuses on the practical realities of building and scaling an early-stage business. It combines expert insight, founder experiences, investor perspectives and interactive sessions centred around growth, funding and market entry strategies.
Just as importantly, it creates highly valuable networking opportunities by bringing startups together with venture capital firms, operators and established industry leaders in a focused environment designed to encourage collaboration and commercial partnerships.
The global industry’s mid-year meeting point
iGB L!VE occupies a very important position as a mid-year meeting point where businesses can reconnect, review progress and prepare strategically for the months ahead.
Attendees consistently tell us that the event plays a valuable role in continuing the conversations and relationships established earlier in the year at ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona, while offering the energy and accessibility of another major international city.
Although more compact than ICE, the strength of iGB L!VE lies in the quality of its audience, exhibitors and networking opportunities. The event is highly focused, commercially relevant and provides the connections that every business seeks.
Register for the 2026 edition of iGB L!VE (1st- 2nd July) at https://www.igblive.com