From 7th to 9th February 2023, the most prominent iGaming specialist, gambling operators, providers, and anyone related to the gambling industry gathered in the British capital for the biggest event of this winter – ICE 2023.
GBC Time asked the CEO of Mancala Gaming, Nikita Gorškov, about his impressions of the expo, achieved goals, and expectations for the next year.
What were your expectations for the ICE London Conference 2023? Which of them came true and which parts were unexpected?
The expectations are always to have a great and engaging show. To meet new and existing clients and of course to make new sales and I can safely say that all these expectations have been met.
What can you say about the organization of the event? Did you notice major differences with the past year’s exhibitions?
It was nice to see the return of land-based companies as they were missing during the last year’s expo. The main difference that I see from the past years is that the expo is becoming more professional in terms of organization as previously companies were allowed to put on shows, have a little fun and the general vibe was of entertainment. The organizers need to remember that at the end of the day, we are in the entertainment business.
What goals did your team set for the ICE conference? Which ones did you achieve?
ICE London is the most important EXPO of the year for Mancala Gaming. It is the most demanding expo both physically and financially, so the results are extremely important to us. The main goal was to close the ongoing sales deals and acquire new leads to work on during this year and I can safely say that both goals have been achieved.
What can you say about the role of such networking events in the iGaming brand’s promotion and brand-building strategy?
These events help companies present their brand in the exact way they see fit and such events certainly help put us on the map and present us to existing and potential partners
In your view, how have offline iGaming events changed since the global pandemic? Is in-person meeting still as important for an online gambling company to become successful?
These events are the bread and butter of our industry. It is absolutely possible to make deals and to prosper in the age of online communication; however, it will never surpass the factor of trust and human relationships that are built through face-to-face meetings.
After the conference, what trends in iGaming slot development can you identify for yourself?
I think that this year a big push was made on skill elements in slot/game design. I have noticed that other slot providers started to showcase a few new titles with these elements, and it is something that I personally am very excited about.
What would you like to see at the next ICE event? From your perspective, what parts could have been different?
This event is well-organized and over the years has been a major influencer for other expos and I would love to see ICE continue in the same fashion. The only issue that I can see being fixed is perhaps sound volume control as I have heard complaints from my friends within the industry that they were placed next to a stand that would blast music on extremely high volumes.
