Clarion gaming
‘The voice of Spain’s gaming community will be at the very heart of ICE Barcelona 2026’ states Clarion Gaming’s Ewa Bakun
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ICE Barcelona has demonstrated its commitment to the Spanish industry following a highly successful engagement program at the Expo Congreso de Juego Luis Escribano in Torremolinos.
Recognised for being one of the most established and respected gatherings in the Spanish gaming calendar, the event provided a powerful platform for the ICE team to connect with industry leaders, regional representatives, and national stakeholders, as momentum builds towards the second edition of ICE Barcelona taking place January 2026.
The ICE Barcelona delegation engaged with more than a dozen of Spain’s most influential trade associations, including Asociación de Operadores de Juego de la Comunidad de Madrid, Asociación de Operadores de Asturias, Asaebin Andalucía, Ageo Galicia, Andemar Comunidad Valenciana, Anesar, Aemexa Extremadura, Club de Convergentes, CEJUEGO, Femara and Aspromares to share the exciting development plans for January’s event.
Reviewing the programme of meetings Ewa Bakun, Director of Industry Insight and Engagement at Clarion Gaming said: “Our aim in Torremolinos was clear: to listen, to connect, and to demonstrate our commitment to the Spanish industry. The conversations that we had were without exception forward-looking and constructive focussing on how we can work hand in hand with associations to shape and deliver a Spain-focused agenda at ICE 2026.”
She added: “Topics ranged from regional market opportunities to association-led content creation, as well as new ways to maximise knowledge sharing, showcase innovation, and elevate Spain’s presence on the global gaming stage.”
“A central pillar of our discussions was the La Plaza —a dedicated hub on the ICE show floor. More than simply a meeting point, La Plaza will host an industry-led programme co-curated with the Spanish associations, featuring bespoke content sessions, networking events, and collaborative initiatives that put the voice of Spain’s gaming community at the very heart of ICE Barcelona.
“We warmly invite all associations, including those we could not meet in person at the Expo Congreso, to join us on the journey to Barcelona and play a central role in shaping ICE 2026. The response from delegates to both the debut of ICE Barcelona in 2025 and the 2026 roadmap was overwhelmingly positive.
“Attendees expressed strong enthusiasm for the opportunity to showcase Spain’s strength and dynamism on a global stage, while also embracing the chance to contribute to the broader strategic conversations impacting the future of the industry.”
The post ‘The voice of Spain’s gaming community will be at the very heart of ICE Barcelona 2026’ states Clarion Gaming’s Ewa Bakun appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Chief Marketing Officer at SOFTSWISS Valentina Bagniya
SOFTSWISS CMO to Lead Key Sessions at Marketing Leaders Forum
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SOFTSWISS, a global tech leader in providing iGaming software, announces that its Chief Marketing Officer, Valentina Bagniya, will take the stage at the upcoming Marketing Leaders Forum by Clarion Gaming, held on 22 October in London.
At a time when iGaming marketing is no longer seen as ‘just support’ but recognised as a strategic driver of growth, Valentina will address how the function is being redefined – and what the next era will demand from its leaders.
Valentina will lead two major sessions:
- Keynote: “Building B2B Brands That Lead the Game”
Why brand building in B2B can no longer be underestimated, and how it shapes long-term trust, growth, and leadership. - Panel: “How CMOs Are Navigating the Next Era”
A debate with senior marketing executives on the evolving role of marketing: balancing brand and demand, embracing AI, and leading teams through transformation.
Valentina Bagniya, CMO at SOFTSWISS, noted: “B2B marketing in iGaming is evolving every day. It’s no longer just about logos or campaigns. It’s about long-term growth, building trust, and delivering real value across multiple markets. At SOFTSWISS, we’ve seen firsthand how a strong brand can open doors and inspire the whole team to think bigger. I’m really looking forward to sharing what we’ve learned and hearing how others are building a new era of gaming marketing!”
The Marketing Leaders Forum by Clarion Gaming brings together top global marketing executives, creative leaders, and industry experts to discuss emerging trends and the future of brand strategy in the gaming industry.
Valentina’s participation at the Summit follows SOFTSWISS’ recent recognition at the EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards 2025, where the marketing team was named Marketing Team of the Year for the third time, and Valentina was awarded B2B Marketer of the Year.
One of the team’s most anticipated flagship content projects, the 2026 iGaming Trends Report, will be released soon. Industry professionals can now join the waitlist to be among the first to access it upon publication.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS CMO to Lead Key Sessions at Marketing Leaders Forum appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Alex Pratt
Clarion Gaming Digital Expands North American Reach with Global Gaming Business Acquisition
iGaming Business (iGB) parent company Clarion Gaming Digital has acquired Global Gaming Business (GGB) as it accelerates its growth strategy across North America.
The purchase includes GGB magazine’s annual publications Casino Style, Tribal Government Gaming and Progressive Products Preview (P3) as well as its online assets including GGB News.
It will extend the digital publishing business’ global reach as the North American market enters a crucial phase, providing clients with access to a significantly bigger audience through its range of marketing services products.
Founded in 2002, GGB is trusted title with a reach beyond sports betting and iGaming into commercial and tribal gaming. It bolsters Clarion Gaming Digital’s ability to provide a comprehensive range of news, analysis and data to every sector of the industry.
The acquisition is a cornerstone of a wider multimillion pound investment to enhance Clarion Gaming Digital’s data and audience development.
“This is a major milestone for our digital business as we unlock the benefits of our investment,” the Managing Director for Clarion Gaming, Alex Pratt, said. “We are acquiring a business with deep industry heritage and with it the opportunity to build on its solid foundations in the United States.”
The B2B Global Content Director for Clarion Gaming Digital, Robin Harrison, said the acquisition came amid changes to state regulations as well as new land-based and online developments across the United States and Canada.
“We are delighted to seal this deal, which brings in new industry expertise to the team, expands our reach and consolidates our presence in a crucial region,” Harrison said. “We will build an offering that acts as the final word on key industry developments and GGB’s authority and relationships takes us a step closer to that goal.”
“We have had lengthy discussions with Clarion Gaming Digital in recent years and believe it shares our passion and vision for serving our readership in a way that will maintain the quality of the publications for decades to come,” the publisher and Chief Executive Officer for Casino Connection International LLC, the parent of GGB, Roger Gros, said. “As the gaming industry continues to grow in many different ways, our relationship with Clarion will make certain that our pivotal role in the industry remains unchanged and we can continue our important work going forward.”
Clarion Gaming Digital plans to further accelerate its North American expansion by leveraging unique partnerships on offer through the wider Clarion Events portfolio such as the DigitalPlay Summit at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention over April 10 to 11.
Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter (pictured) has praised senior members of the United States-based global gaming industry for their ‘hospitality, time and expert insight’ during a recent fact-finding and engagement visit to Las Vegas.
During three days spent in the capital of gaming the Clarion Gaming team held meetings with C-Suite executives from GLI, Light & Wonder, Interblock, BMM, AGEM, Konami, IGT, MGM, Aristocrat and Fontainebleau Casino in the process updating stakeholders on a range of developments not least the decision to relocate ICE and sister show iGB Affiliate to Barcelona from 2025.
Reflecting on the visit, Hunter said: “Las Vegas never ceases to surprise and excite and being able to meet with many of the most influential industry personalities in what is regarded as being the world capital of gaming was invaluable. Everyone we met was extremely generous with their time and I would like to place on record my thanks to them and to Clarion Gaming’s United States team comprising Tom Nieman and Roy Student for putting our meeting itinerary together.
“I have always felt it absolutely essential that we continue to immerse ourselves in the industry sectors we serve and take each and every opportunity to listen to every word spoken by industry thought leaders. Being able to engage with our exhibitors about how they see the business developing and listening to the views of personalities such as the Chief Executive Officer for MGM, Bill Hornbuckle, were priceless.
“There was unanimous support for the decision to move ICE to Barcelona in 2025. Many of the Las Vegas-based ICE exhibitors we met with also have a strong presence and infrastructure in Spain with many predicting that the new end of January timeline that avoids clashing with Super Bowl will result in more C-Level members of the United States industry attending ICE. In addition, they believe the new Barcelona location will also support growth from the Latin America region.
“Our exclusive focus is now on delivering a phenomenal edition of ICE 2024; one that will live long in the memories of the many thousands of international industry professionals who view ICE as their most important industry event of the year. Based on the meetings we held, our exhibitors have very grand plans to make 2024 the greatest edition of ICE, so far.”
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