iGB Live 2026, the two-day global event began yesterday and with the same fanfare that has defined the event ever since its inception. From packed exhibition halls to high-level networking sessions, the opening day delivered exactly what industry professionals expected, a mix of innovation, business opportunities, and the evolving market insights.
With organizers expecting more than 15,000 attendees throughout the event, Day 1 was marked both by regular attendees as well as new ones from all parts of the world. The crowd consisted of operators, affiliates, game developers, payment providers, and technology companies, each one with their own unique objective and agenda, despite the heat wave that has engulfed Europe since past week.
Showcasing their offerings, demonstrating their product portfolio, integrating AI as a unique mix, exhibitors had one or the other form of attention-grabbing techniques. Every booth, whether big or small had all type of visitors, some just exploring and some engaged in exchanging bith ideas and understanding solutions.
A show floor packed with familiar names
Doors opened at 9:30 a.m. People started coming in to check out the exhibition halls.
This year’s event has over 200 exhibitors. Some of them include:
- 1xBet
- Affigates
- Alea
- Altenar
- Amusnet
- BC.GAME
- BetConstruct AI
- Boomerang Partners
- Digitain
- EGT Digital
- EvenBet Gaming
- Fast Track
- GR8_TECH
- Greentube
- MelBet
- Merkur Partners
- N1 Partners
- PopOK Gaming
- Pragmatic Play
- Slotegrator
- Soft2Bet
- SOFTSWISS
- TaDa Gaming
- Uplatform
iGB Live which was earlier held across multiple cities including Dublin, Ireland and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, shifted its base to London in 2025 and saw a record attendance, a welcome sight for the organisers.
And it seems to work: organizers say close to 70% of attendees see this event as genuinely important for growing their business. That’s a pretty strong vote of confidence. On top of the show floor, there was also a full conference program running panels, keynotes, the works covering everything including trends, regulation and where the market’s headed next.
More Focus on Startups and Global Markets
This year’s agenda put more weight on early-stage businesses and on expanding into new regions with few firsts for iGB Live like Africa Summit and M&A Summit.
- Africa Summit: A one-day forum where operators and regulators from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Ghana discuss how to build a more unified gaming market across Africa.
- WorldGaming M&A Summit: An afternoon focused on mergers and purchase deals, bringing together dealmakers for networking and discussion.
- iGB Startup Accelerator: A summit for iGaming startups, where founders meet investors and industry leaders for advice and networking.
- Pitch iGB: Five startups pitch to investors and potential partners.
- Sustainable Gambling Zone: A section of the event focused on player protection and responsible gambling tools.
- iGB Affiliate Awards: An awards program recognizing leading affiliates around iGaming, recognizing their accomplishments during the past year.
Brands Went All-In on Engagement
It wasn’t just about booths and handshakes. A lot of exhibitors set up interactive experiences and fun brand activations to keep people around longer and make the whole thing feel less like a trade show and more like an experience. That kind of stuff tends to loosen people up, which honestly makes networking easier too.
And speaking of networking the dedicated areas around ExCeL were packed all day with people chatting, swapping ideas, and exploring potential partnerships.
Industry Leaders Shared Key Market Insights
Day 1 was not just about product launches and networking opportunities, but also a number of discussions pointing to where the global iGaming industry is headed. Views on mergers and acquisitions, regulation, responsible gambling and emerging markets were shared by experts from across the sector.
A major talking point at the M&A Summit was a discussion by industry experts on how acquisition strategies have changed over the years. Speakers said that successful deals are now judged not just on their financial worth, but on the long-term expertise, technology and customer capabilities they bring to a business. They also said companies should ensure they have a comprehensive assessment of operational risks and market conditions before they seek to expand through acquisitions.
Another major theme of the day was regulation. Representatives of the UK Gambling Commission talked about their ongoing work to assess financial risk, explaining that the aim of future policies is to identify customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties, while allowing the vast majority of players to continue to enjoy a smooth gaming experience. During the discussion, it was noted that good responsible gambling measures should enhance player protection without generating unnecessary friction.
International growth also stayed high on the agenda. Industry executives pointed to New Zealand as one of the most closely watched regulated markets, with the country’s licensing process anticipated to provide new opportunities for operators looking to expand into new jurisdictions.
Talks at the Africa Summit did emphasize the need to understand local markets before venturing into the region. Speakers said it was important to remember that Africa should not be treated as a single market as each country has its own regulatory environment, player behaviour and cultural differences. For companies to win in the region, it will require localized strategies, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
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