A two-day conference and exhibition for the gaming industry, together with the debut of the Italian Gaming Awards: to examine in depth the reality of a sector of central importance for the country. “The sustainable future of gaming” is the title of the first edition of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference (Ige). The new B2B event dedicated to the Italian gaming industry which will take place on April, 18-19 2024, in the Palazzo dei Congressi, in Rome.

But waiting to celebrate the event, the Italian Gaming Awards 2024 (Iga) have just started, which will accompany the April event (with the awards ceremony in a gala evening on April, the 18th at the Spazio Novecento in Rome), for which companies leading the Italian market can already present their applications for. In total there are 20 award categories, aimed at operators, suppliers and more (Info and nominations on www. italiangamingawards .com)

Therefore, this is a debut for lge (but for Iga too) in the national panorama of events and an initiative focused on content, offering a unique opportunity to study in depth the main themes that will lead gaming world in the coming months and years, to define the approach guidelines for companies that want to look to the future, to innovation, to sustainability.

The event offers two days of in-depth analysis on all aspects interesting the stakeholders of one of the most important gaming markets in Europe and in the world. Right around the time in which the Government and Parliament started the reform process that will lead to the birth of a new sector, through the rewriting of the rules governing it, and the issuing of tenders for the renewal of all concessions.

“2024 will be a strategic year for the Italian gaming industry and the event will in turn be strategic for the industry and for the entire ecosystem”, Simona Clarizio, Head of Ige, with over 20 years of experience within the Fiera Milano group and in the organization of b2b events, explains “Ige therefore looks to the future of gaming in Italy: a future that wants and must be fully sustainable – the manager adds – This is in fact the challenge that concerns all interested parties in the sector reform process”.

The two days of Ige will be dedicated to the C-levels of the gaming market who, together with institutions, experts, scholars, opinion leaders, influencers, will meet to stimulate dialogue on the main themes that will lead the industry. One of the main targets of the event is to allow participants to meet and discuss with experts, opinion leaders, scholars and some of the best C-levels at national and international level, to find new ideas and solutions that look at the growth and development of its own business.

Technology, innovation, sustainability

In an evolutionary context in which technology rules, it is essential to base any type of comparison on a precise analysis of the state of the art of the sector, passing through the more general one of the world of work and the economy, in order to be able to truly outline those next steps that everyone will have to aim for in 2024 and beyond. Indeed, especially beyond: given that the new rules that will be written by the legislator in the coming months will shape the future of the industry in the medium-long term. For this reason, in this first edition of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference, the organization has decided to bring attention to other less explored areas in gaming, relating to the world of Supply Chain and Procurement managers, CFOs and Hr executive directors to understand more and more how the dynamics of the value chain, Esg (Environmental, social, and corporate governance) models, Diversity & Inclusion and new organizational processes are imposing a crucial change of pace towards sustainability and digital transformation.

In addition to exploring the main trends of interest to the industry that will radically shape its approach: from the metaverse to artificial intelligence, from blockchain to digital payments, which are added to the endemic and regulatory trend topics, such as the fight against matchfixing, the relaunching of the horse racing sector and esports regulation.

The event, dedicated to the Italian industry, will however have a clearly international profile, with a part of the agenda also designed for the international public, with a series of cross-cutting nature subjects and a series of influences of other global realities. In this sense, the partnership signed with the network of professionals of Imgl – The International Masters of Gaming Law, which will organize two Master Classes within Ige, and the media partnerships with the main international gaming organizations, such as Sbc Media, InterGame, Casino Magazine, and more play a strategic role.

An exceptional Scientific Committee

As regards the content and general organisation, the event can rely on an exceptional scientific committee capable of bringing together experts, scholars and professionals of various profiles and international fame. Like Lucio Lamberti, professor of Marketing analytics and analytics for Business Lab at the Politecnico di Milano as well as scientific director of the Metaverse Marketing Lab; Francesco Rodano, Playtech’s chief policy officer and former online gaming regulator; Quirino Mancini, president of Imgl, global head of the gaming and hambling Practice Group and partner of Tonucci&Partners; Ludovico Calvi, honorary chairman of United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports – Ulis; Gianluca Comandini, Italian entrepreneur, university professor and technological communicator expert in fintech and new media; Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffè, Professor of Strategies at the Università Bocconi Sda and Matteo Caroli, professor of International Business Management at the Università Luiss Guido Carli of Rome. In a perfect balance between industry and academy.

An event within the event: the Italian Gaming Awards

As mentioned, Ige’s will not be the only debut on the Italian gaming market. The first edition of the Italian Gaming Awards (Iga) will enhance the event. A special evening to reward the excellence of Italian gaming and the best best practices in the sector, in an exceptional location, full of charm, like Spazio Novecento. Between music, entertainment, good food. And lots of networking.

The event will be coordinated by a Scientific Committee and the voting will be carried out by a jury of experts bringing together international sector professionals, scholars also from different sectors and the world of information, through a certified software platform and a procedure of professional, highly reliable and transparent selection.

Applications by companies (Free!) can be sent from 1 December to 29 February 2024. While the evaluation process by the judges will take place from 1 to 30 March 2024. With the celebrations and awards that will take place in the gala evening organized in the Ige’s first evening, April, the 18, 2024, at the Spazio Novecento, a few steps from Palazzo dei Congressi, which hosts the conference.

International experience and profile

The Italian Gaming Expo & Conference is promoted by the Gn Media publishing group, active for 15 years in the world of gaming at an international level. Thanks to its world-class network, it assures direct access and a point of contact with the entire gaming industry, giving voice and participation to thousands of users. Through the GiocoNews .it and EsportsMag .it networks, over 1 million people are reached per month, using these publications for their daily work. Representing a real point of reference for gaming world, one of a kind in Italy. This assures deep penetration into the sector and an exclusive audience.

But in addition to the group’s networks, the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference will be supported by an integrated communication strategy, that will allow maximum prominence both within the industry and outside. In fact, Ige can rely on Media Partnerships with the main newspapers and press agencies in the sector, at a national and international level, as well as the support and cooperation of the organizers of global events. Furthermore, it will be supported by an ad hoc communication campaign, which will allow it to have prominence in the main national newspapers, thanks to the strategic partnership with the ItalCommunications group.