What are the main expectations for this second ICE Africa show?

While we have our own expectations as organisers based around key performance metrics I always prefer to explore what our stakeholders are expecting from the event.  Lasha Gogiberidze, Chief Executive Officer at Parimatch Africa, who will be one of the leading speakers addressing delegates, summarised the second edition of ICE Africa as being ‘an unmissable opportunity for the entire industry to build a solid, sustainable foundation for the future of gaming’.  We were asked by the industry to create a showcase event for Africa and that core objective lies at the heart of everything that we are doing and in the process helping to build a strong and a sustainable future.  To once again paraphrase Lasha, at ICE Africa stakeholders will be able to learn from the experience of other regulated gambling economies and position betting and wagering as a part of the entertainment experience. As the youngest continent with the highest number of players of millennial age, there is a huge amount of potential but of course it needs to be guided in the right direction.  ICE Africa has an important role to play in expanding the focus of gambling and to demonstrate to regulators and government how the industry is generating revenues that in turn will allow us to build a sustainable ecosystem which will protect players and support those businesses who are driving economic growth.  These are exciting times for the continent and I’m looking forward to seeing the latest innovations courtesy of the 70+ innovators exhibiting on the show floor and listening to the over 60 expert thought leaders participating in ICE Africa's two stream conference.

As organizers, have you planned anything different compared to last year show?

The ICE Africa Champions is a brand new initiative for 2019.  Essentially it comprises leading individuals from the industry who will endorse their respective territories and drive co-operation across all of the continent’s regulated gaming economies. Our ICE Africa Brand Ambassador John Kamara, who is also one of the Champions, has praised the initiative describing it as a powerful method of showcasing what each region has to offer supported by informed insights on the market.   The ICE Africa Champions are working alongside the team at Clarion to identify, research and advise on industry topics and data to ensure the most up-to-date information is available to all ICE Africa visitors.

What are the main topics to be treated at the conferences?

While ICE Africa delivers a fantastic opportunity for the entire gaming ecosytem to meet, network, see the very latest products and share best practice, delegates will also benefit from a programme of engaging content, The streams include Thought Leadership, Training, Regulation, Online vs. Retail, Integrated Resorts, Branding, Marketing, Sports and eSports. It’s a two stream conference comprising 60+ expert thought-leaders, regulators, investors and operators from both the pan-African and international gaming industry. It has been curated with the overarching objective of driving the socially responsible advancement of gaming across the continent. A comprehensive preview to the Conference programme can be accessed by visiting: www.iceafrica.za.com

How important is it to attract regulators/legislators/representative associations and how successful has ICE Africa been in this respect?

It’s absolutely essential and I’m delighted that we have been successful in developing this part of the ICE Africa proposition. Our creative is ‘Shining a light on Africa’s gaming ecosystem’ and that ecosystem obviously includes regulators/legislators and trade associations. The second edition of ICE Africa will feature key decision makers from trade associations and commissions representing Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Lagos, South Africa, Tanzania as well as those from Francophone Africa.  The most recent additions to the ICE Africa stakeholder community comprise: Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director General, Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission; James Mbalwe, Director General, Gaming Board of Tanzania; Kobby Annan, Deputy Commissioner, Ghana Gaming Commission; Seun Anibaba, CEO, Lagos State Lotteries Board; and Thabang Mampane, Commissioner, Lottery Commission of South Africa. Of course the primary objective is to provide an professional environment in which members of the industry can network, learn and see the latest gaming products from leading innovators. However another important feature of the event and one which goes largely unseen is the central role it plays in bringing regulators and industry strategists together in one place. This dynamic is an important contributor to the creation of progressive, sustainable and socially responsible gaming economies throughout the continent.

What are the highlights of Women In Gaming event?

Shining a light on Diverse Women within the gaming industry,' is the theme of our Women in Gaming initiative which is being sponsored by the South Africa-based Zamani Holdings, the parent company under which Ithuba, the SA National Lottery Operator functions.  The campaign ran throughout August which is designated Women’s Month and which commemorates the 20,000+ women who marched on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws.  Clarion Gaming has been promoting the role of women within the industry via the #womendiverse social media campaign alongside a series of empowering interviews with women associated with this year’s edition of ICE Africa, including: Christina Thakor-Rankin, Co-Founder, All-in-Diversity; Amne Suedi, Principal, Shikana Law Group – Tanzania; and, Qhinaphi Sitsila, General Manager, Casino Association Of South Africa.  The women that we have featured come from all sectors of the industry and the nations that ICE Africa supports. The exclusive Women In Gaming breakfast which is taking place on the second day of ICE Africa, will provide the perfect opportunity for delegates and attendees to meet some of the inspirational women that have participated in the campaign, to network and to talk all things Women In Gaming.  There will also be a series of educational and learning opportunities covering a broad spectrum of topical issues drawing on the lived experiences of influential women in gaming.

ICE Africa is taking place across 2-3 October at the Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa. For more information on all of the opportunities available at gaming's only B2B pan-African event and to register, visit: www.iceafrica.za.com