The first edition of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference (Ige) will take place on April 18-19, 2024, at the Palazzo dei Congressi, in Rome, serving as an important event for the gaming industry. The debut of this two-day conference and exhibition is coupled with that of the Italian Gaming Awards, which is designed to delve deep into the significance of the gaming industry for Italy. The overall theme for the inaugural Ige is “The sustainable future of gaming“.
In preparation for the grand occasion, the Italian Gaming Awards 2024 (Iga) has been launched. It will coincide with the April event, the awards ceremony scheduled to take place on the evening of April 18 at Spazio Novecento in Rome. Leading players in the Italian market will present their award applications across a total of 20 categories designed for operators, suppliers, and others. Information and nominations can be found at www. italiangamingawards .com
Iga and Ige are both making their debut in the national event landscape, with both initiatives focusing on content that offers a unique chance to deeply explore key topics likely to influence the gaming industry in the future. The events aim to provide strategic directions to companies looking towards the future, sustainability, and innovation.
The Ige provides two days of comprehensive analysis of all interesting aspects for stakeholders in Italy’s gaming market—one of the most important in Europe and globally—during the period when the government and parliament are initiating reforms that will redefine the sector.
“2024 is a vital year for the Italian gaming market, and Ige holds the same strategic significance for the industry and the entire ecosystem.”, says Simona Clarizio, Ige’s Head, with over two decades of experience in the Fiera Milano group and organizing B2B events. She sees a fully sustainable future for gaming in Italy and acknowledges the challenges facing everyone involved in the sector reform process.
The Ige program is designed for gaming industry C-level executives to engage in dialogue about key themes that can shape the industry. The event aims to facilitate discussions with experts, opinion leaders, and top-level national and international C-level executives to generate new, innovative ideas and strategies that can boost businesses and drive industry growth.
Technology, innovation, sustainability
The first edition of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference recognizes the importance of technology in today’s evolving world. It aims to provide a precise analysis of the current gaming industry state in order to address the next steps that they should consider in 2024 and beyond. It will explore less publicized gaming areas associated with Supply Chain and Procurement managers, CFOs, and HR executive directors to better understand how value chains, Esg models, Diversity & Inclusion, and new organizational processes are driving sustainable and digital transformation.
The event will explore major industry trends, from the metaverse and artificial intelligence to blockchain and digital payments. It will also address industry-wide endemic and regulatory issues such as combating match-fixing, relaunching the horse racing sector, and regulating esports.
The event, specifically designed for the Italian market, will present aspects of international significance and interests. This will include the partnership with the Imgl – The International Masters of Gaming Law network and media collaborations with leading international gaming organizations, such as Sbc Media, InterGame, Casino Magazine, and others.
An exceptional Scientific Committee
The event’s Scientific Committee comprises experts, academicians, scholars, and professionals representing diverse profiles and international renown. The committee includes luminaries such as Lucio Lamberti, Marketing analytics and analytics for Business Lab professor at the Politecnico di Milano and the Metaverse Marketing Lab Scientific Director. Other members of the panel include Francesco Rodano, Playtech’s chief policy officer and former online gaming regulator, Quirino Mancini, Global head of the gaming and gambling Practice Group, president of Imgl, and partner of Tonucci&Partners, Gianluca Comandini, an expert in fintech and new media, an Italian entrepreneur, university professor, and technological communicator, Ludovico Calvi, honorary chairman of United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports – Ulis, 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. This establishes a seamless blend between the industry and academia.
The event within the event: the Italian Gaming Awards
The debut of the Ige event will coincide with the launch of the first Italian Gaming Awards (Iga). This award ceremony will be held to honor excellence in the Italian gaming industry and celebrate best practices in the sector at the chic Spazio Novecento venue. The event will include music, entertainment, exquisite food, and plenty of networking opportunities.
The Scientific Committee will oversee the event, and voting will be conducted by a panel of experts consisting of international industry professionals, scholars from various fields, and media personnel. The selection process will employ a certified software platform to ensure professionalism, high reliability, and transparency. Companies may submit their applications (free of charge) from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024. The judges will evaluate the applications from March 1 to March 30, 2024, and the awards will be presented during the gala evening on April 18, 2024, at Spazio Novecento.
International experience and profile
The Gn Media publishing group sponsors the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference. With 15 years of involvement in international gaming, the group assures direct access and serves as a liaison with the entire gaming industry, giving voice and participation to thousands of users. The events, covered by the GiocoNews .it and EsportsMag .it networks, reach over a million people per month who use the networks for their daily work. This makes the event a significant focal point for the gaming world in Italy. Advanced levels of industry penetration and an exclusive audience are assured.
Furthermore, the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference will be promoted by an integrated communication strategy providing extensive visibility within and beyond the industry. It will be supported by Media Partnerships with major sector newspapers and press agencies at both national and international levels. Cooperation from the organizers of worldwide events is also ensured. Additionally, an ad hoc communication campaign, bolstered by the strategic partnership with the ItalCommunications group, will provide the event with substantial exposure in leading national newspapers.