Clarion Gaming announced that it is fast-tracking the development of its Gaming Africa trade show, which will be rebranded as ICE Africa and staged in October 2018.
Clarion, which produces the ICE Totally Gaming trade show and conference, Europe’s largest gaming trade event, made the strategic decision to transition the 2018 event into the first ICE Africa, which will comprise an exhibition and co-located ICE VOX-style conference dedicated to the development of the domestic industry.
“We launched in Africa following requests from the industry for us to develop and organize a professional showcase that Africa could be proud of,” said Kate Chambers, managing director of Clarion Gaming. “We applied the same level of attention to detail that goes into delivering ICE in London and, with the support of the industry, I am delighted to confirm that we will be delivering ICE Africa in October 2018.”
Outlining what the industry can expect, Chambers added, “While the scale of ICE Africa will not be the same as ICE London, we will be bringing the same level of commitment, thinking, creativity and professionalism that has made ICE London the world’s favorite and most international gaming expo. ICE Africa will be an event where the industry can meet, network, see the very latest gaming innovations, share best practice and progress in a strategic and sustainable manner. The ICE Africa team is already in place and working with our stakeholders in order to deliver on our pledge to create a world-class business event for the continent.”
Response from both the operating and supply sides of the industry in Africa has been equally positive, Clarion reports. in “The gaming industry worldwide has a lot of commonalities and in many respects faces similar challenges, but in the same vein every country has a unique market and unique needs,” said Rudie Putter, general manager of Namibia’s AVANI Windhoek Hotel & Casino. “As such, I see great value and potential for a platform that is regionalized and a lot more in sync with our market and operating dynamics. I am very much looking forward to an event for Africa that from a cost perspective will enable us operators to expose a larger number of our staff to the networking and product exhibition possibilities on offer.”
Zeena Rossouw, compliance manager at Aruze Gaming Africa, commented, “Learning new things and meeting people who will help you do your job easier is so important towards development, so I am delighted to hear that Clarion are bringing ICE to Africa, and cannot wait to join again next year.”
