SiGMA Group and Clarion Gaming have jointly announced they will partner on ICE Asia, the 2020 gaming trade show in Manila, Philippines, which is set to take place June 8-9 next year.
The B2B event will cater to both the land-based gaming sector and the iGaming sector, with online suppliers, operators, affiliates, regulators and blockchain businesses all being housed under one roof at the SMX Convention Center situated in the heart of Manila, as well as the adjacent Conrad Conference facility.
The new trade show is reaction to the troubles faced by G2E Asia in Macau earlier this year, where the government wouldn’t allow exhibits by companies that operated online gaming operations that are illegal in Macau, even if they didn’t operate in Macau and operated in jurisdictions where online gaming is legal, like the Philippines.
As Asia tempts leading brands from the global gambling sector to expand business opportunities in the region, it’s fast becoming clear that Asia is the new frontier for both land-based and iGaming industries. Recent figures from Global Gambling Statistics 2019 reveal that seven of the top 10 locations for gambling revenue based on visitors are in Asia (including Australia). In Macau alone, revenue could reach as high as $53 billion by 2022.
As these jurisdictions look to capitalize on the global opportunities flourishing in the gambling sector, it’s crucial to bridge the business divide between East and West, addressing considerations such as regulatory environments in different territories, payment processing methods, the integration of emerging blockchain technologies, and even bandwidth problems for mobile gaming. It’s precisely these issues that next year’s show in Manila will address by bringing the biggest brands and jurisdictions in the sector together in one venue.
Kate Chambers, managing director of Clarion Gaming, commented, “The opportunities for growth in Asia are increasing exponentially year on year, and the time is right to cement new and existing relationships between the gambling industries in both East and West. To combine the expertise of Clarion courtesy of the world famous ICE brand and SiGMA ensures both the land-based and iGaming sectors will find synergy in Manila in 2020. This is an exciting time as we extend the reach of the ICE brand following the launch of ICE Africa in 2018 and ICE North America in May 2019.”
Eman Pulis, founder and CEO of SiGMA Group, added, “As we take the SiGMA brand to global markets, we’re proud to facilitate the biggest gaming expo to bring East and West together. It is unprecedented for two such established events to join forces in Asia this way, so this will be an must-attend calendar event among C-level gaming executives, whether they have existing business activity in Asia or are looking to expand their operations in the Far East.”
