Usain, Former UK Minister Bolt to Deliver Keynotes at ICE VOX

Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, known as the world’s fastest man, will deliver a special keynote address at ICE London on Wednesday, February 5. And former Labour party deputy chief, Tom Watson will follow up with his own keynote speech.

Bolt, the 33-year-old Jamaican former sprinter, will attend the trade show as part of his partnership with international gaming company Ganapati PLC, which will launch the first official Usain Bolt online slot game this summer. In addition to the ICE VOX address, Bolt will join Ganapati at its booth on the ICE VOX floor.

Dan Stone, head of marketing at Clarion Gaming, said: “Usain Bolt is a fitting conclusion to the broadest and most international gaming conference on the planet.”

Ganapati revealed earlier this month that it’s been working closely with Bolt to create a slot game that “accurately reflects his love of sport-themed games, whilst incorporating entertainment-focused elements which Ganapati games are known for.”

“2020 not only welcomes the biggest sporting competition in the world, but an exciting new collaboration between myself and iGaming developer, Ganapati,” said Bolt.

“I am proud to be teaming up with Ganapati to create my first ever official online slot game – Ganapati’s goal to produce innovative and creative content fits perfectly with my brand, making this partnership a natural one for me. Ganapati and I have been working on this together for some time now, and I look forward to sharing the final product with you all.”

Ganapati COO Juliet Edelstein added, “This partnership between Ganapati and Usain Bolt is hugely exciting and represents just how big we have grown in such a short space of time. Usain has worked closely with us to create this special game and neither of us can wait to release the official Usain Bolt slot game later this year.”

Tom Watson, former deputy leader of the UK’s Labour Party, will deliver the keynote speech at ICE VOX, the international gaming industry’s influential educational and networking event at this week’s ICE London trade show.

Watson, who stepped down from mainstream politics prior to the 2019 U.K. general election, will provide an analysis of the regulatory landscape. The speech, titled “Reforming Gambling Policy—Uniting Stakeholders for a Positive Change,” will take place on Monday, February 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the Platinum Suite at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre, London. It’s open to ICE VOX pass holders.

“The last major review of gambling regulation in the U.K. was conducted in 2001,” said Watson. “Since then, society has been transformed by a revolution in technology that has reshaped the gambling landscape. With the British government now committed to a further review, the challenge is to deliver change that is fit for the digital age and provides a safer environment for the consumer and a successful well-regulated industry.

“At ICE VOX, I hope to reach out to the international industry and regulators to explain the importance of introducing positive change, and in the process turn Britain’s regulation of gambling into an example to the world.”

“Tom Watson is a longstanding and vocal advocate of regulatory change in the UK, and has unquestionably been one of the most influential figures in British politics to inspire calls for the review of the 2005 Gambling Act, which has cross-party support and which the government has committed to,” said Ewa Bakun, director of industry insight and engagement at Clarion Gaming.

“He has also been shaping the wider European narrative as the regulatory debates in the U.K. are being monitored and adopted by other, younger gambling jurisdictions. This represents a unique opportunity for the industry to hear and understand the debate from a policy-maker’s perspective in order to define the measures that are required to adapt to a truly consumer-focused regulatory reality.”

Bolt and Watson are two of a number of keynote speakers scheduled to appear at ICE. Others include: