The 8th Annual European Global Gaming Awards will be held in Barcelona in 2025 after a seven-year stint in London. The ceremony will mark the end of Day 1 of the ICE Expo, which brings together the biggest names in iGaming to recognise the industry’s notable achievements and innovations.
A Stellar Year for the UK’s iGaming Sector
Despite the event’s move to Barcelona, the UK remains one of the biggest iGaming markets in the world, having witnessed another year of growth in the online gambling sector. Figures for April to September’s gaming receipts stand at £1.78 billion, marking a 6% increase from last year. This has been bolstered by growing demand for live casino gaming. The concept is not in itself new, but players continue to see live casino options on popular casino sites grow. Gameshow-style games against “luxurious” backdrops have now embedded themselves alongside classics like roulette and blackjack in the repertoire of casinos.
Such platforms have a wealth of solid live casino game providers to choose from, too. Over the history of the Global Gaming Awards, studios have regularly picked up top prizes. The popular game category offers live-streamed blackjack, poker, roulette, game shows, and more hosted by real-life dealers. This year’s nominees for Executive of the Year include CEOs of live casino studios and online casinos with large real dealer libraries.
About the Global Gaming Awards 2025
The Global Gaming Awards will distribute 16 awards over four categories to highlight excellence in the European gambling sector on January 20, 2025. The awards ceremony is a formal invitation-only event for industry leaders and exhibitors at the ICE Expo and will be held at The Market Restaurant at Fira Barcelona Gran Via.
The selection process is headed by more than 50 judges across the global gambling industry, including some of the largest iGaming groups in the UK. It’s this judging process that makes the accolades so respected in the gambling industry. The Executive of the Year Award is considered to be a particularly large honour and is the only award that is given to individuals rather than companies.
Other awards include the Online Casino of the Year, Online Slot of the Year, and Online Casino Supplier of the Year. Despite moving from England, the events will see some of the UK’s biggest developers such as Games Global and Playtech showcase their products, which have helped to buoy the nation’s thriving industry in 2024.
ICE 2025 to Showcase Innovation in the Industry
Held from the 20th to the 22nd of January, the ICE is a central event of the so-called World Gaming Week, which brings together more than 630 exhibitors in the sector. More than 55,000 unique attendees are predicted to head to the ICE for what is billed as “the industry’s most influential networking, business, and educational event.”
More than 380 speakers are expected to speak across the ICE’s panels and workshops, with the industry’s latest innovations to be a central theme of discussions. Planned conferences include discussions on the role of AI in the evolving online casino landscape, the importance of inclusive leadership, and sustainability.
With the Global Gaming Awards and ICE events less than two months away, the gambling sector is bracing for a busy weekend of galas, conferences, networking events, and exhibitions in Barcelona. Tickets to the public have gone on sale and are worthwhile for anyone interested in iGaming or gaming technology.
