After a scorching summer recess, the iGaming industry’s collective batteries have been recharged in readiness for a return to a series of autumn events.

In what is now a truly global calendar, SBC Summit North America at New Jersey’s Meadowlands Exposition Center set a new attendance record as delegates flocked to a show that – as was the case with iGaming NEXT New York before it – focused on a North American market which continues to boom.

We have now entered an era in which marketing purse strings are being closely examined, both from an operator and supplier perspective. Getting ‘bang for the buck’, to use that US expression, is vital when it comes to assigning budgets to the remaining events of 2022. Bigger is not always necessarily better when it comes to gaining new sales leads and, increasingly, it pays to be smart when planning out an attendance strategy.

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In this feature, European Gaming highlights the six events, both on a large and small scale, that top-level executives need to be pushing their sales and executive teams towards as 2022 draws to a conclusion:

iGaming NEXT Valetta ’22 (September 27-29)

Following on from the success of the organisers’ inaugural US event in New York City in May, iGaming NEXT is back to present the latest edition of its popular show in the Maltese capital. As was the case in New York, this is a VP-style show that has a unique vision, promising to cut through the noise with unique networking and learning opportunities provided by the highest level of content. Naturally, there is no shortage of topics to be discussed by the expert line-up of speakers. Everything from the growing popularity of Web3, NFTs, blockchain and the metaverse, to new markets launching in North America and across the world, will be examined. In a world of massive waves of M&A and investment, this is an event that will pose the question of what the industry can do now to secure its place in the future.

SBC Summit Barcelona (September 20-22)

The first major event to follow the summer break takes place against the beautiful background of Barcelona, an appropriately grand city to host a gathering of global leaders in sports betting and iGaming. This year, the show will be split into five distinct zones: Sports Betting, Casino & iGaming, Payments & Compliance, Affiliate Marketing and Media and Emerging Tech, and Blockchain and Metaverse. Each area will have its own conference stage, exhibition floor and networking area, providing up to 6,000 delegates with the chance to connect with fellow professionals, take a deep dive into the insights and ideas shaping the future of each sector, and to view the most exciting new specialist products.

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Global Gaming Expo (G2E) (October 10-13)

With the vast potential for sports betting and iGaming in North America being such a hot topic, more attention than ever before will be focused on the second successive in-person Global Gaming Expo on behalf of the online gaming industry. Held at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center in Las Vegas, G2E is billed as the world’s premier international gaming trade show and takes place on a vast scale as business leaders convene to shape the future direction of the industry. Key to the event is an education programme that reflects the evolving landscape – essential given the complex, patchwork regulation that exists in North America – while topics covered within the schedule include innovations across online gaming, land-based casino floor, digital payments, crypto and Web3.

SiGMA Europe, Malta (November 14-18)

With a strong focus on the promotion of start-ups, the SiGMA Group once again welcomes industry leaders from all over the world to Europe’s premier iGaming hub. Over 100 free booths are on offer across the expo floor, with SiGMA Pitch – in which competitors vie for a prize pool containing investment and mentorship – provides an insight into some of the iGaming industry’s most compelling innovators. As is always the case with this show, networking opportunities are hardly in short supply and often come with a beautiful sea view, as business leaders gather for drinks, dinner and special gala events within some spectacular venues.

EGR Power Summit (September 13-14)

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This invite-only event is being held at the Surf & Sand Resort in California, a state that has hit the headlines recently due to a long-running saga concerning the legalisation of sports betting. Guests attending the Summit will be able to connect through one-to-one meetings and social activities, while also joining in with the debate at expert-led content sessions including topics ranging from fixed-odds horse racing to proactivity in responsible gambling. Keen golfers can get involved in an event tournament, while there’s also a whisky tasting session at which delegates can unwind.

CEEGC 2022 (Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference), Budapest, Hungary (September 16)

Hipther Agency, parent company to betting and gaming media platform European Gaming, is preparing to host the largest edition yet of its CEEGC (Central and Eastern European Gaming Conference) in Budapest, Hungary. The 7^th edition of the event is set to be held on 16^th September at the Ritz-Carlton Budapest, marking the conference’s first return following the last two years.