‘A perfect way to mark the official launch of the ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone’ is how Ewa Bakun, Clarion Gaming’s Director of Industry Insight, described the€65,000 charity fund raised by sponsors and which will be awarded to a safer gambling organisation(s) at a presentation taking place in the late morning during the opening of the Safer Gambling Zone (SGZ) on the first day of ICE Barcelona.
The 2025 charity fund which is the result of generous contributions from brands comprising Cirsa, Orenes, Betsson Grup, Flutter, Acordjoc, ALEA, Novomatic, Playtech and Novomatic Spain takes the total donated at ICE since 2018 to €385 000.
Reflecting on the initiative Ewa Bakun said: “ICE 2025 will witness the official launch of the Sustainable Gambling Zone and I am delighted that we will be able to help fund some of the powerful work being undertaken by international organisations in the field of player protection. The money is directed to tangible projects which deliver real benefits. For example, Bet Blocker, last year’s recipients utilised their award to produce a Catalan version of their acclaimed consumer app which fittingly is being launched at ICE Barcelona.
“The relationship our sponsors have with player protection and the delivery of safer gambling goes beyond just financial donations and I am delighted that the Safer Gambling Zone which is situated in the Fast Forward area of the show floor will be the centre of debate, discussion and collaboration. It’s hugely gratifying that many of the safer gambling advances that will be introduced by the industry during 2025 and beyond will be as a result of discussions and partnerships that have taken place and been forged on the SGZ.”
The launch of the Sustainable Gambling Zone, which replaces the original Consumer Protection Zone reflects the latest approach to player protection. Ewa Bakun explained: “The overarching objective of the Sustainable Gambling Zone is to be at the vanguard of initiatives to help develop healthy play from the outset of the player journey. This includes the incorporation of safer gambling considerations from the very start rather than as just a compliance requirement. The goal is to create a more sustainable business in which players continue to enjoy their gambling entertainment experience but where the small proportion who are at risk of developing problems are pro-actively identified and assisted by operators.”
Clarion Gaming was the first event organiser to embrace safer gambling when it introduced the ICE Consumer Protection Zone seven years ago which went on to establish a template for other events to follow. The 2025 ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone will occupy 490sqm of space and underlines the importance the industry places on sustainability and player protection. Featuring a total of 26 safer gambling bodies including Spanish organisations ASENCAS and FEJAR the SGZ will host three days of educational content dedicated to consumer protection and ESG.
For more information on the world’s biggest gaming technology event and to register: icegaming.com
