Day 1 At iGB L!VE 2025: iGB L!VE 2025 opened its doors today at its new location, ExCeL London, marking a big step for the global iGaming community. The first day drew a record number of visitors, with thousands of professionals coming together to check out new tech, share ideas, and build new partnerships.
London Adds New Energy to the Global iGaming Stage
The move from Amsterdam to London has clearly added a fresh spark to the event. Pre-registrations for the ongoing event witnessed a jump of 21.5% compared to last year, showing just how excited people are. With over 9,700 attendees in 2024, the organizers at Clarion Gaming are aiming even higher this year – and judging by the energy on day one, they’re well on track to hit that goal.
iGB L!VE 2025: Day 1 Highlights from London’s New iGaming Hub
Day 1 was full of energy, fresh ideas, and interesting conversations. The talks and panels focused on three main areas: iGaming and Sports Betting, Sustainable Gambling, and Marketing and Affiliation. Many sessions looked at the challenges the industry is dealing with right now, along with the new opportunities coming up, especially in areas like innovation, safer gambling, and adapting to changing rules.
From Pit Lanes to Profit Margins: Claire Williams’ Leadership Blueprint
One of the most exciting parts of the day was the keynote speech by Claire Williams OBE, former Deputy Team Principal of the Williams Formula 1 team. In her talk, “Driving Operational Excellence with F1’s Claire Williams” at the Pulse Theatre, she shared how lessons from the high-pressure world of Formula 1 can also apply to the fast-moving iGaming industry.
She highlighted how F1 teams optimize every detail – even the build of pit crew members—to achieve sub-two-second pit stops, a level of precision that reflects the mindset that iGaming companies can learn from. Her focus on leadership, adaptability, and operational excellence encouraged attendees to think beyond the industry and adopt best practices from other high-performance sectors.
Williams also spoke openly about challenges she faced, including a £20 million sponsor default and the financial impact of Covid-19 that led to selling her family business. She stressed the importance of teamwork, recognizing the effort behind the scenes, and maintaining a positive culture under pressure.
A powerful moment came during her comments on diversity in leadership. Calling it “non-negotiable,” she urged companies to treat inclusion as a core value, not just a box to check – drawing from her personal experience with gender bias and media scrutiny in F1. Williams states:
“All I can say is diversity and inclusion in this day and age, to me, is a non-negotiable.”
She also addressed the role of AI in both industries. While excited about its potential, Williams warned against losing the human touch, saying AI should support – not replace – human performance.
Her keynote set the tone for the event, pushing iGaming leaders to think strategically, embrace change, and take responsibility for building a more innovative, inclusive, and socially aware industry.
Regulatory Insights: What’s Changing in the UK
In a session called “Spotlight on the UK: Navigating Regulatory Shifts,” Helen Rhodes from the UK Gambling Commission explained the latest updates from the government’s White Paper. She talked about upcoming changes to game intensity and how these changes could affect player choices. The session gave helpful information for anyone trying to stay on top of the new rules.
AI and Player Safety: Smarter Tools for Responsible Gambling
In the panel “Harnessing AI for Responsible Gambling,” experts from Midnite and Mindway AI talked about how AI can help spot early signs of problem gambling. By analyzing player behavior, these tools can help companies step in early and offer support, creating a safer and more sustainable gambling environment.
Real-Time Innovation: Streaming Tech Transforms Sports Betting
Bart Snoeks from Dolby OptiView led a session called “Revolutionizing Sports Betting with Real-Time Streaming.” He showed how super-fast streaming technology is changing the live betting experience and talked about some of the technical challenges that come with handling live data at scale.
Focus on Sustainable Gambling
The Sustainable Gambling Zone was a key area where people could learn about tools and strategies to protect players and encourage healthy gambling habits. Sessions covered important topics like “Redefining Financial Risk Checks” and “The Black Market Paradox,” which looked at how strict safety rules might accidentally push some players to riskier websites.
Innovation on Display: iGB Pitch
The iGB Pitch gave five start-ups the chance to present their creative ideas to possible investors and partners. It was an exciting glimpse into the future of iGaming, with fresh technology and smart solutions on show.
Networking and What’s Ahead
Besides all the great sessions, Day 1 was full of opportunities to meet and connect. With more than 15,000 professionals and 300 exhibitors expected at the event, it created the perfect space for operators, affiliates, tech providers, game developers, and digital marketers to share ideas and build new partnerships.
The event also ran alongside London iGaming Week, which added even more excitement with special events, talks, and parties. There was a lot of buzz about what’s still to come, especially the iGB Affiliate Awards and other social gatherings planned for the week.
All in all, Day 1 showed that iGB L!VE has found a strong new home in London. The event started off with energy, innovation, and meaningful conversations, setting a high standard for the rest of the week in the iGaming world.
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