Alessio Crisantemi: ‘The partnership with ICE Barcelona marks a pivotal step for the entire Italian gaming ecosystem’
Alessio Crisantemi, Founder of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference, expands on the new partnership with ICE Barcelona, explains what it means in practical terms for the Italian industry, and highlights the very real threats posed by illegal gambling in the country.
How important is the strategic partnership between IGE and ICE Barcelona?
For us at Gn Media, the organizers of IGE and IGA, the partnership means joining forces with the world’s leading player in the sector, creating a direct bridge between the Italian and international markets. The goal is to foster an ongoing dialogue between the two worlds: on one hand, bringing Italy to the global stage; on the other, bringing the global gaming industry to Italy. It’s a strategic alliance built on shared values — innovation, networking, sustainability, and responsibility.
What it is it that sets ICE Barcelona apart from other international gaming expos?
ICE isn’t just a trade show — it’s the world’s most influential platform for innovation, business development, and strategic thinking in the gaming industry. Its strength lies in its ability to bring together the entire value chain — from industry and technology to regulators and operators — in a setting that goes far beyond a simple exhibition. That’s why ICE is the natural point of reference for an event like IGE, which shares the same mission of connecting industry and institutions, with a specific focus on the Italian market.
How do you envision this partnership working throughout the year?
This partnership isn’t meant to be a one-off initiative, but a structured, long-term journey. Throughout the year, we’ll work together on editorial content, communication campaigns, and joint projects that will connect operators from ICE Barcelona all the way to IGE. It will be a dynamic, evolving collaboration — with concrete actions designed to expand Italian participation at ICE and attract more international players to Italy. All of this is also thanks to the editorial synergies that can be created between the two groups, considering the iGaming Business magazine and its portal, as well as our IGE Magazine and ItalianGamingNews.it. Through this broad and strategic ecosystem, we will be able to create significant value for the entire gaming industry.
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How will you make use of the platform offered by ICE Barcelona?
ICE Barcelona gives us an extraordinary showcase and a truly global dialogue platform. We’ll use this opportunity to strengthen the IGE brand, promote our content, highlight the Italian gaming value chain, and create new international connections. Italy has much to offer in terms of innovation, regulation, and a culture of responsible gaming — and ICE is the ideal place to share that story beyond national borders, in front of a global audience.
In your opinion what are the main challenges facing Italy’s gaming industry?
Italy is one of the most mature and well-regulated gaming markets in the world, but it faces several key challenges: updating its regulatory framework in a coherent and stable way, finding balance between physical and digital dimensions, and building a more advanced and culturally informed narrative around legal gaming. IGE was created precisely to foster this dialogue between institutions, industry, and society — with an international perspective.
How important is it for the Italian gaming industry to focus on sustainable gambling?
It’s essential. Sustainability is now a strategic driver of competitiveness, not just a matter of social responsibility. An industry that doesn’t integrate the concept of responsible gaming into its identity risks losing legitimacy and trust. With its strong regulatory tradition, Italy can be a model of balance between protection and growth — and IGE aims to promote this approach in line with international standards.
How serious is the problem of illegal and unregulated gambling, and how should the industry respond?
Unfortunately, illegal gambling remains a major issue and poses a tangible threat to consumer protection and the sector’s economic sustainability. Official estimates suggest that the “black market” could be worth as much as €22 billion. The response can’t be purely repressive — it must be a shared effort among regulators, operators, and the media. At Gn Media, through our events and information platforms, we’re committed to spreading knowledge, transparency, and a culture of legal gaming. Only a well-informed, well-regulated industry can effectively combat illegal activity. And, above all, by sharing best practices, we can develop truly effective models — which is why IGE serves as a hub for international regulators, a role now further strengthened through our collaboration with ICE.
What does success look like in this strategic partnership – what do you hope to achieve?
Success will be twofold: for Clarion, it means strengthening its presence and appeal in the Italian market; for Gn Media, it means consolidating its role as the leading international platform for the Italian gaming industry. Looking ahead, this collaboration could lead to new projects, shared formats, and perhaps even deeper industrial synergies. But the real success will be seeing Italian and international operators, institutions, and stakeholders finally engaging together on the same global platform.
