ICE London to have "biggest and highest-profile" Consumer Protection Zone with 14 exhibitors

The upcoming edition of ICE London will feature its biggest Consumer Protection Zone (CPZ) yet, while having “the highest-profile on record,” event organizer Clarion Gaming announced on Thursday. The trade expo is set to take place next month at ExCel London, April 12-14.

Clarion further confirmed the make-up of the Consumer Protection Zone will be “a central feature” of the event, with the expanded CPZ taking up “a new prominent position” within close proximity to the central boulevard.

The CPZ is set to host a set of leading charities, comprising Gordon Moody, GamCare, YGAM, Responsible Gambling Council and Gamstop, together with suppliers including Future Anthem, Gamblewise, Mindway AI, Casino Guru, TruNarrative, BeBettor, W2 and Crucial Compliance.

"This will be the biggest and highest-profile presence since the Consumer Protection Zone was introduced to the show-floor in 2018,” Ewa Bakun, Director of Industry Insight and Engagement at Clarion Gaming confirmed. “Then we had eight exhibitors, comprising a mix of technology providers and charities and we are on 14 this year.”

Bakun, the person responsible for overseeing the development of the CPZ, described the Consumer Protection Zone as having always been “a popular and buzzing feature on the show-floor,” with awareness and interest growing “over the years.”

"It has always been very important for me to have a diverse mix of exhibitors, with charities, treatment facilities and not-for-profit organizations that we gift the space to on one side and a growing number of commercial organizations, providers of Responsible Gambling technology, tools and solutions, on the other hand,” added Bakun.

According to the Director of Industry Insight and Engagement, the diverse mix of exhibitors showcases “the growing investment in this area,” in terms of both technology and product development. Clarion is also making the CPZ more attractive to visitors who can come to find specific solutions to their Responsible Gambling approaches, Bakun explained.

The Clarion executive further describes fund-raising activities conducted on behalf of the charities featured as the biggest testimony of the growing investment in this area. The organizer is fund-raising for the third time through the CPZ and has now opened the fund to a broader spectrum of companies this year.

In 2019, the CPZ raised £35,000 ($45,867), rising to £65,000 ($85,182) in the last edition of ICE in 2020: Clarion hopes that it will be possible to surpass that total this year. Organizations wishing to contribute to the Consumer Protection Zone fund ahead of the event can contact Bakun to do so.

“We've had bet365, Kindred, GVC, Videoslots, Sky Betting and Gaming and IMG Arena pledge their £6,000 contribution and anticipate more sponsors to join the effort,” Bakun said. “Looking ahead I would like to see the CPZ continue to grow with more and more solutions being showcased, so it really demonstrates that safer gambling is at the heart of our industry."

The #ICEVOX22 #masterclasses marked in orange are tailored for #gaming #professionals who handle crisis.

‘#Responsible #gambling: Effective interaction and intervention’ will equip you with the tools and tactics to ensure players gamble safely.

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Clarion describes ICE London as providing insight on all of the topical issues impacting the industry, of which safer gambling has become an increasingly important point of discussion, particularly in the lead-up to the publication of the UK Government’s White Paper on gambling.

The b2b gambling industry event will also provide other spaces for visitors to talk and learn about consumer protection. In addition to the CPZ, Clarion has also organized a Responsible Gambling Masterclass, as part of ICE VOX, with the CPZ theatre opening with talks on Tuesday afternoon.

“There will be opportunities for industry professionals to learn from experts and discuss consumer protection, sustainability and industry reputation throughout the three days of what is the world's most influential event for the international b2b gambling industry,” concluded Bakun.