Italian Gaming Expo & Conference successfully wraps up inaugural edition in Rome

The Italian Gaming Expo & Conference (IGE) has successfully held its first edition in Rome under the "Sustainable future of gaming" theme. The two-day conference dedicated to the Italian gaming market registered over 1200 participants from over 12 different countries and gathered international acclaim, according to its organizers.

The exhibition "delved into the reality of a sector whose importance is recognized internationally." The meeting featured a large array of institutions, experts, academics, opinion leaders and influencers, along with the presence of multiple political, institutional and media personalities.

Over 130 speakers from several countries in Europe and the rest of the world were part of the summit, which featured more than 35 sessions of content and saw over 50 companies involved, including partners and exhibitors.

Over 20 political representatives and more than 10 institutions were represented, including Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (The Italian gaming regulator), CONI, AGCOM, Ministry of Home Affairs, MASAF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests), State Police, Italian Finance Police, Europol, Interpol, as well as the Government and Parliament, with a large presence of representatives of the Chamber and Senate.

The list also encompassed foreign regulators (such as the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority) and various international entities (such as EASG, G4, International Master of Gaming Law, International Association of Gaming Regulators, United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports).

In total, 1187 delegates were present in the two days of the event.

The event delved into the main topics that driving the world of legal gaming and how to approach innovation and sustainability. One of the primary goals of IGE was to allow participants to meet and discuss with experts, opinion leaders, scholars and C-levels at national and international level to find new ideas and solutions for the growth and development of their business, organizers noted.

The event gathered the media industry, featuring television presenter and deputy director of Il Giornale, Nicola Porro, along with the deputy director of the La7 news program and host, Andrea Pancani, and the Director of RaiNews24 Paolo Petrecca.

Mario Lollobrigida, Central Games Director of the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, said: "The Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, as a regulatory body for the public gaming sector, has always been at the forefront in the defense and promotion of the principles representing the cornerstones on which the gaming industry is based: that of legality, safety and protection of consumers and public order.

"For this reason, the Agency welcomed this Italian gaming expo & Conference event, as it is exactly focused on these communication values. In particular, we appreciate the highly scientific profile of the event, thanks to the participation of famous personalities and leading universities, such as those of the Luiss, Bocconi and Politecnico di Milano, who will participate in these two days of debate."
 
The reform of the sector just launched by the government was at the center of debate during the event. Marco Osnato, President of the Finance Commission, Chamber of Deputies, said: "The new law is a chance for the State to undoubtedly find some additional resources from the tax levy, resources that allow the administration to make its choices.

"With this decree, we have managed to achieve a balance of interests that is healthy for everyone. We always start from the protection of the citizen, the user of effective, traceable and exact legal services, also in compliance with legal systems which have become more limited, with a view to protecting and professionalising companies. A more peaceful approach."
 
Ettore Rosato, COPASIR Secretary, and Member of the Foreign Affairs Commission, Chamber of Deputies, said: "Gaming is a sector that I have been dealing with for a long time and I believe it is essential that politics recognize its value both in economic terms, from tax revenue to the number of employees and companies on the market, both in terms of legality and social impact. Public gaming is an obstruction to organized crime and is a controlled system, which also allows us to control the risks of gambling addiction that may arise".
 
Other current affairs discussed include the ban on advertising, which is still in force today. Laura Aria, AGCOM Commissioner, said: "According to article 57 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the provision of gaming service cannot be completely banned.

"Moreover, managing highly addictive phenomena, such as gambling addiction, with a prohibitionist approach towards the medium, i.e. gambling, does not seem to be an effective solution. I believe that a better awareness campaign and inter-institutional cooperation is needed. Legislation and monitoring of gambling allow for better management of gambling addiction. Therefore, investing in prevention is the central point."

Ugo Taucer, Attorney General, CONI, added: "Even before the Macolin convention there is an Italian tradition of discussion between police forces, institutional bodies responsible for games control, private operators, federations, sports, through the Luiss office, which establishes institutional cooperation and an exchange of news. There is a wide scope for exchange and discussion, a strong correspondence between the various areas."

Responsible gaming was also highlighted, with particular attention to the investigative works presented in the preview by the FAIR Foundation. Its president, Matteo Caroli, said: "In Italy there are no independent Foundations dedicated to Responsible Gaming.

"With the Fondazione FAIR we want to promote a gaming culture that focuses on prevention, as well as respect and people protection, through the development of lines of scientific research, studies and research. We also aim to promote cooperation and study activities with qualified third parties, thus adopting a multidisciplinary approach open to discussion with everyone."

Alessio Crisantemi, Gn Media President & co-founder and organizer of IGE, added: "The gaming industry is a real source of talent and cradle of true excellence, especially in Italy. In this sense, we are proud of the success of this event, which offers a precious opportunity for discussion and training between stakeholders, institutions and operators on crucial issues for the future of the sector, such as sustainability and innovation.

"But innovation is not for its own sake, neither only oriented to profitability or product appeal, but applied above all in the search for solutions and systems for consumer protection and safety. Therefore, these two days of meetings and discussions are even more important, in order to give proper prominence to a sector that needs to be promoted and enhanced, as it can substantially contribute to the growth of the country, but in a sustainable way."
 
The event, which aims to become an annual meeting for the industry, closed by announcing the next dates of 9-10 April 2025.

This year's meeting also marked the debut of the Italian Gaming Awards. The first edition of IGE was crowned by the gala evening of the Italian Gaming Awards (IGA), hosted by the Director of RaiNews24 Paolo Petrecca and the actress Giorgia Fiori, who celebrated the excellence of gaming in Italy by awarding 19 prizes to operators, suppliers and other categories.