Clarion secure €2.4 million hotel discounts for visitors attending Barcelona editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate
Clarion Gaming has negotiated a cumulative Barcelona hotel discount of up to €2.4 million on behalf of the industry during January’s ICE and iGB Affiliate shows, the first editions to be held in the Catalan City.

The rates, which are delivering an average saving of 34% per night compared to what’s available by going direct, have been secured as part of the landmark relocation of ICE and iGB Affiliate.

Clarion Gaming Managing Director, Stuart Hunter confirmed the value of being able to access competitively priced accommodation. He said: “From the outset of the competitive bid process to host the world leading b2b shows which began March 2023 a non-negotiable requirement for the city/venue bids was the availability of comfortable overnight accommodation at significantly discounted rates and across key price points.

“Part of the Barcelona bid was a guarantee that we could secure a minimum of 40,000 hotel nights each year at the lowest rates possible for the duration of the five-year tenancy. This has been delivered with the rooms only available via BNetwork, the official accommodation partner that we have appointed.”

He added: “The feedback that we are receiving anecdotally from the industry and confirmed by the booking data is that attendees are making their arrangements earlier and are alsoscheduling their trips to arrive in Barcelona on the weekend preceding the show opening.

“To a large extent visitors are treating their annual pilgrimage to ICE/iGB Affiliate as a City Break and we are planning a suite of Clarion Gaming curated hospitality offerings to deliver a blended ‘work, rest and play’ experience.”

“We will be launching ‘The Road to Barcelona’ guide which will talk through the best ways for visitors to attend ICE/iGB Affiliate and enjoy their time in the historic city.

“We are being told by the market that exhibitors more so than at any time in the past will be using the global platform provided by ICE/iGB Affiliate to launch their game-changing new products and innovations to what promises to be the biggest gathering of gambling professionals in history.”

Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming

The new game from leading casino games provider MGA Games immerses the player in a fascinating underwater setting alongside a brave dolphin protecting a treasure trove of diamonds and gemstones. Undersea Diamonds is a casino slot with 243 winning combinations, expanding Wilds and Free Spins. The winning opportunities are endless!

MGA Games, has launched a new five-reel game that enables players to step into the shoes of the oil tycoon they’ve always dreamed of being. Oil Fortune takes players back to the 1980s where they must accumulate barrels of black gold while unlocking prizes to the rhythm of country music. This new 5×3 slot game boasts 10 prize lines where winnings are paid from left to right.

Betsoft Gaming announced the release of its latest slot game, “A Big Catch – Hold & WinTM”. This game is set to revolutionise the gaming experience with its vibrant fishing theme, innovative features and exciting gameplay. “A Big Catch – Hold & WinTM” offers players a thrilling adventure with 5 reels, 3 rows and an impressive 243 ways to win.

Armadillo Studios takes players on a delicious adventure in a world filled with animals reimagined as sweets in its latest slot Cookie Kingdom.  This delectable 6×5, very high volatility slot game is packed with adorable animals reimagined as mouth-watering treats, promising a gaming experience like no other.  Land a total number of matching symbols anywhere on the reels to score a win.

Endorphina has announced the release of its newest sci-fi slot game, Cows & UFOs. Set in a faraway farm where mysterious events are rumored to occur frequently, this Endorphina slot explores themes of secret experiments, alien sightings, and abductions. The game features 3 reels, 3 rows, and 5 fixed paylines, where players can see frightening UFOs flying behind the reels to abduct the unsuspecting cows and then disappear without a trace.

Amusnet has released its latest online slot Coin Gobbler. The slot features a 6×6 reel layout and a cluster payment method, making its gameplay more entertaining. Apart from the fruity symbols and the combinations they form on the reels, players should also watch for the Golden Coin which is the Free Spins symbol and will help them boost their winnings.

Players find themselves in a mystical fantasy land where they can discover incredible treasures and five jackpots in Circle of Sylvan, the latest blockbuster slot from Fantasma Games, the developer of slots beyond gambling. Circle of Sylvan is already live with a limited number of operators and have delivered exceptional performance with initial player retention KPIs up +30% from an already successful 2024 game release schedule.

BETBY, a leading provider of sportsbook solutions, experienced a robust first half of 2024, with overall sportsbook turnover increasing by 192% compared to the same period last year. This remarkable growth was driven by the launch of new projects and the strong performance of existing key clients.

The substantial rise in turnover has been credited to strategic initiatives implemented within BETBY’s commercial department, significantly expanding the company’s market presence over the past year. During this period, BETBY also saw a notable 136% increase in active players globally.

The sportsbook supplier further demonstrated an inherent commitment to innovation by launching its AI Labs sportsbook tools during their largest-ever showcase at ICE London in February. These tools introduced key features such as Churn and LTV prediction, Risk Management Automation, Bet Personalisation, and Prompt-based BI Reporting.

Additional accomplishments include impressive performance from BETBY’s proprietary esports feed, Betby Games, which saw a 78% year-on-year turnover increase and a 93% growth in active players. A significant achievement for the Betby Games product in the first six months of 2024 was launching the product in Estonia, following the approval as an odds feed solution by the MGA.

BETBY’s strong performance in the first half of the year sets a positive trajectory for achieving its ambitious long-term growth goals.
Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO at Betby, commented: “Reflecting on our H1 performance, we are delighted to see our strategic initiatives delivering outstanding results. The significant increase in turnover and player activity underscores our ongoing dedication to providing top-tier sports betting experiences and solutions. We will continue to pursue success throughout 2024.”