CONTENTS


Welcome the latest issue of GIO, my first as your new editor. My background is in consumer and trade journalism, having worked on a variety of publications over the years. Although this is the first time I’ve been directly involved with the gaming titles, I’ve been aware of them for some time from my previous role as editorial director at our publisher, Datateam Business Media. The knowledge that I have picked up is that online gaming is an exciting, vibrant and growing industry, so I’m very happy to now be a part of it and I’m keen to learn more.


4 ONLINE NEWS


The latest updates from across the iGaming sector 5 ICE PREVIEW


A look at some of the new products, tech and solutions due to be launched at the ICE industry showcase in Barcelona


14 MARK MCGUINESS COLUMN


As the line between online and offline gaming continues to blur, NFTs and tokenomics are poised to be the new bridge


16 UNLOCKING AI IN IGAMING


Yoel Zuckerberg, chief product officer at Soft2Bet on how his company is using AI technology to transform the iGaming user experience


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It’s become clear during my research that the online gaming industry has experienced rapid growth over the last few years and spans casual mobile games, competitive eSports, and expansive MMORPGs. Central to this evolution has been the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), which is reshaping how games are developed, experienced, and managed.


AI not only enhances gameplay by creating more immersive and adaptive environments, but it can also personalise player experiences, while machine learning algorithms analyse player behaviour. Additionally, AI tools assist developers by automating repetitive tasks, speeding up production timelines, and enhancing game quality through predictive analytics and error detection.


I’m sure AI is going to feature heavily at the upcoming ICE show in Barcelona. I feel like I’ve joined the GIO team at just the right time and I’m looking forward to experiencing all this industry showcase event has to offer, meeting many of you face-to-face and learning more about the industry and the latest releases. In the meantime, you can get a taster of the many new products and solutions due for launch at the show in this packed ICE preview issue.


Neil Mead, Editor GIO


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GIO DECEMBER 2024 3


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