ICE Barcelona 2026 was an intense and rewarding week for Betsson, bringing together regulatory dialogue, industry collaboration, partnership building and major recognition across multiple award ceremonies. Across the event, the focus remained consistent – long-term sustainability, operational discipline and thought leadership grounded in experience rather than slogans.
Sunday evening | Setting the tone
Before ICE Barcelona officially began, Betsson Group received the Safer Gambling Award at the International Gaming Awards 2026 for the sixth consecutive year. The recognition reflects Betsson’s sustained commitment to responsible gaming, embedded within the Group’s sustainability framework, and reinforced through continuous employee training and internationally recognised standards.
Monday | Opening day, leadership, and industry dialogue
ICE Barcelona officially opened on Monday with Betsson involved from the outset in the inauguration of the Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ).
The Sustainable Gambling Zone brings together key stakeholders from across the gambling ecosystem, including regulators, operators, suppliers, and charity partners. It is designed to promote a safe and sustainable gaming experience through collaboration, knowledge sharing and open dialogue. Across three days, attendees explored emerging technologies such as AI, heard from charities and individuals with lived experience, and contributed to discussions shaping the future of safer gaming regulation.
Through contributions from Betsson and ten other participating companies, a total of €80,000 was raised for organisations dedicated to consumer protection and safer gaming initiatives, including FEJAR, Proyecto FES, Fundación Convivir and BetBlocker.
Monday also highlighted Betsson’s leadership presence at ICE. Pontus Lindwall, CEO of Betsson AB, moderated the panel “Stockholm and the Origins of Slots,” bringing historical context to today’s regulatory and commercial realities. Throughout the day, Pontus and Jesper Svensson, CEO of Betsson Group, engaged with trade media, including GamingMalta, discussing sustainable growth, operational consistency, and the importance of Malta’s Vision 2050.
Betsson also contributed to key regulatory discussions. Corinne Valletta, General Counsel, joined the ICE studio panel on Malta’s role as a launchpad for the iGaming industry, reflecting on early regulatory foundations, and the importance of an open, constructive dialogue between regulators and the industry. She later participated in an SGZ panel on transparency, standardisation, and self-exclusion, highlighting the need for regulation that balances consumer protection, crime prevention, and fairness.
The day concluded with significant industry recognition. Jesper Svensson was named Executive of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards EMEA 2026. The award carries particular weight as winners are judged by a panel of 50 senior industry leaders, making it a peer-led recognition of leadership across the EMEA region. Betsson Group also won Social Responsibility of the Year, with strong results in the Affiliate Programme and Sports Betting Operator categories.
That same evening, Betsson Group secured four wins at the European iGaming Awards 2026, spanning Diversity and Inclusion, Online Casino, Safer Gambling and Sustainability, reflecting consistent performance across core areas of the business and alignment between strategy, execution, and culture.
Tuesday | Partnerships, people, and continued visibility
Tuesday focused on conversations and connections across the exhibition floor. The Betsson Group Affiliates stand at iGB Affiliate served as a meeting point for partners, prospects, and Betssonites throughout the day.
Both Pontus Lindwall and Jesper Svensson stopped by the stand to meet the affiliates team, greet Inter legend Giuseppe Baresi, and connect with attendees before moving on to their next appointments.
Trade media activity also continued. Alongside ongoing interviews, Jesper participated in a Huddle session with Global Gaming Insider, discussing leadership, long-term growth and the themes shaping the industry.
Elsewhere, Stefano Tino, Managing Director for Southern Europe, represented Betsson at the ICE World Gaming Forum, joining a panel discussing the ongoing transformation of the Italian gaming market.
Wednesday | Compliance, ESG and long-term responsibility
By Wednesday, attention turned more clearly to regulation, compliance, and sustainability.
At the Sustainable Gambling Zone, Tanner Hutchinson, Lead Technical Compliance Manager, joined a panel on KYC, biometrics, and the architecture of trust. He addressed the challenges of operating across multiple regulatoryenvironments, balancing KYC, GDPR and local requirements with a smooth player experience. The discussion also explored the role of market-specific tools, emerging technologies, and AI in supporting compliance and player education.
Later in the day, Jonna Danlund, Head of ESG, joined an SGZ panel on the evolving perception and value of ESG in gaming. She emphasised that sustainability at Betsson is treated as a core business discipline, focused on long-term profitability and value creation for customers, employees, and society. Jonna highlighted the importance of compliance, responsible marketing, climate initiatives, and social impact, all anchored within Betsson’s sustainability framework and aligned with growing regulatory expectations across markets.
Throughout the week | Consistent engagement
Across all three days of ICE Barcelona, Betsson maintained active engagement with regulators, partners, suppliers, and trade media. From panel discussions and interviews to meetings on the exhibition floor, the week reflected a consistent presence focused on dialogue, collaboration, and long-term industry development.
ICE Barcelona 2026 concluded on Wednesday, closing a week defined by meaningful conversation, strong collaboration, and recognition at the highest levels of the industry. Above all, it reflected the collective efforts of Betssonites across markets and functions, contributing to a presence characterised by insight, consistency, and taught leadership in action.
A sincere thank you to everyone involved in making ICE Barcelona 2026 such a focused and rewarding week.