Notable attendees drop ICE London citing COVID & Brexit

In recent weeks, a steady stream of iGaming firms have announced their withdrawal from the long-awaited, delayed ICE London event citing COVID, Brexit and an adjusted date.

Among them is MOHIO Sports, which announced it was pulling out last week, saying: “Under the present conditions, there is no guarantee of a safe trip and stay, and we cannot put the health and well being of our team, clients and partners at risk.”

Aside from the COVID-related challenges, the company also cited logistical problems associated with Brexit, and the impracticality of the event’s date.

A number of other major firms had already pulled out of the event, including recently Spintec, R Franco Group and Quixant.

Spintec stated the move came following a “long and difficult” internal discussion, made especially challenging by the fact the show has been a “staple” of its operations for decades, with great success.

“The exhibition is one of the most important gaming industry events in the world and Spintec was always extremely committed to participating, exhibiting, and promoting the event with their partners,” the company added.

Announcing its own withdrawal, Spain-based R Franco Group pointed to international COVID restrictions and those posed by the logistics of attending during the dates.

UK-based Quixant also pointed to challenges from the revised timing of the show, and ongoing global COVID challenges.

These are only some of the companies who have abandoned plans to attend the event and others, including NOVOMATIC, have also pulled out, citing similar reasons.

It comes after a tremendously trying period for ICE’s organisers, Clarion Gaming, which was forced to postpone the event from early February to Spring amidst the rampant spread of the omicron COVID variant in Europe.

Clarion has sought to temper disappointment about the loss of some of its most prominent exhibitors, claiming last week that the vast majority (74 per cent) of attendees who pre-ed for the event have confirmed their participation for when it finally launches in mid-April.

The company also revealed that it signed up 15 new exhibitors in less than two weeks.

ICE 2022 is expected to comprise nearly 450 exhibitors, plus 150 companies who will be showing at the co-located iGB London.