From February 6th to 8th, 2024, London hosted one of the most influential events in the gaming industry, ICE 2024. With over 40,000 professionals attending, ICE provided a hub for innovation, networking, and knowledge exchange, highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing modern gaming operators.
Paysecure sent a team of six industry specialists to ICE London 2024 to explore emerging trends, engage with global leaders, and identify innovations in payments, compliance, and player experience. Our goal: to understand how operators can navigate high-risk environments while improving acceptance, reducing fraud, and enhancing the player journey.
This recap highlights the most impactful insights and lessons learned from ICE London 2024, with actionable perspectives for operators seeking to optimise payments and compliance strategies.
Technology, Compliance, and Payments: ICE 2024’s Pillars of Discussion
ICE London showcased the full spectrum of the gaming ecosystem, from regulatory developments to technological breakthroughs. Our team grouped the key learnings into seven pillars that are shaping the future of iGaming.
1. Regulatory compliance as a strategic advantage
Compliance continues to be a critical differentiator for operators. ICE discussions emphasised how adhering to regional regulations builds trust with both players and regulators. In Europe, operators face strict licensing requirements, while the U.S. presents a complex, state-by-state framework. In markets such as South Africa, anti-money laundering and fraud prevention are paramount.
When discussing with operators at ICE, Paysecure emphasised how operators can maintain regulatory compliance by utilising infrastructure such as payment orchestration that supports AML checks, age verification, and jurisdiction-specific rules, ensuring seamless operations across multiple markets.
2. Data security and fraud prevention in gaming
Protecting player data and transaction integrity remains top of mind. Discussions focused on strengthening KYC protocols, mitigating financial crime, and safeguarding against account takeovers or fraudulent transactions. Integrity of eSports data and safe in-game payments were also highlighted as growing areas of concern.
At Paysecure we know how important data security and fraud is in such a fast-moving sector. Our proprietary solutions in Trust Score, tokenisation, and AI-powered monitoring, enabling real-time risk assessment and reducing exposure to fraud without disrupting legitimate player activity.
3. Omnichannel payments and seamless transactions
Operators are exploring omni-channel strategies to meet players wherever they engage; online, mobile, or in-person. Instant and frictionless payment experiences are critical to capturing Gen Z and Millennial players, who expect speed and convenience. Partnerships with local banks and fintechs were cited as key enablers of smooth, multi-channel payment experiences.
A large part of this experience is ensuring the right payment method is available at the right time for the right individual. At Paysecure we support global operators to deliver local payment experiences through our extensive partner integration ecosystem. This enables operators to unify multiple providers, local methods, and currencies through a single platform, improving conversion, approval rates, and operational flexibility.
4. Emerging technologies transforming gaming operations
AI, predictive analytics, VR/AR, and blockchain were explored as tools to enhance personalization, marketing, and secure gameplay. Conversations also touched on the metaverse and its potential to integrate eSports and virtual economies. Privacy and regulatory considerations, particularly around facial recognition and data use, were key discussion points.
Paysecure provides operators with reporting and analytics dashboards that leverage transactional data for operational insights, helping them make informed decisions on adoption of emerging technologies while maintaining compliance and reducing risk.
5. Player experience and personalization
Tailoring experiences to individual player preferences remains essential. Discussions focused on behavioural data, AI-driven personalisation, and modular platforms to enhance engagement. Subscription-based models, dashboards, and mobile-first design were highlighted as tools to retain players and increase lifetime value.
Paysecure supports personalised player journeys by enabling secure storage of payment credentials, flexible payment flows, and smart routing, ensuring frictionless transactions that complement tailored gaming experiences.
6. Brand strategy, marketing, and trust-building
Brand credibility drives player acquisition and loyalty. ICE highlighted the importance of transparency, audience engagement, and defining unique brand identities. Marketing strategies that align with player interests and foster authentic connections were emphasised as central to sustainable growth.
Paysecure partners with operators to create seamless payments and reporting experiences that reinforce brand reliability and trust, a crucial differentiator in a competitive market.
7. Responsible gaming and sustainability
Operators are increasingly accountable for promoting responsible play and integrating sustainable practices. ICE discussions emphasised transparent communication of safer gambling messages, social impact initiatives, and environmental considerations across the marketing ecosystem.
Paysecure ensures that payment processes support responsible gaming initiatives, enabling operators to implement age checks, transaction limits, and compliance rules without disrupting the player experience.
Key takeaways from ICE London 2024 for operators
Reflecting on the event, our team highlighted four lessons that resonate with Paysecure’s mission to help gaming operators thrive in high-risk, high-growth markets:
- Stay agile: Rapid regulatory changes and technological innovation require operators to remain proactive. Paysecure’s orchestration platform allows clients to respond quickly to evolving payment, compliance, and market requirements.
- Embrace innovation: Emerging tools can enhance operations, player engagement, and security. Paysecure integrates smart routing, tokenisation, and advanced analytics to help operators leverage these technologies safely and efficiently.
- Prioritise responsibility: Responsible gaming and sustainability initiatives are increasingly critical. Our platform supports compliance enforcement while maintaining seamless experiences for players.
- Foster authentic connections: Personalised engagement drives loyalty. By providing flexible, secure, and frictionless payment flows, Paysecure enables operators to create experiences that resonate with players while protecting revenue.
For Paysecure, ICE London 2024 reaffirmed the value of being embedded in the heart of the gaming ecosystem; engaging with operators, understanding emerging trends, and demonstrating how our orchestration, connectivity, reporting, and fraud mitigation solutions help merchants scale securely and efficiently.
If you would like more information on how Paysecure can support you in navigating the iGaming payments landscape, get in touch with our team today.
