For the first time, one of the world’s most significant gambling industry events, ICE Barcelona 2025, was held in Barcelona from January 20–22, 2025, at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via. This marks a major shift after years of the exhibition traditionally taking place in London. The decision to relocate was driven primarily by the larger capacity and modern exhibition spaces of Barcelona’s congress center. Additionally, Barcelona’s strategic position as a key European hub for innovation and technology in the gambling industry played a crucial role in the move.
Jan Řehola’s Presentation Received Widespread Recognition
One of the most notable panel discussions on the second day was titled “Staying Ahead: AI in Detection of Risk Players”, hosted in the Sustainable Gambling Zone. Among the expert speakers was Jan Řehola, Director of the Institute for Gambling Regulation (IPRH). His presentation received great acclaim, particularly for its in-depth introduction of the Responsible Gambling project. This initiative is built on trust and cooperation between gambling operators, state authorities, addiction specialists, academics, and other industry experts. This collaborative approach has contributed to the project’s success, helping to create safer gambling conditions in the Czech Republic.
Artificial Intelligence in Preventing Problem Gambling
As the panel discussion focused on AI’s role in identifying at-risk players, Jan Řehola introduced IRIS, an advanced tool developed by IPRH specializing in this area. Together with Dr. Mary Donohue from the Digital Wellness Center and Rasmus Kjaergaard from Mindway AI, he engaged in a detailed discussion on the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI-driven solutions in gambling regulation.
ICE Barcelona as a Hub for Innovation
This year’s ICE Barcelona welcomed over 56,000 professionals from more than 170 countries, featuring exhibitions from 600+ companies. The move to Barcelona allowed for greater integration with technological innovations and provided a more modern environment to showcase the latest trends in the gaming industry.
Jan Řehola’s participation at this prestigious event underscores the importance of international collaboration and innovation in responsible gambling and addiction prevention. This trend highlights that technology and artificial intelligence will continue to play a pivotal role in the future of the gambling industry.
