As Central Asia's gaming sector evolves, professionals in the industry recognize the need to consider more than just growth opportunities. In three weeks, from September 24 to 25, the SPiCE Central Asia 2026 event will take place at The Biltmore Hotel in Tbilisi, Georgia, gathering operators, affiliates, and suppliers on the cutting edge of this burgeoning market.
This year's event aims to highlight the distinct characteristics of individual markets within Central Asia and the Caucasus. Industry leaders will share firsthand insights on local challenges, successful strategies, and new opportunities worthy of attention.
A notable feature of SPiCE Central Asia 2026 is the strong representation of women from top gaming operators. They will contribute valuable perspectives on various aspects of the industry in this pivotal forum.
Ekaterine Bibiluri, the Human Resources Manager at Casino Adjara, emphasized the critical need for creating authentic pathways for talented women to move into leadership roles. "One of the biggest barriers is not a lack of talented women, but a lack of equal opportunities to be seen, trusted, and developed as future leaders," she stated. Bibiluri also suggested that gaming companies foster an inclusive culture that truly supports women's career progression and retention by focusing on genuine career opportunities and mentorship. She remarked, "I’ve seen how giving talented employees the opportunity to lead a project, make decisions, and take ownership can be the turning point that gives them the confidence to grow into leadership."
She believes that the future generation of women leaders must cultivate confidence, adaptability, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. "I would also add the courage to dream bigger – to build a future so ambitious that your own vision of becoming a leader challenges and even scares you," Bibiluri added, underscoring that real leadership involves inspiring others to pursue growth.
Anano Kanashvili, a Customer Retention Specialist at Betlive.com, shared insights about entering various markets, stressing the importance of not just translating content. "Retention strategies require local adaptation in language, culture, payments, and communication styles rather than simple translation," she said. She believes that effective personalization in customer engagement stems from understanding behavior rather than adding a name to a message. “Understanding players, building trust, and providing a smooth overall experience will be key to long-term retention,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, Maka Gorgadze, CMO of Casino Adjara, spoke on the significance of regulatory clarity and consistency. She pointed out, "The key factors are transparency, clear rules, and consistent enforcement. Operators need to understand what is expected from them, players need to feel protected, and regulation needs to be predictable." Gorgadze expressed her eagerness to learn from different markets and build connections during the event: "I’m looking forward to exchanging experiences with people from markets that are developing in different ways, sharing Georgia’s experience, understanding where the region is heading next, and, of course, networking."
