The iGaming industry has experienced rapid growth, drawing thousands of delegates, speakers, and stakeholders to significant events. However, the question remains: is the technology sector within iGaming being properly served at these gatherings?
Most industry conferences stick to a traditional formula, featuring panels on market expansion, keynotes focused on regulations, and networking events designed for business development. Unfortunately, engineers often leave these talks empty-handed, lacking actionable insights.
As ICE gears up to unveil the Digital and FinTech Transformation Hall in 2027, they are collaborating with SOFTSWISS for the upcoming Tech Race Summit. Ahead of this event, Sergey Kastukevich, the Chief Technology Officer at SOFTSWISS, emphasizes the urgent need for dedicated discussions on technology within the industry and clarifies what a conference tailored for engineers should include.
Kastukevich highlights five critical reasons why these conversations are necessary.
First, there is no specific space dedicated to technology discussions in iGaming. "As an engineer, I want to take ideas from an event. I want new perspectives, practical lessons, and a better understanding of where technology is heading," he states. Current iGaming events predominantly target business growth and market relationships, overlooking the technological challenges faced by the individuals constructing the platforms. The engineering community lacks a forum to address shared technical challenges. System architects seek to discuss design, while infrastructure teams wish to evaluate scalability strategies. Developers are keen to share lessons learned from real-world issues.
Next, the industry has evolved past its earlier, simplistic technical dialogues. "Too often, conferences become marketing exercises. Companies spend twenty minutes explaining how great their products are," Kastukevich notes. With a market that now supports millions of users and operates under complex regulations, it is vital for technical leaders to engage in meaningful discussions supported by real case studies.
Furthermore, the modern infrastructure is increasingly complex. Kastukevich points out that while iGaming may appear straightforward at a glance, it involves a sophisticated technological ecosystem. Systems must manage high transaction volumes, process real-time payments, and comply with varied regulatory standards. The innovative solutions developed in iGaming are of interest to engineers beyond the sector, especially given the unique challenges it faces.
The fast-paced nature of the industry means technology must be reliable. "AI is the new high-load – just as high-load architecture was the hot topic five years ago," he argues. Rapid evolution means that decisions that were once cutting-edge can quickly become standard. In a competitive landscape, platforms unable to adapt in real-time risk losing customers and revenue. Engineers need to continuously engage with industry leaders to keep up with innovations and workflows.
Lastly, there is a need for iGaming to look beyond its technological bubble. "Innovation often happens when different perspectives meet," Kastukevich points out. The tendency to benchmark solely against other iGaming firms tends to limit creativity and advances. Sharing ideas among diverse fields can fuel the emergence of innovative solutions.
The Tech Race Summit 2026 will be held on September 10 in Warsaw, featuring over 30 speakers from industry giants like AWS, Google, Oracle, and Cloudflare. This event promises to foster an environment where the necessary conversations can take place.
