The rapid growth of the iGaming industry has generated large-scale events attracting thousands of stakeholders, but it raises the question: are these events addressing the technology audience within iGaming?
Most conferences adopt a familiar structure. Attendees are greeted with panels focusing on market expansion, keynotes discussing regulations, and networking opportunities tailored for business development teams.
However, engineers who attend these sessions often leave without gaining actionable insights related to their work.
As preparations for the Digital and FinTech Transformation Hall at ICE begin to take shape for its 2027 debut, the event is collaborating with SOFTSWISS to host the Tech Race Summit. Sergey Kastukevich, the chief technology officer at SOFTSWISS, is advocating for more technical conversations within the industry, explaining how conferences dedicated to engineers should be designed.
Kastukevich outlines five key reasons why these discussions are necessary:
First, the iGaming sector lacks dedicated venues for technology discussions. According to Kastukevich, engineers seek to derive valuable ideas from events, need innovative perspectives, and aim for practical lessons regarding technological advancements. Current iGaming gatherings tend to emphasize business aspects, leaving technical professionals without a dedicated environment to share and tackle common challenges. This results in isolated problem-solving, as insights often remain confined within individual companies, leading to repeated mistakes across the industry.
Secondly, the industry has evolved beyond its initial technical conversations. Kastukevich points out that conferences often transform into marketing platforms where companies spend excessive time promoting their products rather than initiating substantial technical discussions. With platforms now processing millions of users and navigating complex regulatory landscapes, the need for meaningful conversations around technical failures and successes has never been more critical.
Third, the complexity of modern infrastructure necessitates a conversation beyond the scope of familiar solutions. Despite appearing simple to outsiders, the technology ecosystem behind iGaming is intricate. Platforms must manage high transaction volumes, real-time payment processing, and integrate a multitude of external services while adhering to various regulatory standards. Engineers outside of the iGaming realm may offer valuable insights due to their interactions with complex infrastructures in other industries.
Additionally, Kastukevich notes that the pace of change in technology, especially regarding AI and high-load systems, can outstrip industry adaptation. Engineering choices that seemed progressive just a couple of years ago are now considered standard practice. In the iGaming sector, the consequences of falling behind can be immediate, resulting in lost revenue and player engagement.
Finally, Kastukevich emphasizes the importance of breaking out of the iGaming technology bubble. Innovation thrives when diverse perspectives converge. Unfortunately, many iGaming engineers are limited to benchmarking only against their competitors. By engaging with professionals from different sectors, they can exchange ideas and foster innovation. Stronger cross-industry conversations can lead to enhanced practices and ultimately strengthen the overall iGaming framework.
The Tech Race Summit 2026 is scheduled for September 10 in Warsaw, featuring over 30 speakers from renowned companies like AWS, Google, Oracle, and Cloudflare.
Sergey Kastukevich serves as the chief technology officer at SOFTSWISS, where he focuses on technical leadership and team culture. He mentors emerging technical leaders, promotes AI integration within daily engineering operations, and engages in community-building through hackathons and conferences. Additionally, he serves on the advisory board for the Digital and FinTech Transformation Hall at ICE, set to debut in 2027.
