Gaming in Spain had exclusive access to Alex Pratt, Founder of the iGB España Conference that takes place in Madrid next week, 18 and 19^th of November 2011 in Madrid. 

http://www.igbaffiliate.com/events/igbespana/

By Willem van Oort

1: How many IGB Espana have you done now and what is the most significant change in the event you have noticed since?

This year will be our third iGB Espana although we did do a Spanish language day during our 2008 Barcelona affiliate expo and conference which was fundamental in kicking off this series of events. In terms of changes, there have been lots especially this year on the cusp of regulation as there is both a feeling of apprehension as well as excitement at what impact the changes will have on Spanish iGaming market. In addition to this we have seen the focus on the LatAm market grow very fast over and as a result now dedicate much of the conference to this fast emerging market.

What is great about iGB Espana is it was first started when the Spanish speaking markets weren’t necessarily the most fashionable markets to be in, but over the last four years the attention on these markets has grown substantially so the event has naturally become the central meeting place for executives, affiliates and suppliers who are focused on this high growth area. What this has meant for the event is that what started as primarily a conference for affiliates has become an event for the business to business side of the industry so we now see a lot of vendors and senior level operators attend alongside the affiliates which means we get  a genuine 360 degree view of the market during the conference which is really unique and beneficial.

2: many of us don’t know much about the rest of your publishing business, can you explain shortly?

iGaming Business has grown a huge amount over the past 10 years since launch. When I first started 7 years ago it was just iGaming Business magazine and that was published on a quarterly basis. We now have two separate brands, iGB Affiliate which services the affiliate market with a magazine, directory, events and an online offering, and for the business to business side of the market we have iGaming Business magazine, directories, supplements, legal guides, daily email newlines and online. More recently we have developed an intelligence business selling data and research on a content licence basis to the market which has been extremely successful.

The best way to describe our business is as an information provider, and we do this using multiple platforms across the entire business of iGaming whilst at the same time facilitating business and relationships. It’s been an interesting ride and we have a lot more plans to roll out so look forward to growing further into other localised markets as well as improving our current offerings.

3: let’s talk numbers: how many affiliates and other visitors do you expect this year?

iGB Espana has historically surprised me each year with the volume of delegates it gets and this year looks no different. I think the reason for this is that compared to other iGaming events we don’t charge nearly as much but also localise the event 100% so all the content and delegates are completely relevant to the Spanish speaking market. On top of this we actively try to generate a networking environment throughout the event so as well as education a delegate will meet and network with many new contacts in iGaming guaranteeing new business, ideas and knowledge at a relatively low cost.

So, in answer to your question I expect us to have 400 delegates of which around 58% will be affiliates (based on last year’s figures) but as I say we are seeing more and more high level execs and vendors attend so I think it will eb a really interesting mix this year.

4: what are the highlights of this years conference session?

The conference this year is in my opinion the best we have produced so it’s pretty hard to pick a highlight but if I have had to, the sessions focused on the upcoming regulatory environment are a must. They will be extremely interesting to listen to from an immediate and the long term perspective of where the Spanish gaming market is moving towards. I am also very interested in the session focused on the LatAm market as I think there is a huge opportunity there but its an extremely misunderstood market that few are maximising at the moment.

5: Give me 1 reason why not to miss the event this year.

Difficult one, but if I could just choose one I would say because it is the oldest and still the only event in the market that genuinely brings together all the executives, affiliates and vendors that target the Spanish speaking market. If you are serious about making money in these countries then it is essential you attend to meet and learn in an environment that is 100% focused on this area. 

NOTE

For an exclusive discount to iGB España please email willem@vanoort.org (only for members of Gaming in Spain Group, on LinkedIn)