The International Center for Responsible Gaming will be attending the upcoming ICE Barcelona 2026 exhibition and will participate in the Innovations Challenge due to take place on January 20 at 10:15 CET, CDC Gaming originally reported.
Confirming the news on Thursday, ICRG has been shortlisted and selected as a finalist from more than 50 submissions, securing one of the five available spots.
The format seeks to distinguish organizations that have worked to strengthen AI, data, player protection, automation, and operational performance, with a panel of judges choosing a single winner in the end.
ICRG will be represented by ICRG director of research and education, Travis Sztainert, president Michael Soll, and Michael Wohl, a professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, who will seek to demonstrate how good research and academic work are not always implemented into policies and products, trying to advocate for closing this glaring gap.
As a format, ICE Barcelona 2026 is building upon its legacy and ongoing efforts to make the industry safe, which includes the Safer Gambling Zone (SGZ), a dedicated front-and-center initiative that focuses on raising awareness about responsible gambling and urging the industry to act.
Organizations such as the ICRG have consistently delivered in-depth research to help analyze what drives problem gambling in consumers and how legitimate businesses can help change that by protecting their players.