iGaming events 2026–2027: how to sort out your banking at ICE, SiGMA and SBC

The short answer

The next twelve months of iGaming events start with SiGMA World in Rome on 2–5 November 2026 and ICE Barcelona on 18–20 January 2027. For operators, suppliers and affiliates with a banking problem, these shows are the one place where the banks, e-money institutions and payment firms that serve gaming are all in the same building. Go with a shortlist, a pack and ten questions, and you can do in three days what usually takes three months of emails.

• 5 main B2B shows between November 2026 and September 2027.
• 28 of the 203 business account providers on Finzil say they serve iGaming.
• The season's agenda: Brazil's ban, the UK's 40% tax, Finland's new market and Dutch licence renewals.

The calendar

Dates are as published by the organisers and event calendars in October 2026. SiGMA's dates are confirmed on its own site; for the others, check the organiser's site before you book travel.

What everyone will be talking about

Four changes will be on most panels and in most meetings this season. Each one affects banking.

1. Brazil's ban. Provisional Measure 1,394 banned fixed-odds betting and online casino from 25 September 2026, with every licence ending on 25 October. Operators, suppliers and affiliates are moving budget elsewhere, and payment firms are reviewing Brazilian exposure.
2. The UK's 40% Remote Gaming Duty, in force since 1 April 2026, nearly double the old 21%. Thinner margins mean closer reading of operators' accounts by their providers.
3. Finland's licensed market, opening on 1 July 2027 with a 22% tax. The first licence was reported on 15 October 2026. New entrants will need euro accounts that accept a Finnish licence.
4. Dutch licence renewals. The first five-year licences, issued when the market opened in October 2021, are up for renewal.

Before you go: build the shortlist

Most exhibitors in the payments area serve gaming. That doesn't mean they serve you. Before you book a meeting, check three things against each provider's published rules:

• Your licence. Of the 83 providers on Finzil whose lists name gambling, 32 refuse only unlicensed gambling, and some of those accept only UK or EEA licences.
• Your country of registration and where your owners live. Many providers accept companies from a fixed list of countries.
• What you are. Operators, platform suppliers, game studios and affiliates are separate risk categories. 14 providers on Finzil say they serve affiliate marketing, half the number that serve iGaming.

A shortlist of five providers that fit on paper beats twenty stand visits.

The pack to bring

Have it on a laptop or a shared folder you can send the same evening:

1. Your licence, with the link to the regulator's register.
2. A one-page summary: what you do, which markets, monthly volumes by currency, and which providers you use today.
3. A group structure chart up to the people who own it, with percentages.
4. Your AML and responsible gambling policies, and your MLRO's name.
5. Recent management accounts, especially if you operate in the UK or the Netherlands, where tax rates have just risen.

Ten questions to ask at a payments stand

1. Which licences do you accept, and is that written in your policy?
2. Do you serve operators, suppliers, affiliates, or all three?
3. Which of my markets can you serve, and which countries are excluded?
4. Is this a corporate account for our own money, or can it hold player funds?
5. Who is your regulator, and what is your register number?
6. Which banks hold your safeguarded funds?
7. What do you charge gaming businesses: monthly, per transaction, and set-up?
8. Do you hold a reserve, and how is it calculated?
9. How long does onboarding take for a business like mine, from complete pack to live account?
10. What would make you say no?

The last question is the most useful one. Most people at a stand will tell you, which saves you an application.

Our view: the best meetings at these shows are booked before you arrive. Send your one-page summary with the meeting request. A provider's sales team that has already checked you with its compliance colleagues gives a real answer at the stand.

After the show

• Send the pack within 48 hours, while the conversation is fresh.
• Apply to two or three providers in parallel, with identical information.
• Keep notes of what each said about licences, reserves and pricing, and ask for them in writing before you sign.

Finzil checks your licence, country of registration and owners against the published rules of 203 providers. Check your company.

Questions people ask

When is ICE Barcelona 2027?

ICE Barcelona 2027 runs from 18 to 20 January 2027 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, with the iGB Affiliate conference in Barcelona the same week. Check the organiser's site for exhibition hours and registration.

What is the biggest iGaming conference?

ICE Barcelona, held each January, is the largest B2B gaming show of the year by exhibitors and visitors. SiGMA World, in Rome on 2–5 November 2026, is the main event in the second half of the year.

Can I find a bank for my gaming company at ICE?

You can meet banks, e-money institutions and payment firms that serve gaming, and some will pre-screen you on the spot. Check first that their published rules accept your licence and your country of registration, and bring your documents.

Which iGaming events are best for affiliates?

iGB Affiliate in Barcelona in January and iGB L!VE in London in July are built around affiliates. SiGMA World also has a large affiliate presence.

General information. Event dates from organisers and published calendars, October 2026; confirm with each organiser before booking. Provider figures from 203 profiles on Finzil, checked in October 2026.