Donors to the Sustainable Gambling Zone at ICE Barcelona have raised a record €80,000 ($92,859) for safer gaming charities, marking the largest annual contribution since the initiative was launched in 2019.
The funds will be presented to this year’s beneficiaries during a ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, on the Sustainable Gambling Zone stage at ICE Barcelona. The 2026 donation brings the cumulative total raised since ICE 2019 to €462,500.
The charity fund is supported by contributions from a group of gaming industry companies, including Zitro, Acordjoc, Cirsa, Flutter, Orenes, Betsson Group, Merkur, Merkur Dosniha, BGaming, and Novomatic.
Looking ahead to the 2026 edition of the Safer Gambling Zone, which will be the largest to date with 27 safer gambling organisations from 10 countries, ICE Portfolio Director Margaret Dunn said: “This is a record sum and one which reflects the central importance of player protection. The Sustainable Gambling Zone is one of the most popular features on the ICE show floor and is widely accepted as representing the flagship platform for the promotion, adoption and advancement of safe gambling practices.
“Boasting a new high-profile presence located in the main corridor between Halls 4 and 5 and a redesigned open layout, the SGZ provides attendees with a unique opportunity to explore new technology trends and engage in three days of insightful presentations, navigating the future of safer gambling and safer gambling regulation.
“The relationship our industry stakeholders have with player protection goes beyond financial donations, and I am delighted that the Safer Gambling Zone will be a focus for debate, discussion, and collaboration. It’s hugely gratifying to reflect that many of the safer gambling advances players enjoy are as a result of discussions that have taken place during ICE and partnerships that have been forged at ICE.”
Last year’s beneficiaries included Gordon Moody, Fejar, and FES. Funding provided to FES supported the launch of a Catalan-language version of an awareness campaign focused on the risks associated with digital media, alongside educational materials and tools for schools and families.
The headline sponsor of the 2026 ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone is Gamecheck, which uses blockchain-based verification technology to help operators demonstrate that games on their platforms are authentic and unmodified.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/19/117168-ice-sustainable-gambling-zone-donors-raise-record-92-859-for-safer-gaming-charities
