ICE 2022 could be postponed until the spring

The 2022 ICE London event, which is scheduled for 1-3 February at the London’s ExCeL, may possibly be postponed by two months until April/May as fears surrounding the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 mount.

The UK reported almost 79,000 daily cases of the highly contagious variant yesterday, 15 December, which was a record high since the virus reached the country in early 2020.

Members had met during the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) monthly meeting to vote on the proposal on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

They discussed the arrangements for the UK exhibition with ICE representatives, Alex Pratt, managing director of Clarion Events, and Kate Chambers of Fulwood Media.

Pratt briefed about the details of event registration, travel requirements and expectations for visitation, but AGEM members’ concern was that the financial risks were mounting ahead of a go/no-go cut-off point.

Meanwhile, slot machine manufacturers raised concerns over shipping deadlines for ICE approaching and a redline was being drawn with regards to participation.

AGEM is now conducting a poll to find whether the association’s 170+ companies want to go ahead with the expo in February, push back several months or be cancelled for 2022.

Results of the survey are due by the end of the week, however the expectation is that members would prefer to postpone the event into April/May.

The 2021 ICE London exhibition was also postponed until April. However, the event was unable to take place at all in 2021, so the organisers will be desperate to hold it at some point in 2022.