GR8 Tech, a high-performance B2B provider delivering full-scale sportsbook and casino solutions worldwide, closed ICE Barcelona 2026 with results that underscored both its commercial momentum and market relevance. The event marked the official start of the company’s business season and exceeded internal benchmarks across engagement, deal flow, and brand positioning.

“Champions Club was packed from open to close, every single day. By the time we wrapped, the team had generated around 200 qualified meetings—a 35% jump from our previous record at the end of 2025. So it was a very successful ICE and the start of our business season,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech. He also highlighted the importance of industry recognition, noting that “the special recognition as the Best Software Supplier of the Year at the European iGaming Awards was a great bonus. It is always good when reputation and results line up.”

High-intent operators and market-ready conversations

According to the company, the quality of the audience at ICE Barcelona once again proved to be a key differentiator. GR8 Tech reported conversations that went beyond general introductions and focused on concrete operational challenges and growth plans.

“ICE traditionally gathers a great audience. The start of the year is a time when everyone is coming fresh from their end-of-year analytics and a clear vision for what needs to change,” Krazhan explained. He added that operators arrived with “plans, budgets, and very specific problems they wanted to solve—payment resilience, faster launches, crypto readiness, and localization gaps,” areas that closely align with GR8 Tech’s value proposition. “People know what GR8 Tech does and arrive ready to talk specifics,” he said.

Crypto Turnkey dominates the spotlight

During the event, GR8 Tech showcased its Platform for Champions, a full-stack solution designed for both launch and scaling scenarios. However, the clear standout was the company’s Crypto Turnkey solution, which accounted for more than half of all discussions at the show.

“The interest makes sense,” said Krazhan, pointing to growing pressure on operators from PSP bottlenecks, slow settlements, and limited payment flexibility in emerging markets. He explained that Crypto Turnkey offers “more control—0.5% fees, zero chargebacks, settlement in minutes rather than days, and payment uptime that does not depend on third-party approvals.” For operators targeting crypto-forward audiences or expanding into regions with limited banking infrastructure, he noted, “it solves many roadblocks. That is why it dominated the conversations.”

Key trends shaping the industry

From GR8 Tech’s perspective, several themes emerged at ICE Barcelona 2026 that are expected to define the industry’s short- and mid-term direction. “Payments have become a true differentiator,” Krazhan stated, emphasizing that deposit conversion, payout speed, and trust are now core growth drivers. He also observed that crypto is shifting from a “nice to have” to a strategic necessity, particularly in markets with unreliable traditional payment coverage.

Another major takeaway was the growing importance of Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. “They are where the real growth is happening, but they reward operators who can localize properly and adapt week to week,” he said, adding that a single global setup no longer delivers the same results outside mature regions. Speed was the third critical factor, with faster launches, tighter compliance, and sharper personalization emerging as decisive competitive advantages.

Strategic focus for 2026 and regional expansion

Following ICE Barcelona, GR8 Tech is doubling down on the solutions that resonated most strongly with operators. “Crypto Turnkey is already live and rolling out—it is a major step in giving operators more payment independence and better access to high-value segments,” Krazhan confirmed. Alongside this, the company is investing further in platform performance and refining geo-specific presets to help operators launch quickly and remain competitive at a local level.

Looking ahead, MENA and Latin America remain GR8 Tech’s top priorities for expansion in 2026. The rationale, according to Krazhan, is clear: “Strong player demand and operators in those regions requesting geo-specific execution, which are exactly our strengths.” He added that the Champions Club concept will continue to accompany the company’s global presence, described as “a result-driven community of operators and industry leaders who share the same standards for performance,” reinforcing GR8 Tech’s positioning across all verticals.