Poised to break attendance records, ICE Barcelona 2026 will likely showcase more innovation than ever before. Yet despite unprecedented access to advanced platforms and tools, many operators are still failing to convert technology into sustained performance.
According to iGaming and sports betting solutions provider GR8 Tech, this is primarily down to knowledge, rather than access. While many operators now have powerful platforms, systems and solutions at their fingertips, competitive edge comes from knowing how to deploy the technology in a strategic context.
Educational initiative that ‘makes champions’
That belief sits at the heart of Acceler8 Lab, a new educational initiative launching at ICE within GR8 Tech’s Champions Club.
Running across all three days of the gaming industry’s most influential annual event, Acceler8 Lab is designed to give experienced operators focused and practical knowledge on topics from sportsbook optimisation and casino psychology to AI implementation, crypto payments and esports strategy.
“Success in this market requires more than access to superior tools; it requires knowing how to deploy them and adjust to any given market, audience and strategic focus,” GR8 Tech CRO Sergey Ghazaryan says. “That’s what Acceler8 Lab delivers: the knowledge that turns good operators into champions.”
Each session will be deliberately limited to 12 participants who are C-level executives shaping technology and partnership strategy, heads of sportsbook and trading, CRM directors, and senior product managers and vice-presidents.
This approach is designed to encourage active discussion rather than passive listening, with attendees able to engage, challenge assumptions and bring their own operational context into the room.
“We strongly believe in ownership, and that applies to learning too,” Ghazaryan adds. “When both sides show up prepared to engage, the value increases exponentially.”
Led by experts from across the industry, the sessions at ICE will be delivered in collaboration with GOA, combining product expertise with operational training methodology.
“My colleagues and I are joined by Itsik Akiva, Scott Rowan, Verónica Guerrero, Rohini Sardana – recognised experts in the iGaming industry and exceptional professionals in their domains,” Ghazaryan says.
Interested in attending?
to book now to avoid missing out.
Revenue starts with mindset
Sergey Ghazaryan, chief revenue officer at GR8 Tech, will lead a session entitled ‘Growth Mindset: Why Champions Are Measuring in Multiples, Not Percentages ’.
Rather than focusing on product features, Ghazaryan’s session will challenge operators to examine how they approach ownership, preparation and partnership.
“I work with operators at different growth stages, and the pattern is clear,” Ghazaryan says. “The difference between those scaling effectively and those lagging isn’t technical – it’s mindset.”
According to Ghazaryan, many operators focus on feature lists when the real opportunity to unlock revenue comes from how decisions are made long before launch.
“My session addresses those mindset shifts directly, because that’s where championship performance actually starts,” Ghazaryan adds.
Sportsbook capabilities that create separation
For operators focused on sportsbook differentiation, Vlad Andrusenko, head of sportsbook product at GR8 Tech, leads ‘Beyond the Baseline: The 2026 Sportsbook Capabilities That Create Champions’.
The session explores capabilities that go beyond table-stakes features, including instant frontend control without development dependencies, intelligent gamification, AI-driven segmentation and predictive risk management.
“I run a lot of product demos, and I see a consistent pattern,” Andrusenko explains. “Operators are often surprised by what modern capabilities can actually do.”
However, Andrusenko is clear that technology alone is not the differentiator.
“Success hinges on knowing how to use these capabilities effectively. I’m excited to show operators not just what’s possible, but how to use it to dominate their markets.”
Designing journeys that build loyalty
Meanwhile, Kate Shevchenko, head of CRM product at GR8 Tech, will delve into journey design – and the hidden reasons why many retention strategies fail – with a session entitled ‘Design Your Perfect Player Journey: From First Bet to VIP’.
The session will be based on the premise that while operators talk about the player journey, most journeys are reactive rather than proactively designed.
Her session examines touchpoint sequencing, recognition timing and progression mechanics, showing how CRM tools can enable strategic thinking.
“Very often advanced player journey ideas get lost in translation from idea to implementation because the product doesn’t cooperate with CRM managers,” Shevchenko says.
“I want to show what can be done when CRM is working with managers and not against them – how it enables creation of truly performing journeys that resonate with players.
“When you have the right tools, you can focus on what actually matters: strategic touchpoint design, recognition timing, progression mechanics that build loyalty. My session is about understanding that framework and how to think about player journeys at championship level.”
Knowledge as competitive advantage
The Acceler8 Lab agenda reflects the clear belief that competitive advantage increasingly comes from knowing how to deploy technology, and not just owning it.
In a market where many operators share similar platforms and capabilities, performance is shaped by strategic decision-making, preparation and continuous learning. With this in mind, Acceler8 Lab is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and real-world delivery.
This philosophy also underpins GR8 Tech’s broader ambitions at ICE Barcelona 2026, with the Champions Club serving as a statement about partnership and expectations for operators that demand more from themselves and their suppliers.
“Acceler8 Lab is a natural extension of our Champions Club and our belief that champions are built, not born,” Ghazaryan concludes.
“We don’t just provide technology – we equip operators with the strategic frameworks to use it at a championship level. The Lab reinforces our thought leadership in the industry by addressing real operator challenges with quality insights they can apply immediately.”
Acceler8 Lab registrations are open here on a first-come, first-served basis. Capacity is limited, so ICE attendees are encouraged to book now to avoid missing out.
Acceler8 Lab schedule at ICE 2026
Monday 19th / Day 1:
- Session 1: ‘Advanced sportsbook: Smarter decisions, better results’
- Speaker: Scott Rowan
- Time: 11:30am
- Session 2: ‘Inside the player mind: Advanced online casino psychology’
- Speaker: Scott Rowan
- Time: 12:30pm
- Session 3: ‘Esports in the sportsbook system: Where value concentrates and why most strategies fail’
- Speaker: Rohini Sardana
- Time: 1:30pm
- Session 4: ‘The crypto advantage: Unlocking new growth in iGaming payments’
- Speaker: Veronica Guerrero
- Time: 3pm
Tuesday 20th / Day 2:
- Session 1: ‘Proven steps to successfully selecting, implementing and launching new gaming technologies’
- Speaker: Itsik Akiva
- Time: 11am
- Session 2: ‘AI in iGaming & betting’
- Speaker: Scott Rowan
- Time: 12pm
- Session 3: ‘Growth mindset: Why champions are measuring in multiples not percentages’
- Speaker: Sergey Ghazaryan
- Time: 1pm
- Session 4: ‘Design your perfect player journey: From first bet to VIP’
- Speaker: Kateryna Shevchenko
- Time: 2pm
Wednesday 21st / Day 3:
- Session 1: ‘Beyond the Baseline: The 2026 sportsbook capabilities that create champions’
- Speaker: Vlad Andrusenko
- Time: 11am
- Session 2: ‘Personalisation is overrated: How smart CRI recognition builds real player trust’
- Speaker: Scott Rowan
- Time: 12pm
- Session 3: ‘Championship sportsbook, zero dev time: ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame demo’
- Speaker: Vladyslav Andrusenko
- Time: 1pm
- Session 4: ‘Your vision, our Championship backend: ULTIM8 Sportsbook API in action’
- Speaker: Vladyslav Andrusenko
- Time: 2pm
As GR8 Tech prepares to host a dedicated educational space within its Champions Club at ICE this month, iGB interrogates CRO Sergey Ghazaryan on what Acceler8 Lab really is, who it’s for, and why knowledge is becoming the defining competitive advantage in iGaming.