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The 2022 edition of the Balkan exhibition of the gaming and entertainment industry BEGE demonstrates the latest achievements in the field, unfolding on an area of 7,800 square meters in the Inter Expo Center in Sofia. During the large-scale event, held on the 23rd and 24th of November, 85 exhibiting companies from three continents met. Traditionally, the forum provided serious opportunities for the creation of new strategic partnerships and for the operators of the sector to enter new markets. The prestigious BEGE 2022 Awards for achievements and innovations in the gaming industry were also presented during the exhibition. The best companies were awarded in 18 categories.
BEGE 2022 took place under the patronage of the gaming industry regulatory body, the National Revenue Agency. “The gambling industry is the most dynamically developing sector in Bulgaria. We work with the companies in the field extremely well. It is important to note that we are of the same mind regarding the importance of responsible gambling,” said Boris Mihailov, executive director of the National Revenue Agency, during the official opening of the exhibition.
Angel Iribozov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria, presented data according to which the revenues generated by the gaming sector in the state budget for 2021 amount to BGN 240 million, which is a 25% year-on-year increase. “There is a sustained trend of significant growth in the online segment with an upswing in the first 4 months of 2021. The industry is also transforming due to the accelerated development of technology,” he added.
In parallel with BEGE 2022, the Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) was held. It focused on the future of the sector and the potential it holds: metaverse, crypto, blockchain, gambling marketing, new markets, regulations and responsible gaming. Panellists at the two-day forum included leading international industry experts, such as Alex Haberl, Regulatory Development Manager, GLI Europe B.V., Pieter Remmers, Co-Chair of Gambling at the International Council on Alcohol and Other Addictions (ICAA) and Board Member of the European Association for the Study of Gambling (EASG) and Dr. Joerg Hofmann, Senior Associate at Melchers Law Firm.
A round table was also held between representatives of the National Revenue Agency and various gaming operators in Bulgaria. It gave a solid start to discussions between the regulatory body and individual operators in the industry. The meeting provided a clear prerequisite for even better future cooperation between the state institution and the private companies in our country.