ICE Barcelona on Tuesday announced that Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim will give the opening keynote January 19 at the program’s World Gaming Forum.
“We are delighted to confirm Soo Kim, who chairs one of the most dynamic casino-entertainment brands operating in the world, as our first keynote at the 2026 edition of the ICE World Gaming Forum,” ICE Barcelona Conference Manger and Head of Content Damien Ashton-Wellman said in a statement. “As competition ramps up, both online and land-based gaming face new challenges worldwide. Bally’s ‘Always-On’ strategy represents a commitment to deliver a seamless, integrated digital and physical gaming entertainment experience for consumers. The vision involves dovetailing online and land-based operations globally from Rhode Island to Sydney to deliver consistent and engaging experiences across physical and digital platforms, whether they are in a land-based casino, using a sports betting app, or playing games online.”
A news release said Soo is implementing “one of gaming’s most unconventional expansion playbooks.” The exclusive fireside chat will examine Bally’s recent New York City approval and its “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to redefine the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. A resort destination to be constructed on the former site of the Tropicana Las Vegas will share a 35-acre campus with the new Las Vegas Athletics ballpark.
Featuring two luxury hotel towers totaling 3,000 rooms, a casino and VIP experience, a state-of-the-art 2,500-person capacity entertainment venue, and more than 500,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment offerings, Bally’s Las Vegas is a case study for how a global operator can bring together sport, gaming, entertainment, dining and hospitality to meet the growing consumer demand for integrated entertainment.
Kim is the founding partner of investment firm Standard General and is the firm’s Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer. He has been investing in special situations strategies since 1997, starting at Bankers Trust Company, as a principal at Och-Ziff Capital Management, and a partner at Cyrus Capital Management.
Kim is a director of Intralot SA, a director of Pursuit, and Vice Chairman and Director of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. He also is a former member of the board of Greektown Superholdings and Media General, and the board of managers of ALST Casino Holdco.
Kim’s keynote will be open to all ICE World Gaming Forum delegates across its nine individual conferences and workshops, including those attending the Casino Leaders Conference and World Regulatory Briefing, and the newly launched Sports Leaders Conference. Visitors and exhibitors to ICE can upgrade their ticket to a conference/workshop pass to access all keynotes and their chosen content tracks.
