- Media
Watch: Sigma Rome Summit to set a new standard for gaming industry
“Sigma is an amazing organization, growing around the world,” Dennys said. “One thing we focus on is taking our summits to the next level each year. Our upcoming Rome event will continue that trajectory.”
Dennys explained that Sigma’s approach differs from other industry events. “Some expos are entertainment-driven, others are massive in scale. What we do is focus on bridging the gap between governments and operators, ensuring dialogue where it hasn’t always existed,” he said. “The industry deserves a more corporate image, and that’s what we’re delivering at SiGMA.”
This year’s Rome summit will feature a high-profile opening from the European Parliament President, underscoring SiGMA’s emphasis on regulatory and political engagement alongside traditional business networking. Dennys stressed that proper regulation is critical for the industry’s growth and safety. “Ultimately, regulations exist to protect players. If operators are properly licensed, you know player protection mechanisms are in place. Without regulation, betting continues anyway, but in an unregulated, potentially unsafe way,” he said.
Dennys highlighted the contrast between countries in their regulatory approaches. “In the Netherlands, collaboration between operators and regulators works well. In Finland, overly restrictive rules can push players to the unregulated market. If you regulate fairly, operators will choose the regulated environment. If you don’t, the black market thrives.” He added that fair, balanced regulations, such as those in Denmark, provide the highest levels of market generalization.
On emerging markets, Dennys noted that SiGMA is closely watching Brazil and the UAE. “Brazil is a huge market. Online regulation came first, and operators are responding positively,” he said. “The UAE is interesting. Once integrated resorts and licensing open, Dubai could become a major hub for gaming and VIP clientele, potentially rivaling Las Vegas or Macau.”
Farrugia and Dennys also discussed the role of advertising and player education. “Banning advertising doesn’t stop players; it only advantages illegal operators. Proper regulation combined with education is key,” Farrugia said.
Italy, as the host country for SiGMA Rome, is central to this year’s focus. Heathcliff Farrugia emphasised the significance of the market: “Italy is one of Europe’s biggest gaming markets. The upcoming summit will have panels discussing Italian regulation and feature political representation not just from Italy, but internationally. It’s our largest event yet, triple the size of our previous shows, with ample space for networking and discussion.”
He continued: “Rome is perfectly connected globally, and the Italian authorities have been very welcoming. We anticipate strong collaboration across the board. This should be a truly significant summit.”
The SiGMA Rome summit will not only provide a platform for industry discussion but also demonstrate the growing professionalism and corporate nature of gaming events worldwide. As Heathcliff Farrugia summarized, “We’re moving the industry away from the ‘wild west’ phase. Proper regulation, political engagement, and corporate-level organization are what the industry and players deserve.”
