The fourth Summit of iGaming, Malta (SiGMA) is almost upon us. This annual summit is once again focused on uniting all sectors of the digital gaming industry and will include conferences and events focused on pertinent topics like blockchain, women in finance and iGaming and fraud, as well as a host of activities such as the European Fantasy Sports Summit (EFSS) and an inaugural crypto cruise. Taking place November 22-25, the 2017 SiGMA is hosted by the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre.
One of the key events at the summit is a dedicated conference on blockchain and disruptive technology. Taking place in the main room on Friday, November 24, the conference promises to be an informative and exciting event for any business or individual with an interest in cryptocurrency and iGaming. The conference will begin with a novel start-up pitch event, offering 40 exhibitors the opportunity to make three-minute pitches in front of industry investors including Morten Klein, the founder of Klein Group AS, Simon Collins, the founder of Gaming Realms and Julie Meyer, the founder/CEO of Ariadne Capital.
Following the round of pitches, a series of discussions and talks will take place around topics including disruptive tech start-ups, bitcoin, cryptocurrency risk management and evaluation as well as the impact of blockchain on iGaming. Eric Benz, the managing director for the global bitcoin wallet and payment gateway Cryptopay, will lead a discussion on how 2017 has been the year for bitcoin, and Jon Matonis, the founding director of The Bitcoin Foundation, will be discussing risk management for bitcoin gaming operators, which is no doubt set to be of particular interest to the online casino exhibitors in attendance at the conference.
The future of blockchain will be high on the agenda at the conference as experts like GamCrowd CEO Chris North will be taking the floor to discuss hot topics including the regulation of decentralized currency, the impact of blockchain technology on iGaming as well as the potential pitfalls and benefits facing decentralized casinos. The closing presentation on initial coin offering (ICO) will feature Esteban van Goor, a venture capitalist and renowned Cryptolawyer, and Leonard Bonello, a senior associate with GANADO Advocates, as keynote speakers.
Fresh off the back of launching its latest innovative game Power Up, leading online casino and poker platform PokerStars will be one of the key exhibitors at the GPI European Poker Conference, which will take place on day two of the summit. This is the second annual European Poker Conference and is widely seen throughout the iGaming industry as the best place to both network and establish new partnerships. Representatives from other leading gaming companies including Better Collective, Microgaming, XLMedia, Mr Green and Catena Media are expected to be in attendance.
Also on the agenda, will be a conference focused on payments, which will take place on Thursday, November 23, and will be opened by CTO of Sappaya, AJ Thompson. Thompson is a seasoned online gaming and entertainment leader and strategist with a wealth of experience in business strategy, operational management, gaming products and legal frameworks for the sector. Five other notable keynote speakers have been invited to discuss topics including the impact of fraud on gaming operations, how the fiat banking sector is tackling the issue and the wider impact of fraud on the gaming ecosystem.
A full list of participants and the complete agenda are available to download on the summit website. The event runs from November 22-25 and is free to attend for recognized affiliates. Registration is available until the last minute and a discounted pass for the summit is available until October 31.
