Last updated on October 30th, 2024
We sat down with Antonio Sapio, the Director at EDGE Europe’s Gaming Expo, and an expert event planner with more than 20 years of experience in the iGaming realm, and had a riveting interview about a plethora of gripping subjects that range from his professional journey to EDGE’s historic first event in Dublin.
Join us as we pick the brain of one of the best event creators in iGaming in one of the most exciting interviews we have ever done!
First of all, let us start by saying that it is an honour to have you as our guest Antonio, your reputation in the gaming world precedes you, and we are happy to have you as our guest.
Antonio, you have been known as a key figure in iGaming for more than 20 years now. What inspired you to enter this industry? What do you like the most about iGaming?
Antonio: I like to create events. I am terrible at playing any sort of game, but I enjoy designing spaces where people can meet, play, and have fun. I’ve done this for 20 years, and it’s fantastic how you can always innovate and experiment around live events and player experience. The opportunities are endless. Live event content is timeless; it’s only through investment in content now that a brand can shift its share of voice in the future.
Antonio, you are known as an expert in the field of event planning, having occupied several upper-management positions in various leading companies. Tell us, what are the most important skills that an event manager should possess? What type of a person do you need to be?
Antonio: You need to enjoy working 14-hour shifts for 14 straight days and being particularly passionate about spending the remaining hours sitting in hotel rooms staring at the walls. Other than that, it is something everyone can master by learning from mistakes.
While we are on the note of your past, you have worked as an Event Manager for arguably one of the biggest poker brands in the business, PokerStars. How important is working for a big company such as PokerStars for your personal growth, especially when it comes to experience?
Antonio: PokerStars LIVE has been around since the poker dinosaurs roamed the earth. After decades of refining their processes and visual identity, they now run a nearly perfect machine and the EPT is one of the most breathtaking experiences a poker player can wish for. They are unbeatable at what they do, and it was an honour to have been part of the journey.
You are the Director and the leading figure at EDGE Europe’s Gaming Expo, one of the top iGaming events in the industry. What sparked the idea for EDGE?
Antonio: I had the idea after being made redundant for the third time in two years. There were countless gambling conferences and an equal number of gambling festivals, so I saw an opportunity to create something new that could stand out from the crowd by merging online and live gaming like never before. EDGE can only be free for all, ensuring everyone can participate, contribute, and have fun.
While we are on the subject, what makes EDGE stand out from its competitors?
Antonio: EDGE is obviously designed to be the only gambling conference and gambling festival together in the same place: we are talking about 20 workshops and exhibitors, but also 30 live tournaments with a guaranteed prize pool of 1,000,000 Euros.
EDGE is also the largest poker forum in the world – we want the event to become a yearly gathering for the poker community of professionals and high-value players. We want to celebrate poker as a thriving industry with limitless potential.
EDGE is also modelled to become the largest assembly of crypto gambling enthusiasts.
Finally, we want EDGE to offer a platform to tackle controversial topics. The event is crafted to nurture open, respectful dialogue on divisive questions, to encourage critical thinking. Responsible gambling is something we truly care about and all workshops are moderated by responsible gambling gurus, making sure our heart is in the right place.
The first edition of EDGE Europe’s Gaming Expo is nearing, and we can honestly say that we couldn’t be more excited. What can we expect from this historic rendition of Europe’s Gaming Expo?
Antonio: This is the first EDGE, so anything can happen. We hope to create an inclusive environment for everyone, with a bit of Irish craic.
What will particularly excite our poker readers is the fact that the Irish Poker Festival will take place during the first edition of EDGE in a legendary collaboration. Why the Irish Poker Festival? Don’t get us wrong, we are absolutely stoked, but we want to know more about this collaboration.
Antonio: We identified strategic regions in Europe based on the event’s objectives. Ireland is a tolerant jurisdiction, where gambling activities across verticals can be promoted live and online, free from legal restrictions. Ireland is also one of the most valuable markets for the industry —Irish players show a strong interest in gambling and tend to have a longer life cycle compared to other European players. We have plans to expand to other strategic regions in 2025—fingers crossed.
EDGE Europe’s Gaming Expo will take place in Dublin, Ireland, at the luxurious and esteemed Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin. What inspired you to choose Dublin as the place to host this historic edition of EDGE? Were there any other cities in consideration?
Antonio: We wanted a prestigious venue that also offered flexibility in using the space. While most conference venues can work well for festivals, not all festival venues can be adapted to host a conference. That narrowed down our options. The Intercontinental Hotel is a majestic venue in a fantastic city, and I’ve always been in love with Ireland and its people.
Where do you see EDGE 5 years from now, Antonio? How do you picture the iGaming event landscape in the future?
Antonio: Hopefully, the industry will learn to use AI responsibly for the greater good. We will need to address the ethical and regulatory implications to ensure AI contributes to a safer and more secure online environment. We need to stop tactics used to lure vulnerable populations and start introducing protective measures. We have several workshops dedicated to the impact of AI in gambling, and we hope to offer our contribution to a better future.
Let’s end the note on a more personal note, as we are sure our readers would love to learn more about your personality. Tell us, Antonio, what do you like to do in your spare time? Are there any hobbies that you would like to share, favourite sports teams, movies, etc?
Antonio: I have three little children, so there’s very little spare time I am afraid. My children’s hobbies have become mine, and I usually spend my time making sure they don’t get lost or hurt each other. I’m from Naples, so naturally, I’m a great Napoli supporter and I love football. Otherwise, I just try to avoid a midlife crisis or the possibility of being made redundant another time.
