The international iGaming and tech community has descended upon the Italian capital for the grand opening of SiGMA World Rome 2026. Day 1 has set an electrifying tone for the summit, combining a bustling exhibition floor, high-stakes sporting competitions, and a series of premier conference sessions designed to dissect the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping the global gaming landscape.
The day’s extensive schedule runs across a dynamic timeline, offering delegates continuous opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate:
- 09:00 – 12:00: First-Timer Networking Kickstart, designed to help newcomers integrate smoothly into the summit’s ecosystem.
- 10:00 – 18:00: Main Exhibition – Day 1, showcasing cutting-edge B2B solutions and innovations.
- 10:00 – 19:00: Media Duel Tour at SiGMA World.
- 10:00 – 17:30: SiGMA Grand Prix by SOFTSWISS.
- 11:00 – 16:00: Conference – Rome 2026 – Day 1.
- 11:00 – 16:30: Specialized Workshops – Day 1.
- 14:00 – 15:00: VIP Creator Meet & Greet.
- 15:00 – 18:00: Afternoon Networking Drinks.
- 16:00 – 17:00: WEEX AI Trading Challenge (running Nov 03 – 05).
- 18:00 – 22:00: La Dolce Vita by Paybis & Repay.
- 19:00 – 01:00: Gio Pika: Red Night by Spinjoy Games.
- 19:30 – 23:00: iGathering Networking Cocktail.
- 20:00 – 00:00: AIBC & FX Awards gala ceremony.
- 21:00 – 02:00: Euphoria Romanum by Redcore – Relax & Connect.
- 22:00 – 03:00: Mingle AGS Rome Party.
Some of the most exciting panels to watch on Day 1
Among the conference’s major highlights, several expert-led panels have drawn intense interest from attendees eager for strategic insights:
- 11:00 – 11:25 | AI vs. Complexity: Can Tech Simplify Cross-Border Growth?
- Overview: Examining how AI is deployed to analyze regulations, consumer behavior, and operational requirements across new jurisdictions.
- Panelists: Ozgur Duzgunoglu (Senior Director, Engineering & Design, Telehouse), Demos Katsis (Deputy Mayor, Limassol, Cyprus), Gil Soffer (CCO, Digitain), Olga Finkel (Co-Founder & Partner, WH Partners), and Valentina Bagniya (CMO, SOFTSWISS). Brought to you by SICPA.
- 11:30 – 12:00 | Regulatory Backfire: How Crackdowns Empower Offshore Rivals
- Overview: Exploring when enforcement deters illegal activity versus pushing demand offshore, balancing player protection with channelisation.
- Panelists: Milica Delevic (Founder & Attorney at Law, Delevic Legal), Dario Evangelista (Deputy General Counsel, Betsson Group), Youri Hazanov (Managing Director, SICPA), Ewan Willars (Head of Identity & Regulatory Market Strategy, Jumio), and Francesco Rodano (Group Head of Responsible Gaming, Allwyn International).
- 12:55 – 13:20 | Debate: The World Cup Betting Autopsy: Did Prediction Markets Kill the Old Playbook?
- Overview: Analyzing how sportsbooks, prediction markets, and AI-powered betting compete for fan attention and rewrite economic models.
- Panelists: Bill Pascrell, III, Esq. (Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group), Chris Bird (Member of the Advisory Committee, 1XCare), Gina Antoniello (Board Director, Safebets), Bar Worcel (Co-Founder & CEO, TipMaster.ai), and Jonas Gundersen (Founder & CEO, Fusion Esports Group & Astralis).
- 13:30 – 14:00 | Brazil’s Regulatory U-Turn: From Boom to Ban
- Overview: Investigating the dramatic regulatory reversal in Brazil following massive 2025 growth, assessing impacts on operators, payments, and player funds.
- Panelists: Juan Camilo Carrasco (Managing Partner, Sora Lawyers), H.E. Lucimara Batista dos Reis (Consul & Chief Compliance Officer and AML, Honorary Consulate of Brazil in Malta), Stepan Dobrovolskiy (CEO, BetBoom LATAM), John Aquilina (Former Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Malta in Brazil), and Bruna Mirandola (Responsible Gaming Parliamentary Front Coordinator, Brazilian Chamber of Deputies).
- 14:35 – 15:00 | One Country, 50 Systems: Why US Expansion Multiplies Cost Instead of Revenue
- Overview: Breaking down how state-by-state compliance frameworks in jurisdictions like New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania inflate operational costs and slow deployment.
- Panelists: Ron Segev (Founding Partner, Segev LLP), Robert Stoddard (Lead Tax Partner – Gaming, KPMG), Loretta A. Tuell (Managing Principal, Tuell Law, P.C. and Of Counsel at Capitol Counsel, LLC), and Marcus D. Fruchter (Executive Director, Illinois Gaming Board). Brought to you by IAGA.
As SiGMA World Rome 2026 successfully wraps up its opening day, the momentum established across the exhibition floor, high-stakes tournaments, and visionary conference sessions sets an unprecedented standard for the remainder of the summit. With industry pioneers continuing to collaborate, debate, and forge strategic alliances in the Italian capital, delegates can look forward to another exceptional day of innovation and networking ahead.
