SiGMA World 2026 returns to Rome under advancing regulated gaming theme

SiGMA World is scheduled to return to Fiera Roma from 2 to 5 November 2026 under the theme "Advancing Regulated Gaming", the event organiser said. SiGMA World, AIBC, FX World and AGS will run together at the venue, according to an interview with SiGMA Group chief executive Emily Michallef.

According to Michallef, 65 regulators and regulatory representatives are due in Rome. She said the agenda features sessions on cross-border operations, betting integrity and requirements specific to individual jurisdictions.

The organiser expects 30,000 delegates and more than 1,200 sponsors and exhibitors, according to the interview. Michallef said the first Rome edition provided information on how attendees move through the event and the city, and that the second edition has been planned around a more connected delegate experience.

Michallef said 60 shuttle buses will serve five routes this year, linking the airport, hotels and the city with Fiera Roma from 7:00 to 19:00. Delegates arriving by train from the city centre can take a complimentary shuttle running between the Fiera train station and the main entrance, she said. She added that three well-known taxi companies are coordinating for the first time, with a dedicated rank inside the venue and roughly 4000 taxis on call during the event. The SiGMA Match app will include a shuttles section offering live updates and tracking.

Michallef said the GRAF session is set for 5 November, 11:00 to 15:00, and will cover licensing, anti-money laundering, illegal gambling and player protection, using regional examples and inviting audience discussion. In her view, staging it in Rome connects African regulators directly with international businesses that serve their markets or are weighing entry.

Three Startup Pitch competitions are on the schedule, Michallef said. Businesses picked for the Startup Village are given one Premium Pass and four Standard Passes, along with company visibility, access to the Startup Lounge and networking opportunities, and six finalists go before the judges. Michallef described prize options for the winner that include a marketing package valued at €21,300 and €20,000 in AWS credits, subject to partner terms. Startups that are selected pay nothing to take part, but they remain responsible for travel and accommodation.

For Michallef, the measure of the edition lies in what follows it: exhibitors turning contacts into business, founders pursuing further talks with investors or potential partners, and regulators acting on issues raised in the workshops. She said a strong result would see participants depart with a contact to follow up with, a next step they have agreed and a reason to keep in touch.