Dr. Sameer Al Ansari is the Chief Executive Officer of RAK Digital Assets Oasis, the only common law free zone in the world solely dedicated to non-regulated digital and virtual asset companies. Under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, The Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and oversight of its Chairman Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qassimi, Dr Sameer has played a key role in the creation of RAK DAO, building the team and shaping its future strategy.
He is also the CEO of RAK ICC, one of the fastest-growing government-owned offshore corporate registries.
Dr. Al Ansari is a finance guru with over 35 years of senior corporate, operational, private equity, investing, board, and strategic advisory experience. He currently serves on several boards, including Marjan, TVM Healthcare Partners and Al Ramz Capital.
Dr. Al Ansari’s vast leadership experience includes roles such as Chairman & CEO of Dubai International Capital ($13B Assets Under Management) and numerous regional and international boards, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) from 2004–2016, Hawkamah Institute of Corporate Governance, Dubai Holding, and many others.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Mona Motwani
Founder & CEO
Ixia Capital
Mona Motwani
Founder & CEO
Ixia Capital
Mona Motwani Founding Venture Partner
Mona is an investor, advisor, and executive in the iGaming Industry. She has extensive knowledge of the international sports industry including governance, business development, and customer relationships. Her projects have seen her work with multiple international brands and successfully brought them into the Indian market. Notable experience includes a long stint over the last seven years in leading Sportradar for the Indian Subcontinent. Mona is a strategic planner, thinker and natural problem solver. She has always been driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Her core competencies include strategy, business development, and nurturing customer relationships with strong professional connections in the sports industry all across the world.
Lucy Chow
Investor & Author
Lucy Chow
Investor & Author
Lucy is known as one of the "OG" investors in the UAE. She is focused on the innovation space, both in terms of supporting founders and as an investor. Lucy has garnered a strong reputation as someone who has helped build the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the UAE. Her recently published book, "Changing The Game", highlights the importance of digital technologies (in sectors such as gaming) and its relevance to the future of work. Lucy is an advocate and capacity builder focused on digital transformation as it applies to businesses, as well as the education sector. Her role as Advisor, 2022FemaleAngels and Representative, World Business Angels Investment Forum is both on increasing funding for entrepreneurs, as well as to achieve gender equity in the investment ecosystem in MENA. Lucy is a Linkedin TopVoice and one of CEO Middle East's Influential Women in the Arab World. She has been recognized by Arabian Business as one of 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders. She is Top 100 Women of the Future and HSBC Middle East featured her as one of 75 outstanding individuals, who have contributed to the UAE’s rise.
Lucy sits on the Board of Trustees for The American School of Dubai, as well as the Solidarity Circle, UNHCR. She has been a contributing author for Life on the Move, an anthology of stories about expat life and The Possibilities Project: A Young Person’s Guide to Career Success. She is pleased to be an Ambassador for Women In Games (WIGJ), Advisory Board member, HER Sports Summit and UNIPLAT and a Strategic Advisor #2022FemaleAngels. She has degrees from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management Northwestern University and HK University of Science &Technology, the University of British Columbia and Capilano University.
Katerina Shepetenko
Managing Partner
Legal Pilot
Katerina Shepetenko
Managing Partner
Legal Pilot
David Arutinyan
Head of Affiliates
1xSlots Partners
David Arutinyan
Head of Affiliates
1xSlots Partners
David Arutinyan is the Head of Affiliates at 1xslots Partners. David has 9+ years of experience in iGaming from both B2B and B2C sides. His approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the iGaming industry, where he has honed skills such as relationship building and comprehensive market analysis. As part of a dynamic team, he's implemented initiatives that not only enhance affiliate productivity but also create new growth opportunities. It's this blend of strategic vision and commitment to operational excellence that continues to propel this affiliate program forward. His team has excelled in fostering strategic partnerships, optimizing SEO, and
launching impactful media buying campaigns. With a focus on collaboration, he has cultivated an environment where innovation thrives and ROI is maximized.
Marcin Kumięga
Business Development Director
Voluum
Marcin Kumięga
Business Development Director
Voluum
Mex Emini
CTO
SiGMA Group
Mex Emini
CTO
SiGMA Group
Seyed Mohammed Siam Husseini
CEO
H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Maktoum bin Rashed Al Maktoum Group Companies
Seyed Mohammed Siam Husseini
CEO
H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Maktoum bin Rashed Al Maktoum Group Companies
Seyed Mohammed Siam Husseini is an accomplished international entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, serving as the Founder & CEO of Maincore AI Ltd. and CEO Office of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashed Al Maktoum Group Companies LLC.
With expertise in AI, ML, and Blockchain, he has made significant contributions to over 100,000 individuals and collaborated closely with the UAE government.
Siam has contributed to public safety through AI projects for the Dubai Police. Additionally, he speaks at several large summits such as Forbes, Navy & Government Officials, Coast Guard, Means Naval, BRICS+, Forbes Fintech Summit, and many more.
Gordon Einstein
Founder
CryptoLaw Partners
Gordon Einstein
Founder
CryptoLaw Partners
Gordon Einstein is a hybrid Crypto-Attorney, Technologist, and Enterprise Strategist. Gordon received his undergraduate degree in Politics in 1991 from Brandeis University in Boston and then received his JD in 1995 from the USC Gould School of Law in Los Angeles.
Initially, Gordon's law practice centered on startup, venture capital, investment banking, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, and general business law. As an avid computer and programming hobbyist, in 2012 Gordon was intrigued by Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and the related technologies. By 2014, he was providing legal services to several individuals and companies operating in this space. And by 2016 the majority of Gordon’s law practice involved working with crypto, blockchain, and FinTech startups and funds. This was formalized as CryptoLaw Partners in 2017.
Gordon frequently speaks and educates both in the United States and abroad, quite often in Ukraine. Some common themes are issues and developments relating to cryptocurrency, the legal aspects of FinTech, structuring blockchain startups, ICOs, and AML/KYC compliance.
Gordon Einstein is a Dubai based technologist, Crypto-Attorney, and Blockchain educator, passionate about the world of cryptocurrencies and The DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations). Since 2016, he runs his own crypto-based law practice at CryptoLaw Partners working with crypto, blockchain, and FinTech startups around the world. His mission is to help stakeholders with the creation of decentralized protocols to suit the legalities of the broader market.
Sardar Ahmed Durrani
Head of Investments & Global Partnerships
Scalo Technologies
Sardar Ahmed Durrani
Head of Investments & Global Partnerships
Scalo Technologies
Sardar Ahmed Durrani is Head of Investment and Global Partnerships at Scalo Technologies, the tech venture company based in Dubai. He is also Head of Investment and Global Partnerships at Genesis Digital Assets, one of the world’s largest bitcoin mining companies in terms of hash rate, with offices in Houston and Dubai.
Scalo Technologies helps founders accelerate the growth of startups, enabling them to enter the most rapidly expanding markets, and specialises in AI, B2B services, Gaming, HPC and SaaS.
Among its investments is Voctiv, a leading conversational AI company which builds
AI-powered contact centres run by virtual agents skilled in advanced conversations. As part of his role with Scalo, Sardar Ahmed’s acts as a commercial director to Voctiv.
Sardar Ahmed has more than 20 years of combined advisory and in-house expertise, specialising in advising global public and private companies on M&A, capital raising, financial investments, risk management, and compliance. He is an active speaker on policy level discussions in the technology, AI and web3 space. He participates in international conferences as a speaker and contributor on focal areas such as ecosystem development, and cross border growth and partnerships.
Sardar Ahmed was previously a partner at Osiris Group, a Hong Kong based frontier markets private equity firm, focusing on digitisation of economies, growth stage consumer and tech companies and early stage disruptors.
In his role before joining the private equity space, he was Chief Operating Officer for Mergers & Acquisitions, Equity Capital Markets, and coverage & advisory for Deutsche Bank Asia, based in Hong Kong. He has also held senior positions with ABN Amro Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland previously.
He has been a board member for a number of private companies operating in the UK, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He is also on the private advisory council for a number of international private family offices and investment syndicates.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Social Sciences and a minor in Development Economics from Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan. And he is a IWLS fellow from National Defence University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Marcello Mari
Founder
SingularityDAO
Marcello Mari
Founder
SingularityDAO
Marcello is a founding member of SingularityNET and founder ex CEO of SingularityDAO. He is responsible for making Sophia the Robot a worldwide celebrity from 2017 and he is the first human ever portraited by an AI with the corresponding NFT sold on the open market for 1.6M dollars. Two times TEDx speaker, Marcello is widely known as a thought leader in AI and WEB3 having presented at all the main AI and crypto conferences around the world. Since 2021 him and his team of 50 have pioneered the intersection between decentralised finance and artificial intelligence.
Dr Sara Al Madani
The Emirati Entrepreneur
Dr Sara Al Madani
The Emirati Entrepreneur
Sara Al Madani is also called "Dr." Sara Al Madani, owns a restaurant, is a fashion designer, a tech-preneur, and an entrepreneur.
She got the idea to start her own business when she was 15 years old. They chose her because of her success as a young businesswoman and entrepreneur.
Sara was asked to encourage women in the UAE to be more active and confident in order to be successful in business. Sara is a well-known speaker at many universities, colleges, and institutes. She is known for her creativity and hard work.
Sara Al Madani started speaking in public and gave keynote speeches at more than 182 events from 2016 to 2018.
She was recently on the first season of the reality TV show "Real Housewives of Dubai." On June 1, 2022, her show started.
Fabio Zammit
Founder & CEO
Root Codex
Fabio Zammit
Founder & CEO
Root Codex
Fabio is the CEO and Founder of Root Codex, with over 20 years of expertise in the technology sector, particularly in the dynamic fields of online gambling, blockchain, and fintech. Recognizing the demand for a reliable and efficient tech partner to support internal teams, Fabio established Root Codex. In his role as CEO, Fabio takes a hands-on approach to every project, ensuring that the company's core values of reliability, transparency, and innovation are at the forefront of every solution.
By profession, Fabio is a software engineer. Prior to founding Root Codex, he set up a successful consultancy in London, where he had the privilege of working with top-tier companies such as HSBC, Coral and AOL. His diverse experience also includes collaborating with different founders to launch various start-ups, further broadening his expertise in both the technical and business aspects of the industry.
Tony Ventura
Innovation and Technology Speaker
Tony Ventura
Innovation and Technology Speaker
Tony Ventura is a tech influencer, an international speaker, and a dedicated technology researcher. He is known for his work in technology and innovation in Brazil, where he created the Digital Transformation course for the Ministry of Economy. He founded the largest digital tools community in Latin America, positively transforming thousands of lives through technology. In addition, Tony established the Brazil Startups association, supporting numerous startups with technology and investments. He has delivered talks in various cities worldwide, sharing creative ideas for using technology in business. Tony also mentors executives in multinational companies, introducing them to lesser-known new technologies Furthermore, Tony Ventura runs a social project that aims to equip students in economically disadvantaged areas, with apps, websites, enabling them to continue their education, generate income selling services from those tools and support their families financially.
Julian Goffin
Co-Founder & CEO
Alunafi
Julian Goffin
Co-Founder & CEO
Alunafi
Julian is a commercially minded C level Payment expert with over 10 years experience within the payments industry which includes Business Development (B2B & B2C), Solution Orientated Sales, High Risk Markets together with a full understanding of correspondent banking, SEPA and SWIFT payments and strategic collaborations to ensure a very seamless approach to business. He has built many companies over the time and successfully brought companies from a standing start to multimillion pound revenues.
Wadih Al Sayah
Co-Founder & CEO
Al Musaed
Wadih Al Sayah
Co-Founder & CEO
Al Musaed
As a veteran coach and player, Wadih is one of the first individuals to take a leap of faith a decade ago in the MENA esports industry. With a diverse experience of leading teams, players, influencers and businesses he is currently leading the charge in Al Musaed to build the best MENA gaming agency.
Wadih is also the co-founder of ESE, 1ofcreators and the Vice Chairman of the Dubai Gaming & Esports Group.
Kate Hancock
Founder
Global AI Council
Kate Hancock
Founder
Global AI Council
Kate Hancock dubbed the "Trailblazer of Tech" by Forbes Magazine, is a self-made entrepreneur who has excelled across industries including eCommerce, hospitality, real estate, and beauty. Starting with just a $20 investment, she grew her first venture into a million-dollar business, achieving eight figures in online sales. A recognized expert in Web 3.0, Kate is honored as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future and serves as a Harvard Business School Web3.0 Speaker. She has also been awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joe Biden for her work in impacting the community. As the founder of the Global AI Council, her influence extends globally, making her a sought-after keynote speaker at events such as American Express Business and TEDx. Kate also hosts CNN Philippines, contributes to Entrepreneur Magazine, and is a master community builder, bringing together over 124,000 entrepreneurs worldwide.
Daniel Robbins
Founder
IBH Media
Daniel Robbins
Founder
IBH Media
Daniel Robbins is a dynamic entrepreneur and media visionary, and the founder of IBH Media, a leading PR and media agency. As the host of Founder's Story, a top-ten ranked podcast, he highlights influential leaders and groundbreaking innovators. With over a decade of experience scaling businesses, Daniel specializes in leveraging AI-driven strategies to amplify media impact and drive success. His upcoming book, Unlimited Possibilities, set for release with Penguin Random House in 2025, explores how emerging technologies like AI are reshaping industries. Recognized by major outlets like Forbes and Entrepreneur, Daniel is also the former host of CNN Philippines' The Future, where he explored the transformative potential of AI and other cutting-edge advancements.
Dr Joseph Borg
Partner
WH Partners
Dr Joseph Borg
Partner
WH Partners
Joseph Borg heads both the Fintech and the Gaming and Gambling practices of WH Partners.
Joe is ranked in the Chambers FinTech 2024 guide in the FinTech Legal practice area in Malta. He is also ranked as a "Leading Individual" in the FinTech practice area in Malta by Legal 500 EMEA 2024 guide, where WH Partners is listed as a Tier 1 law firm in Malta.
Joe practices in the areas of Esports, Corporate, IT, Telecoms and Intellectual Property Law.
Joe is a Co-Founder and currently the Vice-President of Bitmalta, which is a non-profit organisation with a mission to promoting discussion about blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Malta.
Joe was an elected Member on the Board of Trustees of the International Association of Gaming Regulators. He originally joined the Authority in March 2007 as Director Legal and Enforcement and occupied this position for almost 4 years.
He is a General Member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and a lecturer in Gaming Law at the University of Malta.
Joseph graduated with an LL.M. with Distinction in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow). He holds a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Malta.
Anita Kalergis
PR & Communications Manager
Xprizo
Anita Kalergis
PR & Communications Manager
Xprizo
Arshiya “xArshyy” Faraghat
Esports Host & Co-Founder
Pixel Perfect
Arshiya “xArshyy” Faraghat
Esports Host & Co-Founder
Pixel Perfect
Arshiya “xArshyy” Faraghat was born and raised in the United Arab Emirates. She majored in Dentistry but her passion for gaming led her to pursue a career in Esports for the past 5 years.
She began her gaming career as a Twitch streamer and later became a broadcast talent and a live stage host and MC. Some examples of her hosting work include The Dubai Esports and Games Festival at the World Trade Centre, Blast Premier, Comic Con and The Dubai Police Esports Tournament.
Arshy is also a strong advocate for education in Esports. She works as an industry expert and teacher for Esports to deliver Esports BTEC educational curriculum and seminars to students. Furthermore, she was featured in numerous publications as well as in the Khaleej Times as the first generation of working gamers in the UAE.
After having worked 2 years as a Content and Community Manager at a tournament organizer company, Arshy has now co-founded her own company called Pixel Perfect, in which she aims to contribute to the growth of gaming and esports in the region.
Connor Williams
Director
Velo Capital Partners
Connor Williams
Director
Velo Capital Partners
Connor is a director at Velo Partners, managing $1bn of assets across the early stage gambling and gaming ecosystems. Velo has an unparalleded investment track record including investments I the likes of Evolution, Moon Active, Tripledot, Superplay, Poker Baazi, and Stockgro. Prior to Velo, Connor was an investment banker in both the public and private markets, as well as being as being a qualified chartered accountant.
Ida Stjernström
Co-founder & CCO
Silo Team
Ida Stjernström
Co-founder & CCO
Silo Team
Ida Stjernström is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Silo Team, a Swedish startup that’s redefining developer onboarding. Their first-of-its-kind platform fully automates the journey to code productivity, cutting onboarding time in half.
With a focus on industries like FinTech and iGaming, Silo Team helps large companies speed up time to value and improve retention. Backed by 13 leading investors across Europe, the company secured $1.4M USD in its first funding round last year.
In 2024, Silo Team earned recognition by winning the prestigious AIBC Startup Competition in Malta.
As a SiGMA panelist, Ida brings her expertise on how AI is transforming employee experiences and training, helping the iGaming industry keep pace with its rapidly changing workforce.
Alexandre Tomic
Founder
Alea
Alexandre Tomic
Founder
Alea
Alexandre Tomic is the founder of Alea.com, the multi-award-winning company behind several successful B2C and B2B igaming operations. He is well-known within the online gambling industry, having twenty years of experience in varying aspects ranging from affiliate network, casino operator and game aggregator. He is a biohacking enthusiast and is committed to promote API governance by bringing best integration practices into the gambling industry.
Paul "The Profit" Dawalibi
CEO
Holodeck Ventures
Paul "The Profit" Dawalibi
CEO
Holodeck Ventures
Paul "The Profit" Dawalibi is a technology entrepreneur, investor, unicorn founder, futurist and gamer, with over 20 years of venture capital and startup experience. He is currently the CEO of Holodeck – the leading global media and technology company focused exclusively on gaming, metaverse, esports and web3. His ability to communicate the business opportunity around gaming and “fun” has made him the largest industry influencer and expert in the MENA region. Paul is the host and creator of Game Changers – a groundbreaking gaming and entertainment business show on CNBC Arabia reaching 50M homes in the Middle East. As “The Profit", Paul previously hosted the largest gaming industry show in the world – the Business of Esports. "The Profit" is a frequently requested speaker at tech, startup, and gaming conferences all around the world. He consults family offices, governments, venture funds, and global companies on the gaming and startup opportunity. Paul is also the creator of the world's 1st esports NFT and founder of the 2020 fastest growing company in Canada. His core belief is that gaming is the future of fun.
Edward Kondrat
Business Development Manager
Gen.G Esports
Edward Kondrat
Business Development Manager
Gen.G Esports
Edward Kondrat is the Co-Founder of Pixel Perfect, a gaming & Esports agency based in the UAE. In addition, Edward handles business development management within the UAE market for Gen.G Esports, one of the world`s leading Esports team organization. Edward also serves as the Secretary General at the Dubai Gaming and Esports Group under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Over the past 6 years, Edward has worked with most key Esports stakeholders in the MENA region. Today, his focus lies in integrating Esports into higher education, providing live broadcast and Esports tournament management solutions, and developing creating marketing campaigns for brands.
Dr Theodoros Christodoulou
Co-Founder & CEO
Lab4crypto
Dr Theodoros Christodoulou
Co-Founder & CEO
Lab4crypto
Markose Chenthitta
MENA Lead
OORT
Markose Chenthitta
MENA Lead
OORT
Markose Chenthitta is the MENA Lead for OORT, a cutting-edge cloud platform for decentralized AI applications. A seasoned pro in the crypto and blockchain space, Markose has held key roles including MENA Brand Lead for BingX ,Podcast & Communications Lead for XT.com and Partnerships Lead for FMFW.io(formerly Bitcoin.com Exchange). As a leading voice in the MENA Web3 space, Markose is a sought-after podcast producer and industry connector, using his extensive network to fuel community growth and drive adoption of web3 technologies.
MEET OUR PAST SPEAKERS
Want to get involved as one of the speakers for an upcoming SiGMA conference? Reach out to Kat Khramova
Ulrik Bengtsson has spent the last 20+ years in consumer platform businesses, across industries such as; Broadcasting, Betting & Gaming and Telecom. Most notably Ulrik was the CEO of William Hill, resulting in the £ 2.9bn acquisition by Caesars and subsequent carve-out sale to 888 in 2022. Before that he was the CEO of Global Betting and Gaming operator Betsson. Ulrik also spent seven years with broadcasting company Modern Times Group (MTG) first as CEO for the Swedish broadcasting business, Viasat, and later as CEO for the Emerging Markets Pay-Tv business. More recently Ulrik held the roles as COO and CCO for British telco giant ViginmediaO2
Currently Ulrik is the Chair of two-sided travel market place Hostelworld as well as Chair of Affiliate company Raketech and Slot Operator Gamenation. He is also working as advisor and investor in early stage Betting and Gaming related companies.
Michael Caselli
Chairman
Clarion Gaming
Michael Caselli
Chairman
Clarion Gaming
Michael Caselli is a 20+ year iGaming industry veteran and considered one of the world’s leading experts on online gaming. He is a sought-after expert who hosts, chairs, and speaks at international iGaming conferences and has provided insight to international news broadcasts including CNBC, MSNBC and the BBC.
In 1998 Michael launched the world’s first daily news website for online casino players. He launched several print magazines in the sector including consumer titles including, Gambling Online Magazine, Gambling.com Magazine and Bluff Magazine. He simultaneously launched the trade magazine iGaming Business and its associated affiliate and regional titles. Michael served as the editor of several of his magazines.
Michael’s publishing businesses grew to include trade and consumer conferences and exhibitions including iGaming Affiliate and iGaming LIVE! In 2015 Michael sold his trade publishing and conferencing businesses to Clarion Events.
Today Michael serves as Chairman of Clarion Gaming, is a director of iGaming Business, is a sector investor and is an advisor for companies in the iGaming space.
Michael holds an MBA and it’s thesis was the first academic work concentrating on iGaming. He has been honored by his peers throughout his career for his publications, expertise and contributions. He has been honored as a Leader in Gaming by the Global Gaming Expo, and has been given a lifetime achievement award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry by SiGMA.
Ioanna Fiakkou
Chairwoman
National Betting Authority Cyprus
Ioanna Fiakkou
Chairwoman
National Betting Authority Cyprus
Ivan Filletti
CEO
GamingMalta
Ivan Filletti
CEO
GamingMalta
Kat Arnsby
Head of Customer Growth
Kindred Group
Kat Arnsby
Head of Customer Growth
Kindred Group
I’ve worked in the gambling industry for over 20 years with focus on casino and poker products. My main areas of operational interest are AI driven personalisation, careful customer profiling and segmented communication strategy.
Charles Mizzi
CEO
Malta Gaming Authority
Charles Mizzi
CEO
Malta Gaming Authority
Charles Mizzi is the Chief Executive Officer at the Malta Gaming Authority. He joined the MGA following a five-year tenure at the helm of the Residency Malta Agency. During his time there, he led the organisation towards its goal of ensuring that Malta is one of the most reputable and desirable residencies by investment jurisdictions. He has extensive experience in operations management and a background in marketing, communications and national-level event management. He holds an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Henley Business School and is a dynamic and results-driven professional.
Valentin Alsen
Co-Founder
Dilanti Media
Valentin Alsen
Co-Founder
Dilanti Media
With close to 20 years in online marketing and web development within the online gambling industry, Valentin Alsen is both a seasoned SEO professional and an online gambling expert. As Co-Founder and Director of SEO at Dilanti Media, he has established the company as a leader in online gambling affiliate marketing.
Prior to co-founding Dilanti Media in 2018, Valentin held key positions at respected companies in the online gambling sector. He served as Head of SEO at Catena Media, where he was part of the management team that transformed the company into a prominent online casino affiliate, developing successful SEO strategies for various brands.
He also served as SEO Manager at Starfish Media N.V. and was the first SEO Manager at Betsson Group. Throughout his career, he has overseen and developed numerous well-known online gambling properties, including CasinoEuro.com, Betsson.com, BetSafe.com, JohnSlots.com, and AskGamblers.com.
His deep understanding of both the online gambling industry and search engine optimization, along with his commitment to staying at the forefront of developments, have solidified his reputation as an authority in the field. Valentin's expertise enables Dilanti Media to provide top value to players, matching them with the best-suited online gambling operators and driving growth for partners.
Lucy Chow
Investor & Author
Lucy Chow
Investor & Author
Lucy is known as one of the "OG" investors in the UAE. She is focused on the innovation space, both in terms of supporting founders and as an investor. Lucy has garnered a strong reputation as someone who has helped build the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the UAE. Her recently published book, "Changing The Game", highlights the importance of digital technologies (in sectors such as gaming) and its relevance to the future of work. Lucy is an advocate and capacity builder focused on digital transformation as it applies to businesses, as well as the education sector. Her role as Advisor, 2022FemaleAngels and Representative, World Business Angels Investment Forum is both on increasing funding for entrepreneurs, as well as to achieve gender equity in the investment ecosystem in MENA. Lucy is a Linkedin TopVoice and one of CEO Middle East's Influential Women in the Arab World. She has been recognized by Arabian Business as one of 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders. She is Top 100 Women of the Future and HSBC Middle East featured her as one of 75 outstanding individuals, who have contributed to the UAE’s rise.
Lucy sits on the Board of Trustees for The American School of Dubai, as well as the Solidarity Circle, UNHCR. She has been a contributing author for Life on the Move, an anthology of stories about expat life and The Possibilities Project: A Young Person’s Guide to Career Success. She is pleased to be an Ambassador for Women In Games (WIGJ), Advisory Board member, HER Sports Summit and UNIPLAT and a Strategic Advisor #2022FemaleAngels. She has degrees from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management Northwestern University and HK University of Science &Technology, the University of British Columbia and Capilano University.
Glenn Camilleri
European & Esports Trading Manager
Betsson Group
Glenn Camilleri
European & Esports Trading Manager
Betsson Group
Glenn is a seasoned Esports Trading Manager at Betsson with 8 years of experience in the gaming industry. Driven by a passion for esports and competitive gaming, he has witnessed the growth of the esports scene and the dedicated fanbase that surrounds it. At Betsson, Glenn has played a pivotal role in expanding the company's esports offerings and engaging with the community. His contributions have helped solidify Betsson's position as a leading player in the esports betting market.
Uri Poliavich
Founder & CEO
Soft2Bet
Uri Poliavich
Founder & CEO
Soft2Bet
Maria Sayapina
Director of Casino
Gamelounge
Maria Sayapina
Director of Casino
Gamelounge
Maria Sayapina is a highly accomplished digital marketing leader renowned for her expertise in SEO across diverse industries, including iGaming, Big Data, Finance, Medical, and e-commerce. Currently serving as the Director of Casino at Gamelounge in Malta, Maria has driven remarkable expansions into key markets. With a track record of 70% performance increase in key markets, Maria's strategic acumen extends to advising on product quality and growth plans for mergers and acquisitions. Her leadership roles at Gamelounge and Raketech Group have seen her excel in team management, innovative strategy formulation, and seamless execution, driving substantial user acquisition, engagement, and revenue growth.
Cristiano Blanco
Chief Experience Officer
DaznBet
Cristiano Blanco
Chief Experience Officer
DaznBet
Cristiano Blanco is a highly experienced professional in the iGaming industry, with a career that began in 2007. He has been instrumental in driving the sector's international growth, holding senior roles with strategic, commercial, product and organizational responsibilities. His expertise includes managing product lines such as Sportsbook, Casino, and Gaming, as well as excelling in product delivery, P&L management, change management, and leveraging data-driven strategies for business success. Cristiano’s leadership has been key to developing highly successful products.
Notably, he has contributed significantly to the success of the Kindred Group and ComeOn Group, where he held senior positions while effectively leading multinational teams. Cristiano holds a degree in Law and an MBA from Derby University in the UK, which has provided him with a solid understanding of business operations, further enhancing his career achievements.
He is known for being motivated, passionate, and results-oriented, consistently delivering excellence in his field and embracing new challenges to ensure organizational success.
Vitali Matsukevich
COO
SOFTSWISS
Vitali Matsukevich
COO
SOFTSWISS
As SOFTSWISS’ Chief Operating Officer, Vitali Matsukevich combines strong leadership with an acute understanding of the iGaming business landscape. After five years of experience in the online poker industry, Vitali transitioned into IT, joining SOFTSWISS in 2014 as a Manual QA Engineer. Recognising his skills could be better applied in a different capacity, he shifted to the role of Operations Manager, where he was responsible for creating client bonus policy and overseeing content and game management.
With extensive experience in operations and management, Vitali plays a pivotal role in driving SOFTSWISS’ growth and optimising its internal processes. His leadership and strategic oversight have been instrumental in expanding the company’s global presence and enhancing its product offerings across the online gaming industry.
Eitan Gorodetsky
CMO
Kitcode
Eitan Gorodetsky
CMO
Kitcode
David Meltzer
Founder
David Meltzer Enterprises
David Meltzer
Founder
David Meltzer Enterprises
In his early 20s, David Meltzer quickly rose to the top of his game in the business world, becoming a millionaire. David lectured around the globe and saw rapid success in every business project he touched. But something was missing, and in his 30s as a multimillionaire, he went on a rapid downward spiral that ended in bankruptcy. It was only then that David realized, in order to revive and thrive, he needed to codify what had made him successful in the first place. He has since emerged to realize even more rewarding heights of success in business and life.
David Meltzer has created a platform that uses four overarching principles—gratitude, empathy, accountability, and effective communication—and these principles have allowed him to communicate and mentor everyone from college students to c-suite executives. These four principles in everyday practice allow David to live by his mission to “make a lot of money, help a lot of people, and have a lot of fun.
Gary Vaynerchuk
Creator & CEO
VeeFriends
Gary Vaynerchuk
Creator & CEO
VeeFriends
Gary Vaynerchuk serves as the Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase and Uber.
Gary is also an entrepreneur at heart — he builds businesses. Today, he helps Fortune 1000 brands leverage consumer attention through his full service advertising agency, VaynerMedia which has offices in NY, LA, London, Mexico City, LATAM and Singapore. Gary was recently named to the Fortune list of the Top 50 Influential people in the NFT industry.
Gary documents his life daily as a CEO through his social media channels which has more than 34 million followers and garnishes over 272 million monthly impressions/views across all platforms. His podcast ‘The GaryVee Audio Experience’ ranks among the top podcasts globally. He is a five-time New York Times Best-Selling Author and one of the most highly sought after public speakers.
Ricardo Domingues
President
APAJO (Portuguese Online Gambling Association)
Ricardo Domingues
President
APAJO (Portuguese Online Gambling Association)
With a career in the gambling industry since 2005, he currently serves as President of APAJO (the Portuguese Online Gambling Association) and is a board member of both APAN (Portuguese Advertisers Association) and ACEPI (Portuguese Ecommerce Association). Additionally, he holds the position of Director of International Markets at the Betclic Group. He graduated in Finance and Investments from Babson College in Boston, USA, in 1995. Although his academic background is in finance, his passion for advertising and marketing led him to transition into these fields shortly after beginning his career in banking. Over the past two decades, he has worked extensively in the media and technology sectors, consistently focusing on the digital landscape.
Jordan Belfort
The Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort
The Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort is an American author, motivational speaker, and former stockbroker. He was born in 1962 and is best known for his memoir "The Wolf of Wall Street," which details his rise and fall as a stockbroker in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "The Wolf of Wall Street" pursued his career as a motivational speaker.
Clinton Cutajar
CTO
Media Troopers
Clinton Cutajar
CTO
Media Troopers
Clinton is a seasoned technology expert with extensive experience in information technology, affiliate marketing, and leadership. For the past six years, Clinton has served as a C-level executive at two affiliate marketing firms, where, as Chief Technology Officer, he was instrumental in defining the company's technological direction and strategy.
With over 25 years in the tech industry and more than a decade in affiliate marketing, Clinton has a proven track record of leading successful technology projects and fostering innovation within the organisations he has been part of. He holds a Master's degree in Information Security from the University of London, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and AI from the University of Malta, a Diploma in Leadership and Management (ILM), and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA ISACA). Additionally, he has pursued further certifications to keep abreast of emerging technologies. Currently, Clinton is reading a Master’s degree in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship at the University of Malta.
Clinton is renowned for his strategic thinking, execution skills, analytical capabilities, and proficiency in converting complex technical ideas into practical business strategies. Apart from his technical expertise, he is also a respected leader and mentor in the tech and iGaming sectors. He regularly engages in industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities, where he shares his knowledge and insights with peers and upcoming professionals.
Alexander Martin
Non-Executive Director & Advisor
Dice GP Sárl
Alexander Martin
Non-Executive Director & Advisor
Dice GP Sárl
Alexander Martin is an expert and veteran in the gambling industry. Today he is advisor and NED of gambling companies after he sold as CEO SKS365 Malta Ltd. to Lottomatica in April 2024.
Alexander joined SKS365 as CEO in December 2019, responsible for leading SKS365 Malta Ltd.. The flag ship brand PlanetWin365 is an online led omni-channel sports betting and gambling company with 1000 shops. With a clear vision, mission and strategy seen tremendous by continuous improvement of customer, product, and employee experience. While growing PlanetWin365 the business added PlanetPay365 and PlanetSpin365.
Before Alexander was Executive Board Member at the Gauselmann AG leading sports betting retail and online both B2B and B2C; igaming business both B2B and B2C; EMI and PSP services; and coin handling machine business.
From 1999-2014, Alexander, was part of leadership team of top management consulting firm Kearney GmbH focusing on the Digital Transformation of companies in various industries across the globe esp. in High-tech, software, hardware, retail, consumer goods, financial institutions and in the process industry.
Richard Hogg
CEO
Openbox Gaming
Richard Hogg
CEO
Openbox Gaming
Susan Breen
Partner
Mishcon de Reya
Susan Breen
Partner
Mishcon de Reya
Susan Breen is a Partner in Mishcon de Reya’s top-ranked Betting & Gaming Group. Susan’s practice spans both corporate and M&A, as well as regulatory and commercial advice with over 25 years’ experience acting for gambling industry clients. A particular strength of Susan’s practice is her ability to blend her corporate knowledge with regulatory, infrastructure, and compliance advice to many of the industry’s leading operators, service providers and business owners both in the UK and internationally.
Robert Dowling
Director of Product
EBET
Robert Dowling
Director of Product
EBET
Robert Dowling has been in this business for a long time and is a well-known face. He has worked with some of the biggest and best industry veterans and has kept his own style of being very honest.
Dowling has a great track record and a lot of experience in the entertainment and gaming industries. Additionally, Rob used to run some of Europe's best-known entertainment brands. Ten years ago, he decided to move into the online world and hasn't looked back since.
He has mostly worked in B2B platform sales, but he has also led teams in Casino, Sportsbook, and Payments to grow their businesses around the world. Finally, Rob is now in charge of the sales team at GlobalBet, where he is planning to take this "epic" brand into new regulated markets in all parts of the world.
Dr Jane Thomason
Emeritus Chair
World Metaverse Council
Dr Jane Thomason
Emeritus Chair
World Metaverse Council
Dr Jane Thomason is Chief Editor of Metaverse and Web 3 for “Frontiers in Blockchain” and a globally recognised thought leader in Metaverse, Web3 and MedTech. She is an Industry Associate at University College London, Centre for Block- chain. She is the author of “Block- chain for Global Social Change,” “Ap- plied Ethics in a Digital World,” and “Advancements in the New World of Web 3: A Look Toward the Decen- tralized Future”. Dr Jane was named
as one of “8 Metaverse experts to follow,” “Top 100 women in Web 3 and Metaverse,” and “Top 25 Women in Fintech and Blockchain, MENA” and was featured by CNN in their se- ries on the Metaverse “Decoding the Secrets of the Metaverse.” She was honoured in 2023 by AIBC Eurasia as “Web 3 Leader of the Year.” She is also the co-founder of a “Women in Deep Tech Network and Investment Platform.
Fiona Hickey
Director
New Business & Markets
Fiona Hickey
Director
New Business & Markets
Michael Charlton
Asia Pacific Director
Entain Group
Michael Charlton
Asia Pacific Director
Entain Group
Daniel Finkler
Co-Founder & CEO
Berlin International Gaming (BIG)
Daniel Finkler
Co-Founder & CEO
Berlin International Gaming (BIG)
Daniel Finkler is the CEO and Co-Founder of Berlin International Gaming (BIG), one of the most successful and far-reaching esports organizations in Germany. Since its founding in 2017, BIG has developed into one of the leading organizations in international esports, backed by a strong fan culture. The Berlin-based organization now employs over 50 people and has expanded its business into areas beyond esports operations, including event management, merchandise, consulting, and bootcamp services. Today, BIG’s top partners include global brands such as Red Bull, Logitech, Pizza Hut, Acer, Volvic, and Philips.
Ivana Flynn
SEO Director
Betswap
Ivana Flynn
SEO Director
Betswap
Ivana Flynn, SEO with 16 year of experience, an author of the original test of the SEO value of follow/nofollow links, well experienced and enthusiastic internet marketer and SEO consultant, achieving great success with clients across several industries. Ivana has been working with iGaming for 9 years now, she is a well seasoned conference speaker and SEO evangelist. She has spoken in all of the important industry conferences and is a 2x Brighton SEO speaker. Ivana has been featured in several popular podcasts such as 'Majestic', 'SimilarWeb', 'I hate SEO' and many more where she shared her SEO and marketing expertise. She is a co-founder of a growing YT channel 'The SEO Club' and loves speaking at conferences about SEO and marketing.
Cal Evans
Managing Associate
Gresham International
Cal Evans
Managing Associate
Gresham International
Multi-Award winning Digital Asset lawyer with experience working with the biggest firms in Crypto, NFT's, Metaverse and Web3. A not 'secret tech geek' owning patented crypto technology. Advocate for Crypto, Digital Asset adoption. Monaco Voice 40 under 40. Proudly featured in some of the worlds biggest media including: CNBC, Forbes, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Cointelegraph, Easyjet Magazing and others.
Lior Aizik
COO
XBO.com
Lior Aizik
COO
XBO.com
Lior Aizik, COO of XBO.com, is a seasoned leader in the cryptocurrency and fintech sectors, with over a decade of experience driving innovation and growth in financial services. As a co-founder of XBO.com, Lior has been at the forefront of developing user-friendly cryptocurrency exchange platforms that aim to make crypto accessible to everyone. His extensive background includes spearheading product development and operations for various companies, where he has successfully led teams in creating cutting-edge financial solutions, including payment gateways and trading systems.
Before joining XBO.com, Lior held pivotal roles at industry leaders in the Algotrading and Gaming industry, where he honed his expertise in payment solutions, UX, product management, and trading operation. His career is marked by a deep commitment to leveraging technology to simplify financial processes, ensuring secure and seamless experiences for users.
Lior's mission is to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the emerging world of digital currencies. His vision is to create a financial ecosystem where cryptocurrencies are not only a viable alternative but a preferred choice for global transactions. At SiGMA Europe, Lior will share insights on the current opportunities and challenges in the cryptocurrency landscape, drawing from his experience and hands-on approach.
Hayley Joseph
Director of Operations Africa
WA.Technology
Hayley Joseph
Director of Operations Africa
WA.Technology
Quirino Mancini
Partner
WH Partners Italy
Quirino Mancini
Partner
WH Partners Italy
Quirino Mancini is the global head of the gaming and gambling practice at Tonucci & Partners (www.tonucci.com), a top Italian general practice firm with offices in Rome, Milan, Brescia, Padua, Florence, Tirana, Bucharest and Belgrad.
Quirino is one of the leading Italian gaming and gambling lawyers with a specialist practice of more than 15 years. He acts for many Italian and foreign-based online and land-based companies operating in the Italian gaming market advising them on all business strategy, legal regulatory and operational connected to their activities.
Alongside his robust and long-established legal and regulatory practice he also runs a bespoke matchmaking and business strategy service to provide clients with a broader and more customised type of assistance that notably includes also introduction and facilitation of dealings with the local regulatory authorities, banks as well as scouting and suitability checks on potential business partners. He is also heavily engaged in the sports & entertainment fields and regularly advises market analysts, banks, investment houses and venture capital funds directly or indirectly involved in the Italian market.
Wong Wei See
Head of Sales APAC
Group-IB
Wong Wei See
Head of Sales APAC
Group-IB
Wei See brings two decades of IT experience, half of which were dedicated to cybersecurity. She's been serving major corporations like HP, Oracle, F5, and Microsoft. Currently leading APAC Sales at Group-IB from Singapore, she's known for driving top-tier sales teams for the past decade.
Sandzhar Ismailov
Gaming Sector Lead
Google MENA
Sandzhar Ismailov
Gaming Sector Lead
Google MENA
Sandzhar Ismailov is a seasoned leader in the digital advertising industry, with over 14 years of experience at Google leading the largest global Gaming partners. As a trusted advisor to top Gaming companies, Sandzhar has a proven track record of driving business transformation through innovative marketing strategies.
Dr Marwan Al Zarouni
CEO of AI
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
Dr Marwan Al Zarouni
CEO of AI
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni is a leading figure in emerging technologies, serving as CEO of AI for Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC). His appointment is part of Dubai's ambitious 'Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence', which aims to position the city as a global leader in AI innovation and implementation.
In his role at DET, Dr. Al Zarouni works closely with both the public and private sector to roll out policies and initiatives to harness AI to enhance the quality of life for Dubai's residents and enrich visitor experiences. As the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC), he has been instrumental in driving blockchain adoption in the region. With over two decades of experience in technology, information security, digital forensics, and AI, he has
driven significant advancements in blockchain adoption and AI innovation.
As a founding member of the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) and the Artificial Intelligence Ethical Committee (AIEC), Dr. Al Zarouni is recognized globally, including being named one of the top 100 influential figures in blockchain and cryptocurrencies by CoinTelegraph in 2022. His contributions to the field have also earned him a place as a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies from
2020 to 2021.
Alexandre Tomic
Founder
Alea
Alexandre Tomic
Founder
Alea
Alexandre Tomic is the founder of Alea.com, the multi-award-winning company behind several successful B2C and B2B igaming operations. He is well-known within the online gambling industry, having twenty years of experience in varying aspects ranging from affiliate network, casino operator and game aggregator. He is a biohacking enthusiast and is committed to promote API governance by bringing best integration practices into the gambling industry.