SiGMA Europe Speakers

H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono

President of Malta

Notary Myriam Spiteri Debono is the eleventh President of the Republic of Malta, approved unanimously by the House of Representatives by virtue of a Parliamentary Resolution passed on the 27th of March 2024. Myriam Spiteri Debono was Chairperson of the Cooperatives Board, and she served as a member of the Gender Equality Commission when this commission was first set up. During her membership of this commission, she was especially active on the sub-committee dealing with complaints regarding discrimination and/or harassment. Myriam Spiteri Debono was also Chairperson of the Press Ethics Commission, for the first three years of its existence. She was instrumental in drafting its first body of rules of procedure and bylaws. She started participating in the political sphere when, as a student, she was a founder member of the Socialist Students Union. As a member of the Malta Labour Party; for 16 consecutive years, she was elected by the General Conference of the party as a member of the party’s executive committee. She also served as Secretary General and President of the Labour Women’s League for many years. As President of the Labour Women’s League and as Speaker, she participated in numerous conferences abroad and, various times, she was nominated by the participants to preside over the conference. From 2009 to 2024, she was a member of the selection board entrusted with recommendations for the award of Republic Day Honours.

Hon. Robert Abela

Prime Minister of Malta

Dr. Abela worked in the family law firm and has acted as the legal consultant of various organisations including public entities and trade unions. He was elected as Member of Parliament in June 2017 and was appointed as legal adviser to the Cabinet of Ministers. On 13 January 2020, he took office as the 14th Prime Minister of Malta after being elected as Party Leader by the members of Partit Laburista. Whilst steering the country through a global pandemic, Dr. Abela presented his vision for Malta’s future built on five pillars: quality of life, infrastructure, education, environment, and good governance. Despite the challenges and difficulties presented by the pandemic, the government led by Robert Abela continued to reap successful economic results which led to the country’s lowest unemployment rate in history, whilst in parallel, implementing unprecedented reforms in good governance and rule of law. Dr. Abela even relinquished the Prime Minister’s powers such as when appointing officials to key posts such as the Chief Justice, the Attorney General and Police Commissioner, to further strengthen democracy and the institutions that deliver it: a first for a Maltese Prime Minister. Dr Abela took office once again on 28 March 2022 after confirming victory in the General Elections of 26 March 2022 which saw Partit Laburista winning with the greatest majority in Maltese history.

Hon. Silvio Schembri

Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects of Malta

Silvio Schembri is a an elected Maltese politician and academic currently serving as Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects. Hon Schembri was born in Luqa, the second child among four siblings. His father John Schembri has been occupying the office of Mayor of Luqa since 2001. Silvio is an experienced Lecturer In Economics with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Political Communication, Negotiation, Sustainable Development, Political Science, and Analytical Skills. Strong education professional with a Master of Arts and a Bachelors Degree of Honours focused in Economics from L-Università ta' Malta.

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.

Kenneth Brincat

CEO

Malta Digital Innovation Authority

Kenneth Brincat is the CEO of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority. With twenty years of experience in management and digital transformation, Kenneth is spearheading MDIA 2.0 : A driving force in Malta's digital landscape. He is catalysing the national agenda for responsible and human-centric development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the enabling of cybersecurity across industry. Under Kenneth's leadership the Authority adopted a collaborative approach enabling policymakers, industry experts, and academia to synergize to ensure the optimal and safe uptake of emerging technologies.

Mark Blandford

Partner

Burlywood Capital

Mark Blandford was the founder and Director of Sportingbet Plc, an online global sportsbook and casino. Mark now works as a successful Venture capital investor. Mark Blandford AIM Entrepreneur of the year 2002. Mark now has a Venture Capital style investment portfolio which includes stakes in: Future Anthem www.futureanthem.com AI powered real time personalisation for gambling customers. Gaming Realms (www.gamingrealms.com ) Director AIM Listed UK based Games developer and distributor. Best known for the Slingo gendre of games. Gambling.com Group (www.gambling.com/corporate ) Chairman Performance marketing specialising in online gambling. Owner casinos.com gambling.com and bookies.com NASDAQ Listed. Synalogik www.synalogik.com Data aggregation platform for real time transaction monitoring, fraud investigation and integrated case management.

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.

Camille Pepos

Head of FinTech Supervision

Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)

Camille Pepos is a Head within the Fintech Supervision function of the MFSA which is entrusted with the authorisation and supervision of the VFA and Financial Institution sectors as well as the implementation of FinTech initiatives. An Economist by academic background, Camille also possesses two Master degrees in Finance and Wealth Management from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and IAE Graduate School of Management. Before joining the MFSA, Camille held various roles in private banking, fundraising, fintech advisory and corporate services.

Joe Pisano

Founder & CEO

Jade Entertainment and Gaming Technologies

Joe is the Founder and CEO of Jade Entertainment and Gaming Technologies, which was founded in the Philippines in 2009 and is now a Pan-Asian supplier of Gaming Technology and service provider. Joe was the former International Project Manager for Automatic Totalizators Ltd, Director for Business Development Asia-Pacific of IGT, and Executive Director and Senior Vice President of Entertainment Gaming Asia (formerly known as Elixir Gaming Technology). Jade Group has service and support offices in the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Macau, and Sri Lanka. The Jade Group is involved in Land-Based Product Distribution, Sports Betting, and Online Operations. Jade serves as the bridge between Land-Based and Online Gaming. Joe’s gaming experience includes Systems, Slots, Lotteries, Sports Betting, Fantasy Skill Games, and Totalisators. Joe obtained his Master's Degree in Business and Technology at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He has over 40 years of experience in global gaming technologies.

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.

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.

Mariusz Gąsiewski

CEE Mobile Gaming & Apps Lead

Google

Mariusz collaborates with top partners across Central and Eastern Europe to foster the growth and development of the mobile gaming and apps ecosystem. With over 12 years of experience, Mariusz has leveraged both internal and external Google data to gain deep insights into mobile user behaviour and industry trends. Since 2015, he has specialized in mobile gaming and apps, expanding his expertise to include Web3, casino, and sports betting sectors since 2021.

Ivan Spiteri

Director of Technology Advisory & Assurance Services

BDO Malta

Ivan is the Director of Technology Advisory and Assurance Services at BDO Malta. Ivan has more than 27 years of experience in technology ranging from cybersecurity, privacy and GDPR advisory and assessments, third-party assurance, regulatory & compliance, DORA compliance, internal and external IT audit, IT governance, ICT risk assessments, ISO27001,, project management, , data analytics, information risk management and strategy, business continuity management & disaster recovery, system selection and implementation and IT management of efficiency improvement. He has led multiple IT projects with a successful background in their delivery within set timeframes, budgets and to a high-quality standard. Prior to joining BDO Ivan worked for 11 years at a Big4 within the Technology Risk Advisory service line with experience in delivering and leading IT regulatory, IT governance, IT security advisory service and privacy along with helping clients with solutions in data warehousing, systems integration and implementation. Prior to joining a big4 firm, he worked with a Malta listed entity where he headed the IT quality assurance department after working his way up through various IT roles.

Alessandro Valente

Co-Founder

Super Afiliados

He is iGaming Specialist in Latam & Co-Founder of Super Afiliados. Super Afiliados has one of the largest iGaming networks of websites in the whole of Latam and its main focus is in Brazil. Since 2007 your best partner in the region. Super Afiliados is a company that knows the power of internet marketing and with it will make its brand generate new customers and, more than that, make them partners. Our professionals form a team with a lot of knowledge in the digital market and keep up to date with new ways of contacting the public, producing campaigns that show not only the brand, but the people who make everything happen, helping with its main objective: professional and personal achievement. With our CONSULTING program, we will build a strong image of your company so that it is recognized in all media through Press Release (Press), SEO and Branding (with performance) services. And if more than customers, your company wins partners? This is the idea behind the AFFILIATION programs that we are going to integrate into your brand. We have three models: Organic (Revshare), Sub-Affiliates (Master) and Adverts (Hybrid) all capable of bringing new customers, who become partners, enjoy great commissions, attract new interested parties and multiply their reach. All services are possible thanks to our investments in technology. Super Afiliados seeks the best tools available on the market and if they are not enough; our team develops a particular technology to meet that demand. Since 2007 we have been operating with a focus on Latin America, especially Brazil. Our know-how about the Latin public will make your company tropicalize its services according to what is most sought after in each region and makes a total difference when this client chooses a company. Contact us and get to know in detail our services, tools and success stories. We are always available for a good chat!

Dr Sarah Jane Perri

Founder & Creator

Spinal Energetics

Chiropractor and Counsellor, Founder and Creator of Spinal Energetics

Ana Paula Saenz

Model, Female Entrepreneur

Model, Female entrepreneur in Construction in Mexico and Dubai. On a mission to inspire women to thrive in male dominated industries

Kim Feenstra

Model & Beauty Brand Entrepreneur

Model and Beauty Brand Entrepreneur. A Dynamic creative force driven by moral and ambition.

Wesley Ellul

Special Envoy for Startup Funding and Innovation

Government of Malta

Wesley Ellul is a diplomat, entrepreneur, and technology consultant, specializing in digital marketing, gamification, and creator economies within the emerging tech space. Appointed as the Special Envoy for Startup Funding and Innovation by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Wesley is responsible for attracting funding and startups to the Maltese Islands. His influence in this role reflects his deep commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth. A trusted advisor to Web2 companies transitioning into the digital future, Wesley has been publicly lauded by Nyhl Henson, founder of MTV, Nickelodeon, and Country Music Television, as the "Ted Turner of the Web3 industry." Since 2018, Wesley has been a featured speaker at over 40 global events, spanning Dubai, London, Barcelona, New York, Palma de Mallorca, Serbia, Seville, Toronto, Austin, and beyond. His extensive network of professional relationships includes hundreds of emerging tech projects, venture capital funds, DAOs, and service providers, positioning him as a key connector within the industry. Wesley's client portfolio features prominent names such as SiGMA, AIBC, SBC, Rare Evo, Fideum Group, Aminity, MFC Global Films, TMRW Conference, Animaccord, Luna PR, KM Airlines, Avis, Iron Capital, Jade City, Dega Blockchain, and the University of Oxford, among many others. Twice nominated for Blockchain Advisor of the Year at the prestigious AIBC Awards in both Dubai and Malta, Wesley’s expertise and contributions continue to shape the future of emerging technologies.

Uri Poliavich

Founder & CEO

Soft2Bet

Raquel Freestyle

Digital Influencer

ALOB Sports

Luke Todd

CEO, Executive Coach & Trainer

MadeYou

Luke Todd, Founder and CEO of MadeYou, established the company in 2014 and has since led its growth and expansion into leadership training, executive coaching, employer branding, and 360-degree feedback, serving clients across Europe and internationally. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach with over 25 years of experience, Luke brings a wealth of expertise in customer experience, as well as operational management across national and international SMEs. He has successfully founded and managed service, sales, technical support, RFP, design, and marketing teams. To maintain the focus and energy of learners, Luke is dedicated to building strong rapport, consistently applying real-world knowledge and experience to any topic or challenge. His extensive business background allows him to bring relatability and practicality to every learning environment.

Jon Vlogs

Owner

Jon Bet

Jon Vlogs began his journey in 2015, sharing his daily life as a student abroad. His charisma propelled him, resulting in a highly successful vlog channel. Today, he stands out on Twitch with IRL content, often reaching the top of the world. Professional and innovative, Jon has collaborated with renowned brands such as BOSS, Prime Video and Magalu. His authentic connection with the audience strengthens a loyal community.

Seif El Hakim

Founder & CEO

The Alpha Movement

Mark Balestra

US Special Counsel

Segev

Graziella Grech

COO

FinanceMalta

Sandzhar Ismailov

Gaming Sector Lead

Google Ads

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.

Steven Armstrong

Founder

FRL Compliance Solutions

Giusy Campo

Business Development Manager

GLI Gaminglabs

Bill Gantz

Partner

Duane Morris

William M. Gantz is a versatile lead trial lawyer with nationwide experience representing gaming, technology and manufacturing clients in intellectual property and commercial litigation, including patent infringement, trade secret, consumer class action and appeals. Bill is a Team Lead of the firm's Gaming Industry Group. Bill is a well-known speaker and authority on gaming law in the US. Since 2002, he has represented internet and mobile gaming clients in patent infringement litigation and inter parts review of US patents. Bill has extensive experience defending gaming industry clients facing consumer class actions and collective arbitration claims asserting rights to recover revenues under gambling loss recovery and consumer fraud statutes. Bill also regularly advises gaming clients regarding state and federal gambling law, provides legal opinions supporting operations, and gives counsel on licensing and regulatory compliance matters. Bill focuses on supporting digital entertainment businesses and start-ups offering igaming, pay-to-play or "freemium" games, fantasy sports, esports, sports betting, skill games, sweepstakes, retail product promotions and lottery tickets. His gaming clients include those utilizing cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, ICO's and tokens. His pro bono work regularly involves assisting charitable organizations with events or fundraising involving games, contests or raffles.

Emma Blaylock

CEO

Pretty Technical

Emma is an experienced business strategist and technology commercialist, having practised formal management consultancy at Deloitte and strategic investments, acquisitions and cross-group business development at Sony’s Corporate Development and M&A group. At Amazon, she delivered strategic initiatives to launch and grow Kindle in the UK and other European markets. Emma holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago.

Keith Marshall

Chief Philanthropy Officer

SiGMA Foundation

Keith is known around the island as an energetic, fun-loving, fund-raising force of nature! A Pharmacist by profession, helping others is in his blood and this is reflected in his many successful philanthropic ventures – including his personal “Kilimanjaro Challenge” pet project, which raised an eye-watering €1million towards various causes in Ethiopia and Kenya. He can usually be found halfway up a coastline trek, or handing over a giant cheque to a charity or, when he is able, getting his hands dirty in a small village building something useful for the community. In his own words: “It is their right and our duty.

Hayley Joseph

Director of Operations Africa

WA.Technology

Joseph F. Borg

Partner & Head of Innovative Technology

WH Partners

Joseph F Borg is an advocate and Partner at WH Partners, where he heads the Blockchain Advisory and Gaming and Gambling Advisory sections of the firm. Joseph is ranked in the prestigious Chambers FinTech 2022 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 2022 guide, where WH Partners is listed as a Tier 1 law firm in Malta. Joseph also practices in the areas of Esports, Corporate, IT, Telecoms and Intellectual Property Law. He also lectures Gaming Law at the University of Malta.

Russell Mifsud

Director, Gaming Lead & Global SME

KPMG Malta

Robert Duboff

Director

Velo Partners

Rob Duboff is a Director at Velo Partners. Velo Partners invests and manages a portfolio spanning the global gaming and gambling industry across mobile, online, land-based, real-money, social, B2B and B2C assets. At Velo, Rob is focussed on engaging and executing new business opportunities, and supporting existing portfolio companies.

Natalia Mallia

Senior AI Engineer

Axon Park

I am a Senior Machine Learning Engineer with a focus on AI and Data Science, particularly in Generative AI. I have a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, where I concentrated on machine learning and neural networks. I stay current with the latest AI trends by engaging with the AI community, attending conferences, and experimenting with new techniques in personal projects. My combination of formal education and a passion for continuous learning helps me leverage Generative AI's capabilities, especially in the field of educational technology.

Giovanni Falzone

CEO

The Power Plugin

Taylor Freeman

Co-Founder & CEO

Axon Park

Taylor has been working in the XR & AI industry for nearly 10 years, during which time he taught the first in-VR class at MIT, was awarded Forbes 30 under 30, and worked on training programs for Google and NASA JPL. He currently serves as the CEO at Axon Park, an AI-powered interactive learning platform. He is a guest lecturer at Harvard's Masters in Design and Engineering program and is a founding council member of XR Inclusion, a nonprofit focused on empowering people of all backgrounds to be included in the immersive computing revolution.

Ayelet Mamo Shay

Director

Benefit Business Solutions

Mauricio Carrillo-Palacio

Chief Strategy Officer

GlobiancePay

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.

Pavel Yurovitskiy

CEO

KIT Global

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.

Mona Motwani

Founding Venture Partner

Ixia Capital

Oliver De Bono

CEO

Quantum Gaming

Chief Executive Officer with 18 Years Experience in iGaming, E commerce, Team Management, Affiliate Marketing, Media Buying, SEO and Sales.

Anton Golub

Venture Partner

Full Stack VC

Anton Golub is a Venture Partner at Full Stack VC and a strategic advisor to Pazar and SwissAssetDAO. Anton is a founder of flovtec, a Swiss market-maker, Trust Square AG, a pre-eminent blockchain hub located in Zurich, and Lykke Corp, a crypto exchange.

Samir Ceric

COO

Blocksport AG

Samir Ceric is a C-level executive in a number of tech and financial institutions; former senior executive in finance, telecom and aviation industries; former Chairman of football club; investor and serial entrepreneur with 25+ years’ experience in Asia, Western Europe and the Balkans region; author, mentor, philanthropist, board member, competition judge, public speaker (including London Business School TEDx), alumni member of George Soros Foundation, The Open Society, guest lecturer and mental health campaigner focused on blockchain technology and innovation in the fields of sport, finance, investment and creative industry; aiming to create more transparency and openings in these industries for high level investments including a better ‘fit’ between start-up / scaleup and investment (private and institutional) words; involved with a number of by-invitation only investment clubs including Mayfair Investment Club co-founded by Ceric. Ceric holds Masters in Mathematics obtained at University of Bologna, Italy, and University of Sussex, UK, is currently a PhD candidate (in blockchain), speaks 4 languages and is a former elite athlete, having won the England National Championships in handball. Ceric is married to a renowned fashion designer and has 3 children. Results-proven, growth-oriented and globally accomplished leader with repeated success in multiple industries and markets, expanding international footprint, building shareholder value, driving vision and achieving critical strategic goals. Successful M&A and restructuring track record. Ceric appeared live on ITV, BBC, NBC News, N1 (regional CNN), Al Jazeera, FACE TV, FTV, BH Radio as well as in articles in The Times, The Financial Times, The New York Times, Reuters, Time Out London, the Guardian, The Sunday Times, Vogue Italia, Vogue UK, Madame Figaro. He’s been labelled as one of the ‘UK’s Most Powerful People in Art & Fashion’ by the Times Magazine and ‘London’s Top Tastemaker’ by Time Out London. Ceric regularly attends business and investment conferences in Europe and Asia as a panelist and moderator.

Martin Zarian

Co-Founder

Factory 39

Martin Zarian is a full-stack brand builder and internationally recognised keynote speaker who specialises in helping organisations build strong and impactful brands that drive business success and foster collaboration. With over a decade of experience in design, branding, and strategy, Martin brings a unique perspective to the table, blending creativity, strategy, and practicality to help brands reach their goals and avoid all the BS. Recently Martin and his team at Factory 39 were involved in 2 global iGaming rebranding for SiGMA and Wicked games, both projects are up for a series of European awards. As a co-founder of Factory 39, Martin is proud of his team’s vision to become one of the best brand and software consultancies in Southern Europe helping tech companies build their brands and digital products in the most efficient way possible.

Peter Wilson

CEO

PWL Legal

Prof. Joshua Ellul

Director Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT)

University of Malta

Prof. Joshua Ellul is Director of the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) and an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Malta. The Centre for DLT developed and runs a world-first multidisciplinary Masters in Blockchain and DLT which takes in students having backgrounds in computer science, law, finance and economics. His research interests span across technological advancements across the blockchain/dApp stack, to techno-regulatory issues of such emerging technologies.

Shaun Choudhary

Partner

LongOn Capital

Dinos Stranomitis

Co-Founder & COO

Altenar

Dinos has been a partner and co-founder of Altenar since 2014 and has overseen the company’s growth into a leading sports betting software provider. Now living in Malta with his wife and two children, Dinos was born in Greece in 1969 and studied engineering in Athens as well as studying as a naval architect and marine engineer in Newcastle. After two years in the navy and four years working as an engineer in the Far East, Dinos moved into the betting industry as a manager at various gaming companies, mainly in the trading and operations departments. Now with years of industry experience under his belt, he passes on his knowledge as a regular guest speaker at numerous iGaming exhibitions around the world.

Tanja Dimitrijevic

Head of Legal

Red Acre Group

Tanja Dimitrijevic has been involved in distributed ledger technology and cryptocurrencies space since 2018. She specialises in distributed ledger technology, financial services and fintech with a special focus on regulatory and governance compliance and anti-money laundering issues. She has assisted a number of clients launching ICOs and IEOs and a number of crypto exchanges and VFA service providers applying for licenses from the MFSA. Tanja is a former member of the executive committee of the business section within the Malta Chamber of Commerce dedicated to VFA Agents. Moreover, in her current role, Tanja handles all corporate and commercial matters including regulatory compliance, corporate governance and general company law for the Red Acre Group.

Olaf Miska

CPO & Mathematician

Wishbone Games

Jarek Bialek

CEO

Revenue Capital

Since 2004, Jarek Bialek has been active in the fintech sector, dealing with several B2B products and, in addition taking responsibility for the areas of product management, team building, sales and automated support. He also actively involved in the global startup ecosystem: as a mentor, coach, educator and as an entrepreneur.

Jason Fernandes

Co-Founder

AdLunam Inc.

Jason Fernandes is an investor, entrepreneur and advisor in the Web3 space. Fernandes has spent years evaluating token-based investments, first as an analyst and regular guest on the Crypto Now show and then later as an investor and tokenomics expert evaluating tokens, their teams and closing over 200 institutional investments in early stage Web3 companies for a portfolio company publicly listed in Canada and Germany. A member of Cointelegraph’s “Innovation Circle”, Fernandes is frequently quoted in industry outlets like Cointelegraph. Bitcoin.com, Investing.com and others for his views on token architecture and Web3 investing. Fernandes has been awarded the Seaside Startup Summit 2018 Award, Startup@Singapore Award, the First National Technopreneurship competition Award, "Best Business Plan" award from Sybase at the Global Entrepreneurs Challenge at Stanford University, California, the Childnet International Award (UK) in 1999. In 2000 he was featured on Rediff.com's "Achiever Track". In 2015, he won the Asian Scientist Writing Prize, for his piece entitled Moore’s Law and Evolution: How non-biological evolution made Charles Darwin irrelevant, which focused on how evolution has been far outpaced by non-biological evolution and the age of the cyborg. He also holds a patent for a Network DVR. In 2019, he was awarded the Karmaveer Chakra Award.

David Yatom Hay

General Counsel

Soft2Bet

Mauro Magro

Founder

Get Recruited Worldwide

I am a Certified Public Accountant with a passion for recruitment, bringing over seven years of experience working within the iGaming industry, where I have also established a licensed recruitment agency. My career has provided me with a comprehensive view of the industry, as I have worked with firms offering assurance and regulatory services, as well as with affiliation businesses, game providers, and operators. Today, I lead a boutique consultancy that provides diverse services to iGaming businesses, including financial consulting and talent acquisition. With a focus on the iGaming and Fintech sectors, I leverage industry connections and international expertise to help businesses achieve financial success and build strong, effective teams.

Mariana Tostes

Head of Operations

FBMDS

Mariana Tostes is a highly engaged professional in the iGaming industry. Currently Head of Operations at FBMDS, a globally renowned iGaming company known for its innovative approach to online casino game development, Mariana leverages her combined expertise in iGaming and marketing to transform the iGaming industry.

Tejinder Kumar

Group CCO

Kyrrex

Tejinder Kumar is highly experienced and technically minded senior manager with over 17 years of experience in sales, fintech and online trading industry with a proven track record of building, scaling and managing high performing retail and institutional teams for traditional finance and crypto start ups. Deep understanding of the trading industry, worked in FX, CFDs and Equities sector with a strong interest in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, CEX, DEX, DeFi, various blockchain platforms and various consensus methodologies (Mining, PoW, PoS).

Eran Shay

Managing Director

Benefit Business Solutions

Eran is the co-founder and Managing Director of Benefit Business Solutions Ltd (www.BenefitGibraltar.com )- a Gibraltar based Innovation & Business Consulting firm. Eran has previously led the Financial Advisory Services practice at Deloitte in Gibraltar and has worked for Deloitte for over 15 years, initially based at the Tel Aviv office, Israel. Eran has ample experience in the fields of Corporate Finance, Regulatory Consulting, Business & Strategic Planning, Valuations and Transaction Support: he has led several Initial Public Offerings of companies on the London AIM and Main Stock Exchanges, and has been involved in numerous M&A transactions, particularly in the online gaming sector. Eran serves as President of the Gibraltar-Israel Chamber of Commerce (www.gibrael.org ) and also serves as Senior VP of the European Small Business Alliance (ESBA). Eran holds a Masters in Banking & Finance from Middlesex University, London. Eran has been advising online gaming and betting companies since 2007, assisting and accompanying them in becoming regulated in Gibraltar. In his role as professional advisor and trusted project manager for the setup of online gaming companies, Eran is involved in anything from assistance with the initial setup in Gibraltar and advising on the right structure, liaising with the Gambling Commissioner, preparation of business plan and financial projections, putting together the risk management framework, calculation of capital adequacy requirements and preparation of various other supporting documents as part of the application process. Being a neutral, objective advisor, Eran is able to construct the best local professional service provider team for the client, acting as a dedicated resource on the ground looking after all operational day-to-day aspects of the process that normally fall outside the realms of the lawyers/accountants. Eran advises a wide range of innovative companies including sports betting companies, online casinos, online bingo and poker, and other social gaming companies.

Vas Modinos

Founder

Blockready

Vas Modinos is an IT professional with 22+ years of experience in IT consulting & technical sales. He spent the last 18 years of his career at Microsoft, leading and orchestrating large-scale, complex cloud solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Vas has always been drawn to innovation throughout his professional journey, consistently seeking opportunities to explore emerging technologies. Among these, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Web3 have profoundly captured his attention. Over the course of more than eight years actively engaged in the Web3 domain, Vas has acquired a wealth of invaluable insights and experience in fields like crypto investing, DeFi, blockchain solutions, and tokenization of assets. Recognizing the challenges faced as an early adopter, he founded Blockready, a Dubai-based AI educational platform that aims to help individuals and companies accelerate their blockchain and crypto education while avoiding common pitfalls.

Zack Ritchie

Co-Founder

NFT Club

Ritchie crafts cultural narratives through brand characters, helping brands amplify their identity with mascots that deeply resonate in digital and immersive environments. As founder of NFT Club and Archipals, reimagining Malta’s heritage, he has developed over 400 unique products. His work spans fashion, digital collectibles, large-scale public installations, and exhibitions. Collaborating with brands like Martini and Red Bull, and industry leaders such as Charles & Ron, Des Lucrece, and Deadfellaz, Ritchie combines curiosity and experimentation to create memorable, shareable experiences that drive engagement, using art to connect deeply with audiences.

Vladimir Malakchi

CEO & Managing Partner

Xanada Investments

Vladimir Malakchi is a strategic investor and business scaling expert with over a decade of experience. For the past five years, he has been mentoring iGaming companies, guiding them to commercial success and top rankings in the industry. Recognized as Speaker of the Year and Influencer of the Year, Vladimir is also listed among the top voices in the industry on LinkedIn. He has been nominated for prestigious industry awards multiple times, leading companies to over 300 wins and nominations. As a renowned judge and speaker at global gambling conferences, Vladimir has made a significant impact. In 2024, he founded Xanada Investments, a fund dedicated to supporting promising iGaming projects. The fund aims to revolutionize business scaling by offering not just financial backing but also fostering a community of companies that support each other's success.

Galyna Podoprikhina

Associate

WH Partners

Galyna is an Associate at WH Partners, forming part of the FinTech, Intellectual Property, and Gaming & Gambling teams. Listed in the 'Associates to Watch' category of the Chambers Fintech 2024 guide, she advises a wide variety of clients, including crypto-assets service providers, fintech companies, and gaming and gambling entities on both regulatory compliance and licensing. Galyna holds an LL.B. (Hons.) and a Master of Advocacy from the University of Malta, and an LL.M. in Maritime and Transport Law from Erasmus University Rotterdam. She has also completed several specialised courses, including the Summer Course on EU Financial Regulation from the Academy of European Law ERA, as well as a Financial Markets Compliance and Regulation course from the Malta Stock Exchange.

Mark Van Weeren

Attorney-at-law

Blenheim Lawyers

Mark van Weeren is a business lawyer in Amsterdam. He helps out companies and investors on licences, regulatory compliance and procedures in the Netherlands. Especially financial and crypto service licences. He represents clients in the Dutch licence procedures and those who’s licences are being challenged by competitors, authorities and other parties. He regular challenges public law enforcement by Dutch Authorities in case of a penalty, withdrawal of permits or coercive action. He is also the author of a book on Business Licences in the Netherlands.

Trevor De Giorgio

Consultant

Diligenza Group

As a seasoned legal and regulatory consultant with Diligenza Group, I bring over 15 years of expertise in guiding and advising leading gaming companies on the intricate legal and regulatory challenges within the online gaming sector. My career spans key roles such as Chief Legal Officer for IZI Group plc and Greentube, two prominent online gaming operators in Malta and Europe, where I managed comprehensive legal and compliance operations, including contracting, litigation, employment law, and AML functions. I have been instrumental in leading projects focused on acquiring and maintaining licenses across multiple markets and jurisdictions, ensuring that these companies remain fully compliant with evolving laws and regulations. I hold an MA in European Law from the University of La Sapienza in Rome and an LL.D from the University of Malta, which has provided me with a strong foundation in European and international law. Additionally, as a certified MLRO, I possess extensive knowledge and experience in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, which I leverage to help companies navigate the complexities of the online gaming industry. In addition to my legal career, I have dedicated over 15 years to the media industry, volunteering as a presenter for various radio and television programs. My passion for media has culminated in the launch of my own TV program, "Spotlight," where I delve into contemporary issues, providing viewers with insightful discussions and expert analysis.

Olegs Cernisevs

CTO

Blackcatcard

As the Chief Technology Officer of Blackcatcard, Olegs Cernisevs drives innovation in product development and technology optimization. His extensive background spans banking and payment services, with notable roles at PrivatBank, First Swiss Card, and the Acquiring Committee of the Association of Commercial Banks of Latvia. Olegs has played a pivotal role in shaping IT projects for various European financial institutions. His impact was celebrated by PayTech Awards – in 2023, Olegs received an award in nomination PayTech Leadership. He holds a Doctor of Science degree and has published several scientific papers on fintech-related topics. Furthermore, Olegs is certified in anti-money laundering management and cybersecurity, underscoring his comprehensive expertise in the financial technology sector.

Marcin Kumięga

Business Development Director

Voluum

Jean Michel Azzopardi

City Leader – Malta

Bitangels

Jean Michel Azzopardi is a seasoned tech and business professional with over 10 years of experience in blockchain and startups. He is currently a self employed fintech Consultant offering a broad range of services in areas such as board membership, technical compliance, sales, strategy, and blockchain architecture. Jean Michel has a proven track record of securing significant funding, pioneering groundbreaking blockchain technology, and building top-performing remote teams. He was the Founder and CEO of Kralanx Cyber Security Malta, a cyber security service provider for the blockchain space, for six years. He also led the APAC Channel at Acunetix where he achieved substantial revenue growth. As a public speaker and content creator, he showcases his passion for the evolving Web3 ecosystem and his vision for a more decentralized and transparent future.

Dr Franklin Cachia

Director & Lead Consultant

CSB Group

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.

Prof André Xuereb

Founder & CEO

Merqury Cybersecurity Limited

André Xuereb is a full professor of quantum physics at the University of Malta, where he established the quantum research group. He read for an undergraduate degree in mathematics and physics at the University of Malta, a PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Southampton in the UK, and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship at the University of Malta; he is currently reading for a master’s degree in diplomacy. Since 2021, André is Malta’s Ambassador for Digital Affairs. Outside diplomatic and academic life, he is Chief Scientific Officer of an artificial intelligence start-up and Founder & CEO of a quantum cybersecurity start-up. He is married to a lawyer and is the proud father of three wonderful children.

Mark Grech

Product & Emerging Tech Consultant

Mark Grech is a seasoned product expert and emerging tech advisor with over 10 years of experience in the iGaming industry, having worked with leading companies in Product, Marketing, and Technology. He founded Prodmark 365 with a focus on developing the next generation of immersive products using emerging technology to disrupt across various industries. For the past 8 years, Mark has been deeply involved in the Crypto, Blockchain, and Web3 spaces, driving innovation and developing innovative solutions. As a versatile leader, Mark is driving Pyaza, a creative product idea he envisioned and built to reach its full potential, across social networking, community building, and tokenization.

Richard Mifsud

CEO

Xprizo

Richard Mifsud is a serial entrepreneur which has built several successful technology companies with major focus on igaming and fintech. During his more than 20 years career he has held several executive positions from product management, COO, CEO and eventually founding several successful companies. In 2019 one of Richard’s startups has also won the prestigious award for Lottery software provider of the year by 5 star magazine. Richard has experience working with several igaming regulators worldwide including the UKGC (UK regulator), MGA (Malta regulator), BCLB (Kenya), Nigerian Lottery board and Curacao where he also held a personal management license from UK gambling commission. He has also been in the forefront of the integrating blockchain, AI and Fintech into everyday societies with high aspirations about emerging markets in general and testifying this is his work over the years in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Adam Woodley

Founder

A1 Talent

Adam is the Founder of A1 Talent, a boutique Recruitment and Talent Consultancy with a primary focus on the iGaming Industry. He works closely with gaming leaders, serving as a trusted advisor on how to attract top-tier talent. With over 20 years experience in the recruitment field, Adam previously spent seven years at Betsson Group, where he held the role of Global Head of Recruitment. During his tenure, he built and led a Global recruitment function capable of meeting the demands of one of the industry's largest Operators. Leveraging his extensive experience gained both in-house and agency, Adam founded A1 Talent to address the challenges he encountered as a TA leader. A1 Talent offers a fully scalable Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) solution called ‘Plug and Play,’ where they embed their team within clients' operations, effectively functioning as an internal recruitment team for hire. In addition to their RPO services, A1 Talent also specialises in filling business-critical roles by utilising their vast networks to source the industry's top talent. Adam is passionate about sharing his expertise and engaging with peers and regularly takes to the stage at conferences and events around the World.

Marvin Cuschieri

Group Chief People & Talent Officer

Logifuture

Marvin is a dynamic and forward-thinking leader with a diverse background spanning consultancy, operations, payments, ride-hailing, and gaming. With over 14 years in senior management roles, he joined Logifuture in 2022, a leader in B2B solutions for iGaming operators, covering tech, product, operations, data, and marketing. As Group Chief People & Talent Officer and Director of Logifuture Malta, Marvin leads the People & Talent functions, managing human resources across eight offices in six countries, while playing a key role as a member of the C-level management team.

David K Lappin

Poker Player & Brand Ambassador

Unibet Poker

Poker Player/Brand Ambassador for Unibet Poker/Host & Producer of The Chip Race Poker Podcast/Freelance Poker Writer & Commentator David has been a professional poker player since 2006 and a brand ambassador for Unibet Poker since 2017. He has been making the 2-time GPI Global Poker Award winning ‘The Chip Race’ podcast since 2015. He has commentated on poker tournaments all over Europe including The Irish Poker Open, Unibet Open, Merit Poker Series, Malta Poker Festival and Battle of Malta. Over the years, he has written over 700 poker strategy and op-ed articles. David’s educational background is varied. He has an BA in History, Art History and Philosophy, an MA in Philosophy, an MA in Screenwriting and an MLitt in Philosophy. Prior to poker, he worked as a TV and Film Screenwriter.

Anneli Nilsson

Founder

JobMatchingPartner

Anneli Nilsson is the founder of JobMatchingPartner, a “boutique” recruitment agency licenced based in Malta. JobMatchingPartner recruits globally, offering their services predominantly to clients within the igaming, fintech, managed services, and crypto-industries. With a backgound in sales and customer-centric roles, recruitment quickly became Anneli’s favourite job, when she ”fell into” recruitment back in 2004 in London. Following a successful start in recruitment, she moved to Costa Rica, where she managed a start-up providing managed services to igaming companies in Europe and Latam, before accepting a role moving her to Malta in 2008. After nearly 2 years with what is now the Kindred Group, Anneli joined another startup with multiple brands and stayed as Affiliate Director and COO for 6 years, all the while recruiting “on the side” for a handful of clients. Anneli abdicated from affiliate management to follow her heart and founded JobMatchingPartner in 2019. ”Quality over quantity” and a genuine desire to get ”the right JobMatch” is what drives Anneli. She loves to work within igaming, where the only thing constant is change and you never have a chance to doze off.

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.

Mex Emini

CTO

SiGMA Group

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.

Dr Gege Gatt

CEO

EBO

Dr. Gege Gatt is the CEO of London-based company EBO an AI enterprise which automates citizen engagement. He is a digital entrepreneur, a TEDx speaker and has won the UK’s Enterprise Awards in 2024. He is a WHO reviewer on healthcare information strategy. Gege serves as an Executive Board Member of the Malta IT Law Association and is a specialist examiner at the University of Malta. He’s a Board Member of Humanity 2.0 developed by the Vatican in Rome with a consortium of thought-leaders to identify and remove impediments to human flourishing. His doctoral degree is in IT Law.

Katerina Shepetenko

Managing Partner

Legal Pilot

Marianna Tavella

Chief Legal Officer

SiGMA Group

A first-class Cambridge graduate, Marianna passed the bar in both UK and Cyprus, has extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions working on venture capital investments, joint ventures, acquisitions and start-ups and is supporting Ikigai Ventures as legal counsel.

Miruna Pandele

Head of Affiliates

Satoshi Gaming Group

Miruna Pandele is a seasoned professional with over 5 years of hands-on experience in affiliate and influencer marketing. Currently serving as the Head of Affiliates at TrustDice, Miruna is dedicated to leading strategic initiatives and cultivating innovative approaches within the industry. Miruna's expertise lies in the careful orchestration of affiliate programs, leveraging influencer partnerships, and navigating the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing. Her tenure at TrustDice, where she first joined the world of iGaming in 2020, has been marked by a commitment to excellence, driving the brand to new heights through strategic collaborations and forward-thinking initiatives.

Andreas Constantinou

Founder & CEO

Pokerload

Andreas is a passionate entrepreneur with a background in Poker, Technology and Consulting. His academia blends engineering, robotics and business administration. Andreas worked for big organisations such as Ernst and Young (EY), KPMG, TATA Consulting Services and Getronics. As the founder and CEO of Pokerload, he has revolutionized the land-based poker experience and received a global recognition by well-known gambling and igaming exhibitions (SiGMA, ICE, EDGE and WGES) as the most innovative company in the offline world of poker. In September 2023, Pokerload won the pitch competition at SiGMA’s Balkan event.

Giovanni Cunti

CEO

Gate.MT

Mr. Cunti has more than 25 years experience holding executive roles for top tier technology and financial service companies across the globe. He has been always at the forefront of innovations and cutting-edge technologies, helping companies in building their structures and delivering growth in operations and revenues. Mr. Cunti currently holds the position of CEO for Gate.MT, an EU regulated crypto exchange, part of Gate Group. His main tasks are to drive the strategy of the company and to establish its presence, growth and revenues in the European market. In previous executive positions, he pioneered fintech services and products, including blockchain projects. He is very knowledgeable in crypto and blockchain, and on the changing landscapes and opportunity of this industry. Mr. Cunti received his doctorate degree in Physics from the University of Rome. He holds an MBA from London Business School.

Alexander Kahn

CMO

Timgu

Alex, Chief Marketing Officer @ COM/CP/Timgu with 20+ Years of Digital Marketing Experience. With over two decades of experience in digital marketing and senior leadership, Alex has made a significant impact in the iGaming landscape, specializing in the Casino, Sportsbook, and Poker sectors. His career is marked by a commitment to fostering engaging player opportunities through innovative technology solutions. An alumnus of industry giants like Google and GGPoker, Alex has transitioned into a full-time global traveler whilst managing marketing campaigns within the iGaming industry. His proven track record showcases an ability to drive growth in challenging environments, leveraging creative audience segmentation and cutting-edge technology to deliver timely and relevant messages to customers.

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.

Stefan Sluijter

Global Co-Head

EM Group

Stefan’s responsibilities as Global Co-Head of EM Group include developing new markets and services, establishing new partnerships globally and running smooth and efficient global operations.

Manit Parikh

CEO

The Binary Holdings – Thailand

Manit Parikh, the CEO of The Binary Holdings Limited, has more than 17 years of experience. Binary Holdings Limited is a Web3 infrastructure platform serving the telecommunications and banking industries. It provides a decentralized solution that enhances financial inclusion, reduces transaction costs, builds trust, and opens up access to global markets. Manit has a diverse background working with C-Level executives of mid and large global corporations across sectors on transformational programs with organization-wide impact. He has led 2 companies to reach $300 million in revenue, particularly in Sports and Entertainment, Technology, and Financial services. Additionally, Manit has co-founded 2 successful exits.

Jaguar-Adva Gal

CEO

Jaguar Reg&Comp

Jaguar Lawyers Firm leads international business law consulting, including building companies contractual structure, international licensing, regulatory compliance, and court litigation, as well as legal financial arbitration. The firm's focus sectors are high-tech companies and investors, startups – computer law, internet and apps, and cyber law – Data Privacy and information systems. Jagar Lawyers Firm has accumulated years of knowledge accompanied by Hi Tech exits, stock Offerings, Mergers and Acquisitions, being internationally renowned in Blockchain and Crypto (virtual currency), Trading and Forex, Gaming and Gambling, as well as licensing business activities of Medical Cannabis. JAGuar Lawyers' CEO is Jaguar Adva Gal, Adv. CPA, a 1996 top Hebrew University graduate. JAG has spent years managing international strategic investments in startups, wide-ranging investment and portfolio management for the world's largest venture capital fund – Intel Capital, And led exits in several companies, including publicly traded in NASDAQ.

Nirav Patel

CEO

Andaria

Nirav is a highly accomplished Payments and Banking Executive with over 10 years of experience driving growth and innovation across financial sectors. As CEO of Andaria, he leads the company in delivering embedded finance solutions tailored to the sports industry, utilizing payments as a powerful tool for unlocking data insights. His expertise lies in aligning complex regulatory frameworks across Europe and the UK with business objectives, enabling organizations to capitalize on new market opportunities. Recognized for his visionary approach within financial institutions and FinTech, Nirav excels in guiding organizations through digital transformation and advancing governance frameworks. With a keen eye for identifying commercial opportunities, he has consistently helped businesses evolve and thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscape, shaping initiatives that ensure both compliance and long-term success. His strategic leadership continues to impact the FinTech sector, driving innovation and growth.

Stoyan Angelov

Founder & CEO

Evedo

Stoyan Angelov, recognized in Forbes' "30 Under 30," is a prominent serial entrepreneur and the esteemed Founder and CEO of Evedo's Ecosystem (www.evedo.co). With a focus on integrating advanced technologies such as blockchain, NFTs, SoulBond, and the Metaverse, he has significantly transformed the event and entertainment sectors. As an influential angel investor, Stoyan has contributed to the growth of over 20 startup companies. His leadership at Evedo exemplifies his dedication to driving innovation and scaling value in the global technology arena.

Sidon Farris

Founder & CEO

c4n2

Started in 2018 by Sidon Farris (CEO, Founder), c4n2 has spent the last five years developing a formidable reputation for helping brands, businesses, and individuals reach their full potential within the iGaming & gambling sector.

Yoel Zuckerberg

CPO

Soft2Bet

Yoel Zuckerberg is Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet and brings to the role more than 15 years of experience in the gambling industry. His career spans across European and US markets in both B2C and B2B sectors and his expertise includes CRM, operations, SEO, customer acquisition, payments and strong knowledge of key industry verticals such as sports betting, casino, poker and others. As a product management professional, he drives product development and strategy at Soft2Bet.

Alexey Rozhkov

CEO

MoneyGate

My name is Alexey Rozhkov, and I hold the position of CEO at the payment system MoneyGate. I obtained degrees in engineering, economics, and law from Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU-MISI), the Higher School of Economics, and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. I possess extensive experience across various fields: business, public service, and executive authorities. I have led projects such as youth policy in Moscow, managed an agro-industrial enterprise (including a bakery, mill, and the cultivation of wheat and other grains), and supervised an FMCG network. Additionally, I became part of the top management team of the largest elevator service company in Eastern Europe and am a member of IPSC as both a shooter and a range officer. At present, I serve as a consultant for GoBit, a cryptocurrency exchange in Turkey, and as the CEO of MoneyGate (Canada MSB), a payment system. I am also the owner of an IT company that develops applications and payment solutions for the iGaming/crypto industries. Furthermore, I am the founder of CPI, an association of fintech companies which includes divisions such as CPI Events (conferences in CIS countries and Turkey) and CPI Traders (a community of P2P traders, exchange points, and agents). I am also a partner in the project Satoshkin, a media resource dedicated to P2P trading and iGaming.

Francisco Javier Fernandez de la Fuente

Co-Founder & Head of Trading

Thebit Research

Francisco has been a pro trader in different fields for the last 16 years. He currently specializes in DeFi and swing cryptocurrencies trading. Head of trading and co-founder of Thebit Research for over two years. Ranked as top 3000 on-chain reputations in the world in Ethereum main net in 2022.

Ohad Straschnov

Senior Compliance Director

Soft2Bet

Ohad Straschnov is the Senior Compliance Director at Soft2Bet, where he leads the group's compliance and regulatory projects that have seen Sof2Bet obtain licenses in countries like Italy, Greece or Romania in the past 12 months. Ohad joined Soft2Bet in 2023, bringing with him experience in both B2C and B2B gained at DraftKings, SBTech, and 888. Ohad and his teams engage in daily, in-depth discussions focused on operational, and regulatory compliance, market expansions, licensing processes, and acquisitions.

Shay Merary

CBDO

Flyfish

Shay Merary is the Chief Business Development Officer at Flyfish, a fintech company that consolidates financial services into a single platform. With over 7 years of experience in building partnerships and expanding business channels, His expertise lies in simplifying banking solutions and driving Flyfish’s mission to make financial management more accessible and efficient for users.

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.

Mark Flores Martin

CEO

XGENIA

Mark combines expertise in ethical hacking, AI, and game development to push the boundaries of technology. Starting out securing systems for high-value clients like NASA and Disney, Mark transitioned into AI, building and scaling multiple endeavors. Achieving his first profitable exit at age 25 – a mobile game – Mark went on to found several startups and enduring businesses. His passion for innovation eventually brought him back to the gaming industry, where he’s using AI to create groundbreaking solutions for tomorrow's iGaming sector. For Mark, the enjoyment of building a startup is the process, the innovation and the team behind it.

Osmin Callis

Founder & CEO

Mode8 Venture Studio

As the Founder & CEO of Mode8 Venture Studio, Osmin brings over 28 years of experience in the technology and financial services industries. Throughout her career, she has witnessed and embraced every major technological development, from the advent of personal computers to the rise of the internet, mobile phones, Bitcoin, and now AI.

Daniel Gunba

Founder & CEO

TRIION Gaming

Daniel Gunba is the Founder and CEO of TRIION Gaming. Daniel started his company in the iGaming sector a year and a half ago and has already led his team to prestigious awards and successful results. Daniel and his team are working on enhancing the iGaming experience by incorporating technologies like Al and VR. TRIION Gaming provides a virtual boutique experience for online casinos, allowing people to experience their favorite games in new ways. In addition to his one year of running his own company, Daniel has 9 years of experience in the iGaming industry.

Mikko Puhakka

Advisory Board Member & Mentor

Ventures Thrive

Mikko Puhakka was born in Finland but has lived in 4 continents (Europe, US, Africa and Asia). Mikko relocated 8 years ago from Beijing, China back to Europe and to Malta after a more than a decade in China where he worked with both Chinese and international companies. Majority of his work during last 25 years has been result oriented leading to ‘’all sides of the negotiation table’’ successfully helping companies raise money, find customers in new markets, investing, selling and also buying companies in diverse cultural environments. His track record includes seed investment into MySQL which became the first Unicorn out of Finland. Currently Mikko works at his own consulting company Lion Partners with private clients such as Ventures Thrive and public sector clients. He also serves on select advisory roles e.g. Global AI Council, Fieldstream and Transtar Networks. ‘’Converting opportunities into actionable business deals’’

Aymen Soufi

Strategic Director

SunContract

Armed with his background in Investment Banking and Private Equity, Aymen Soufi helps projects create new business models, linking real economy to the blockchain and cryptos. Co-founder and advisor in some crypto-linked projects, he is currently the Strategic Director of SunContract in charge of designing and implementing growth strategies based on the tokenization of Real Wold Assets.

Dr Vanessa Camilleri

Senior Lecturer

AI Department – University of Malta

Dr. Vanessa Camilleri, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Artificial Intelligence, brings extensive expertise in the field of AI in Education, Intelligent Interfaces and Human-Machine Interaction, Game-based Learning as well as Extended Reality for Education & Training as well as Ethics in AI. In addition to a number of publications in the areas mentioned, Dr. Camilleri is an active member of various Faculty Committees, currently presiding as the Chair of the Faculty of ICT Outreach Committee. Her commitment to education extends beyond academia, as evidenced by her active involvement in school outreach initiatives. With a career spanning over two decades, Dr. Camilleri has participated in a number of EU-funded projects, including notable programs such as EuroMed Heritage, Interreg, and the Framework Programmes 6 and 7 (FP6 & FP7), alongside several ErasmusPlus Projects. Presently, she is engaged as a key partner in an ongoing ErasmusPlus Project -‘ThinkGame’, the SEA-EU Enabled Project – ‘ENABLE’, as well as having recently been awarded funding for 2 projects as Principal Investigator from the National Xjenza Agency in Malta, thus showcasing her dedication to advancing the field of artificial intelligence in its various applications.

Martina Cutajar

Senior ESG Advisor

ARQ Group

Martina Cutajar is a dedicated Senior ESG Advisor with a background in biology and a Master’s degree from the University of Malta. With a strong foundation in environmental conservation, Martina served as Malta’s first Marine Park Site Manager, where she successfully drafted the park’s Management Plan and led stakeholder consultations, including with government agencies, to ensure long-term sustainability. Martina's transition into the ESG space was driven by her deep belief that industries, including gaming and corporate sectors, play a pivotal role in achieving global sustainability goals. During her five years managing the marine park, she was actively involved in helping companies fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations, organizing initiatives that aligned environmental stewardship with business success. Martina’s expertise now focuses on integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into core business strategies. She works closely with organizations to help them navigate the complexities of ESG frameworks, enhance transparency, and build resilience through responsible governance and ethical business practices. Passionate about sustainability and social impact, Martina believes that gaming and corporate industries are key players in shaping a more sustainable future, and she is dedicated to supporting these sectors in making meaningful ESG contributions.

Quirino Mancini

Global Head of the Gaming and Gambling Practice

Tonucci & Partners

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.

Dean Akinjobi

CEO

Footbal Media

Dean Akinjobi has been involved in Cryto since 2010 and is CEO of Football Media, a global digital advertising and sponsorship agency, that has a platform of websites and social that generate in excess of over 41 million monthly unique visitors. Football Media helps brands to reach and engage with global audiences across digital, through digital marketing and advertising across web 2 and web 3, as well as helping brands to secure sponsorships with football clubs and ambassadors. Football Media also provides marketing activation strategies for many crypto and blockchain related brands.

Vasilii Gamov

CEO

PeakyAds

Vasilii Gamov has been working in advertising for 13+ years. He has experience in iGaming, finance, crypto, e-commerce, video production, health, beauty, and education industries. He’s come a long way from scratch to C-level positions and launching new businesses. Now he’s CEO at PeakyAds, a marketing agency. They provide marketing and media services all around the world.

Matthew Montebello

Professor

AI Department – University of Malta

Prof Matthew Montebello is a full professor and the head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of ICT, University of Malta. Before joining the University in 1999 with a PhD in Computer Science he was already heavily involved in Education in secondary schools after graduating in 1990 at the University of Malta B.Ed.(Hons) degree. Having obtained extensive teaching experience and having been involved with the introduction of computer labs through the Ministry of Education, he proceeded to follow the Computer Science domain when he pursued his post-graduate studies obtaining a Masters and a Doctorate at Cardiff University in Wales in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Furthermore in 2009 and 2016 he also completed an M.A. and an Ed.D. (Higher Education) specialising in the application of artiﬁcial intelligence to e-learning. In 2017 he was offered a visiting academic status at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he collaborated with the Computer Science department and College of Education on numerous projects and research initiatives. In May 2018 he was appointed Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and developed a next generation VLE that employed social media concepts. At the University of Malta he forms part of the Web Editorial Board, the Digital Education Committee, and numerous other University of Malta committees. Since November 2022 Professor Montebello has been assisting the University of Malta with the disruption Generative AI and Large-Language models have brought about in higher education. Apart from co-authoring the guidelines for academics and students on the use of Generative AI Tools, he has co-facilitated numerous workshops, in collaboration with the Office for Professional Academic Development, on the adoption of Generative AI within the educational process for academics and local educators.

Alexey Vorobey

Co-Founder

AIstats

Multi-time startup founder with experience working in VC. Now he builds a sportstech startup that empowers fans with cutting-edge football stats insights.

Angelo Dalli

CSO & CTO

Umnai

As Umnai’s Chief Executive Officer, Angelo is responsible for leading the company’s commercial, product and technology strategy. Umnai was founded as an innovative AI focused solutions provider that is creating new AI technology that can explain itself and its decisions while helping to assist people rather than replacing them, with an emphasis on achieving a positive social impact. Angelo has published over 23 scientific publications in Europe and the US and has over twenty years of experience in various executive positions in technology, entertainment and fintech companies. Angelo has also represented Malta in various international events and one of his first international achievements was to win a bronze medal at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in 1995. As a serial entrepreneur, Angelo was involved in four IPOs and invested in more than 40 successful companies. This long track record was recognised in 2014, when he was awarded with Malta’s Top Entrepreneur of the Year award. Angelo’s profile is a realization of the mantra he works by ‘To create scaleable, repeatable technology businesses that lead by innovation’.

Dieter Brockmeyer

CPO

Diplomatic World Group

Dieter Brockmeyer is a senior media industry and innovation expert, author, international keynote speaker, and panel host. He is Chief Project Officer (CPO) of Diplomatic World Group in Brussels and cofounder the Diplomatic World Institute (DWI). He is cohost of the “Two the power of MORE” audio podcast series on innovation thinking. He curates international industry events and developed the Wholistic World Innovation Trophy (WWIT) that DWI announced remotely in 2021 for the very first time and had its physical premiere in 2022 at Casa Llotja del Mar in Barcelona. The award is based on the concept of “Wholistic Innovation” Dieter developed for the Institute and that is explained in his book “Pandemia’s Box” available on Amazon in English and German.

Polina Kapitonova

HR Advisor

Alpha Affiliates

Global HR professional with years of experience in HR management, teams' development, recruitment, branding and other HR functions across different industries such as IGaming, Affiliates, Forex, Entertainment, Fintech. My focus is to create effective teams for business and develop solutions that help the players work faster, involved, more efficient and truly data driven.

Shahar Attias

CEO

Hybrid Interaction

Shahar Attias is a Globally recognized iGaming expert, a CRM strategist, and a frequent speaker at the industry's leading events. Following a career as a senior executive with 888, Playtech and PokerStars, Shahar has founded Hybrid Interaction – a boutique consulting agency, made by a premier team of experienced hands-on specialists. To date, they have held more than 200 successful consulting projects across all verticals and through most jurisdictions, including online migration projects with brick-and-mortar casinos in the Dutch, Swiss, Georgian, UK, and US markets; among their clients are gambling powerhouses such as Greentube, Hard Rock & PlayStar in NJ (USA), GiG, Casino du Lac (Partouche), Logrand (MX), Holland Casino, Grand Casino Baden, Horizons Casino, Groupe Barrière, Entain / GVC / BwinParty / Sportingbet / Bet.pt, IGT, William Hill, Karamba, Crocobet, BetConstruct, Pin-up, EvoPlay, bgo, Win2day, Neto, DazzleTag, GetsBet.ro and Platin Casino.

Kostiantyn Golubiev

Head of Media

G.Partners

Kostiantyn has extensive experience in media – over 10 years of working on popular international television projects he transferred to affiliate marketing and for the past three years, he has been instrumental in the growth and success of the G.Partners brand. Kostiantyn is skilled at engaging diverse audiences, collaborating with niche media, and constantly innovating with new formats and strategies. He is a highly sought-after host at global conferences and a frequent moderator of panel discussions on brand building, media strategy, and marketing.

Maciej Szatkowski

Google Pre-Sales Engineer

Squalio

A seasoned technical leader, Maciej Szatkowski boasts 18+ years of experience in IT, consistently delivering business growth through a blend of technical expertise and strategic thinking. He has a proven track record in leading product development, spearheading enterprise-wide cloud and automation initiatives, and managing technical teams. Maciej holds numerous professional certificates, including certifications in SAFe and ITIL methodologies. He is also a five-times Google certified professional, holding certifications as a Cloud Architect, Cloud Security Engineer, and Data Engineer. His core skills encompass Agile methodologies, data processing, generative AI, and cloud solutions, particularly within the Google Cloud Platform. He boasts extensive experience in software development, automation, and DevOps, showcasing a unique blend of leadership, business acumen, and deep technical skills.

Gregory Klumov

CEO

EURS

Gregory Klumov is a highly-profiled specialist in alternative asset management with extensive experience in crafting complex business multi-strategies for international markets. He has built a career around managing multi-million dollar portfolios on behalf of global funds and private investors. Being an expert in building and pairing liquid and digital alternatives alongside more traditional portfolio investments, Gregory now aims to shiftstakeholders' mindsets to embrace cryptocurrency technologies.

Emilio Takas

Head of SEO

Gentoo Media

Formerly a Visual Storytelling multifaceted digital creative, with a strong technical background on websites, design, digital marketing and analytics helping people achieving the most out of their online appearance for over 21 years, Emilio is currently Head of SEO (Sports) at Gentoo Media, which you might remember by its former name, GiG Media, the affiliate media division of GiG (Gaming Innovation Group). He is also a visiting lecturer at Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) teaching SEO and Marketing Analytics, a seasoned speaker and a judge to SEO and iGaming Conferences and Awards.

Alessandro Gherardi

Co-Founder & Director

Fomento Agency

Alessandro Gherardi is the founder and CEO of Fomento Agency, a premium affiliate network specializing in emerging markets such as Asia, India and Latam. With a background in business and marketing, Alessandro has always been passionate about helping companies grow their online presence. Under his leadership, Fomento Agency has worked with a diverse range of clients, from small operators to big businesses, providing tailored strategies that drive engagement and growth across digital platforms. Alessandro's expertise lies in his ability to combine creativity with data-driven marketing, ensuring that his clients not only reach their target audiences but also build long-term, loyal customer relationships. His deep understanding of emerging trends in the digital world allows Fomento Agency to stay ahead in a competitive market. A dynamic and visionary entrepreneur, Alessandro is committed to innovation and excellence in every project. His hands-on approach and dedication to delivering results have earned him a reputation as a trusted leader in the industry. Whether through social media campaigns, SEO, or branding strategies, Alessandro and his team at Fomento Agency continue to shape the digital marketing landscape, helping businesses thrive in an ever-evolving online world.

Morten Rongaard

Co-Founder

Pixelpai

Morten is globally recognized as an NFT OG, having foreseen the transformative impact of NFTs and digital assets. He has worked with companies like FIFA, BBC Studios, Pro Cycling,ITV Studios and many more in shaping the strategy and creating projects using blockchain technology. Morten focos on the ecosystem of Web4, where technology meets trust and transparency and are recognized for his ability to demystify the complexities of Web4, helping and educating brands and companies for the new oppourtunities and potential. In his daily work, Morten is building the future financial internet and are deeply involved in collaborative efforts that redefine interactions with digital assets and money, offering his expertise to a wide range of sectors from fintech to gaming. His commitment to knowledge-sharing and empowering others is evident in his role as a regular speaker and moderstor around the world and serving on boards like Nordic Blockchain Association and Asia Web3 Alliance Japan, where he consistently advocates for a tech-driven world that's open to all.

Isaac Zarb

CTO

Simply Staking

Passionate about tech, Cybersecurity Blockchain and AI, with experience in igaming, fintech, cybersec, Blockchain and AI.

Clint Griscti

CEO

apidae Digital

With a growth-first mindset and a passion for analytics and tracking, Clint lives for taking businesses to new heights through digital innovation & growth strategies. Outside Business Development and making sense of shifting digital paradigms, Clint is an accomplished diver and basketball player and enjoys daily reading pastimes.

Kevin Plumpton

Group CEO

Kyrrex

Kevin Plumpton is currently Group CEO at Kyrrex, an international digital finance firm, providing fiat and crypto products and services within an integrated Web 3 ecosystem. Kevin is also a warranted lawyer and boasts a decade of experience collaborating with local and international organizations, offering business management solutions, legal counsel, and regulatory expertise. He's a seasoned entrepreneur who founded successful startups, the latest of which was Diligex. As a practicing advocate, Kevin specialized in Finance, Business, Corporate Governance, Risk, and Compliance Legislation. He's a pioneer in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing Terrorism (CFT) compliance and is better known for his brainchild Due-Diligence platform, KYCMATIC. Kevin's interests also extend to finance and digital market technologies.

Minna Ripatti

Attorney at Law & Founding Partner

Legal Gaming Attorneys at Law

Minna Ripatti is a highly experienced Finnish Attorney at Law with over a decade of specialized expertise in the iGaming sector. As the Founding Partner of Legal Gaming Attorneys Law, she focuses on providing tailored legal services to clients, with particular emphasis on the Finnish market. Her practice covers a broad range of areas, including risk assessment, marketing regulations, licensing, administrative proceedings, and litigation. Minna has worked extensively with top-tier iGaming companies and suppliers, guiding them through the complexities of obtaining licenses across multiple jurisdictions. She is widely recognized in the iGaming legal community for her in-depth knowledge of the field and her unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional legal counsel. With significant experience in both in-house legal roles on the supplier and operator sides of the iGaming industry, Minna brings a comprehensive, industry-specific perspective to her practice, ensuring that her clients’ needs are fully understood and effectively addressed.

Matthew Felice Pace

CEO

Simply Staking

After over a decade in academia and in various technical roles, Matthew embarked on the entrepreneurial journey co-founding Simply Staking in 2018, with the vision of “empowering the decentralised world of tomorrow”. Since then, he has led the company as CEO to become a global leader in blockchain infrastructure provision and development. Navigating a cutting-edge technological landscape as well as a highly fluctuating market, he spearheaded the growth of the company to a 50-person operation across three continents, supporting foundational blockchain projects such as Chainlink, Lido, Polkadot and the Cosmos Hub, providing high-quality RPC nodes and developing core technology such as shared sequencing and cross-chain trading.

Torben Friis

Managing Director

Match Liquidity DMCC

Torben Friis is the Managing Director in charge of global distribution at Match Liquidity DMCC. Match is a leading market maker for financial institutions and wholesale clients seeking access to institutional liquidity across capital markets. Torben is a Danish national having started his financial career at Saxo Bank moving on to Asset Management in Switzerland and setting up IG.com in Europe and leading the expansion of activtrades.com to mention a few. Areas of interest are digital assets including central bank digital currencies and what will be the next step for the financial industry as a whole.

Tony Evans

Co-Founder & Chief Strategist

CETI AI

Tony Evans, Co-Founder of CETI AI and CEO of RATE Group, combines over 8 years of crypto experience with 18 years in traditional finance. Hailing from the UK and having spent the last 17 years in Asia, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge in both traditional and digital finance, complemented by his global leadership experience. He has actively engaged with numerous blockchain projects through investments and advisory roles, including being part of one of the first publicly traded companies on the New York Stock Exchange. Tony's strong belief in the future convergence of blockchain, AI, and physical assets reflects his vision for CetiAI, aimed at empowering individuals, entrepreneurs, and societal well-being through innovative solutions and success.

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.

Eugene Ravdin

Head of Communications and Marketing

MightyTips

Before joining MightyTips, I spent 19 years with the UEFA official website in various roles, most notably as the Editor-in-Chief of the Russian-language editorial team. I've worked on men's and women's UEFA EUROs, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League finals, interviewed the likes of Arsène Wenger and Guus Hiddink, commentated English Premier League and Serie A for Setanta, hosted live sports shows on TV and radio, built UEFA Champions League community on VK from scratch to million followers, and reported from Camp Nou and the City of Manchester Stadium. Strangely enough, I have a degree in IT (although it was long ago) and rich experience as a voice-over artist. I am a father of two and an amateur basketball player.

Sergejs Ponomarjovs

CMO

OSH Casino

Sergejs Ponomarjovs is an award-winning CMO and SEO problem solver with over 20 years of experience in the digital marketing industry. A passionate AI enthusiast, he leverages cutting-edge technology to drive results and solve complex SEO challenges, delivering innovative solutions across various sectors.

Ivonne Montealegre

Poker Tour Operations Manager

SiGMA Group

Harmen Brenninkmeijer

Managing Partner

NYCE International

Harmen Brenninkmeijer has a 30+ year track record in developing, manufacturing, and distributing technology products in the gaming industry. His expertise derives from selling and operating in over 75 countries with an emphasis on emerging markets. His extensive experience across the gaming industry has given him a wealth of knowledge, proving invaluable in business and enabling him to regularly contribute to panels on a wide variety of subjects. Harmen founded the Gaming Incubator in 2007 and has invested in the development of over 20+ technology focused companies. Today he is building NYCE International to represent industry-leading companies, connecting them across the globe with operators, and developing unique ventures along the way.

Warren Tristram

Head of Gaming, Lottery and eSport

Nuvei

Warren has been actively involved in payment processing helping to grow the nascent online gaming industry in the US. Warren has 20 years’ industry experience so understands the challenges and opportunities that gaming provides. During his career Warren has held senior roles with a number of well-respected vendors and operators, he is an active speaker contributing to industry magazine articles and events, and also holds a Masters in the Management of International Payments Ecosystem.

Dan Shannon

Head of Marketing & SEO

Casino Kings

Dan Shannon is an iGaming Marketing Expert and the current Head of Marketing & SEO at CBS Global. He manages the company's day-to-day brand awareness efforts through strategic marketing initiatives. With over 14 years of experience working with some of Europe’s leading gaming brands, he specializes in driving brand growth and visibility. Dan has a proven track record and extensive experience in regulated markets worldwide, particularly in the UK market.

Andrey Beyerbah

Co-Founder & CEO

Gamixter

Andrei Beyerbah is an experienced marketing and business expert, with a career spanning from 2015. After founding his own advertising agency at the age of 21, Petr led it to become a market leader within six years, collaborating with major brands like Coca-Cola and the NHL. In 2019, Andrey transitioned into the iGaming industry, where he took on roles such as CMO and Head of International Marketing for companies like Parimatch and Fonbet. Over his career, Andrei has been recognized for his marketing effectiveness with three prestigious EFFIE awards. As the co-founder and CEO of Gamixter, Andrei is dedicated to providing marketing teams across the globe with powerful tools to engage players and enhance their financial and user metrics. His mission is to transform online casinos from mere collections of slots into comprehensive entertainment platforms, all while simplifying the process for marketing teams so they can focus on what matters most – creating exceptional player experiences.

Nenad Krstic

Founder

MNBL Company

13 years in content creation & community building primarily in gaming. Over 2500 videos and 1.3 million subscribers in total across all YouTube channels.

Piotr Piasecki

Board Member

Revenue Capital

Piotr has over 25 years of experience managing enterprises as CEO in EU, UK and overseas. He specialises in marketing and sales. As a Board Member of Revenue Capital LLC he oversees the core elements of the company’s activities, revolving around developing and selling Web3 products and services, portfolio investments as well as brand building and visibility.

Dr Simon Planzer

Partner

PLANZER LAW

Dr Simon Planzer is founding partner at PLANZER LAW AG, which features an internationally widely recognised legal niche-specialisation in TECHNOLOGY, GAMING and ENTERTAINMENT. The firm’s team provides highly specialised services on all gaming matters relating to Switzerland and EU/EEA. The firm has served as lead firm to navigate clients through intricate multi-jurisdictional challenges and complex international business projects. Services notably include strategic advice, regulatory work, ensuring compliance and a wide range of legal services. Dr Planzer wrote his PhD on EU/EEA gaming regulation and studied i.a. at the universities of Harvard, College of Europe, St. Gallen, and the European University Institute. He has published extensively on gaming matters and serves as regular speaker at the leading industry conferences. He has been invited repeatedly by both the IAGR and the GREF to present to regulators. Through his work with regulators, presentations and publications, he has substantially contributed to the cause of empirical-based and sound gaming regulation. Dr Planzer also serves as Lecturer in Law and Director of a Competence Center on Gaming & Entertainment.

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.

Alexiei Dingli

Professor of Artificial Intelligence

University of Malta

Prof Alexiei Dingli is an AI expert and Professor at the University of Malta. With over 20 years of experience in the field, he has helped numerous companies successfully implement AI solutions. His work has been recognized as world-class by international experts, and he has received numerous awards from organizations such as the European Space Agency, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the United Nations. In addition to his considerable peer-reviewed publications, he has also been a core member of the Malta.AI task force, working to position Malta as a global leader in AI.

Greg Lacan

COO

UniK SEO

Greg Lacan is a seasoned SEO strategist with years of experience promoting crypto, casino, and sports betting projects globally. As COO for a leading agency, Greg has developed innovative strategies to promote iGaming projects online, implementing SEO best practices to attract users. Greg brings his expertise and passion for SEO to provide attendees with valuable insights and actionable strategies for success in the iGaming industry.

Sarah Psaila

Business Development Manager – Gaming and Gambling

Group-IB

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.

Carlos Sánchez

CEO

TipsterChat

Startup founder and senior executive with 15 years of experience leading disruptive companies in the media research and technology sectors. As co-founder of The Data Republic, I launched Spain's first Social TV analytics platform, Tuitele, attracting top media clients and leading to the company’s acquisition by Kantar. At Kantar, I rolled out Social TV Ratings globally and created a multi-million dollar revenue stream. I also led Kantar’s Innovation Accelerator, fostering agile product development. In 2021, I launched a business management platform for Xolo in Spain and Italy, boosting the company's global revenue by 12%. Currently, I'm the CEO of TipsterChat, an app for sports bettors to find and follow professional tipsters.

Maruska Buttigieg Gili

CCO (Malta)

FalconX

Ms. Buttigieg Gili has over 25 years of expertise in the Maltese financial services sector. She began her career at the Central Bank of Malta, where she held various positions, including roles within the economic statistics department. Here, she developed a deep understanding of the Maltese regulatory framework, the EU regulatory requirements, and gained experience in implementing ECB regulations in Malta. During this period, she also represented the Central Bank of Malta in several ECB working groups. Following her tenure at the Central Bank, Ms. Buttigieg Gili spent 15 years with BNF Bank, where she held multiple roles such as Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Compliance Officer at intermittent periods. She also served as the Chief Risk Officer of the bank for over five years. Additionally, she represented the bank on the Executive Committee of the Malta Bankers Association (MBA) and participated in technical committees focused on AML/CFT and regulatory compliance. She also represented the MBA on the AML/CFT Strategic Working Group at the European Banking Federation. In 2023, Ms. Buttigieg Gili joined FalconX Ltd as the Chief Compliance Officer and MLRO.

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.

Adel Gaisin

CPO

Watchers

With over 10 years of experience in creating digital products as an entrepreneur and Head of Product, I have led projects with complex product and business metrics. I’ve built and developed cross-functional teams of up to 50 members, including engineers, product managers, analysts, and designers, enabling successful product innovation and execution for startups and corporations. Currently, I am leading and growing the product at Watchers.

Adrian Niculescu

CEO

TOMORROWerse Capital

Adrian Niculescu is a successful fintech investor and estate entrepreneur, spending more than 20 years building and developing companies. Adrian is the CEO of Meta Description but above all, he is the CMO EMEA of CloudCoin Consortium, a digital currency you can store offline in a PNG or TXT file. Adrian experience include 30 tech start-ups mentored since 2014, 250 real estate transactions completed since 2008 and a long career in senior position.

Nicholas Aquilina

Partner

BRANDL TALOS

Nicholas Aquilina is a partner at BRANDL TALOS specialising in, international gaming, betting and entertainment law, EU law, social, skill and fantasy gaming, e-sports and videogaming. Nicholas provides regulatory, corporate and transactional advice, and regularly represents clients before national courts and regulators, European associations, EU institutions and the CJEU. He has assisted clients in several licensing procedures across Europe and the US and advised on large-scale transactions in the gaming and betting sector. He is a co-author of Social Gaming in Europe, and frequently contributes to legal publications and international conferences. Chambers Global ranks Nicholas as a leading international gaming lawyer: “Nicholas Aquilina is rated highly by market commentators as a “first-class legal and regulatory professional”, who “has played significant roles in corporate and regulatory mandates relating to high-profile transactions and international online sports betting.

James Candy

Founder&CEO

Candy-Pay.io

My name is James Candy and I'm a banking & crypto payments specialist that's has been navigating the risk/challenges that companies in the iGaming space have to mitigate when it comes to running their operational accounts. At Candy-pay, we pride ourselves of our extensive network of banking institutions that perfectly tailor to solve these issues for our clients.

Santiago Asensi

Founder and Managing Partner

Asensi Abogados

Santiago Asensi is the Managing Partner and Founder of Asensi Abogados. He is a qualified lawyer specializing in Gaming and Betting Law and is an expert in regulation and litigation for online and land-based operators and gaming-related stakeholders in Spain. Asensi is listed in the “Thought Leaders” category of the Who’s Who Legal publication and is also considered a Band 1 listed lawyer in the Gaming and Betting section of Chambers & Partners, two independent guides that profile the world’s leading lawyers, describing him as a “pioneer”, “the first choice for gaming advice”, with a “strong reputation built over the years”. After winning the corresponding public tender, Asensi and his team developed the first online gambling regulatory regime for Colombia, which is considered a model by experts and widely emulated in various Latin American jurisdictions. Asensi is an officer of the International Gaming Consultants Association (IAGA). In addition, he is the co-author of The Gaming Law Book -Thomson Reuters- and the Spanish Gaming Market Report -MECN-. He is a frequent speaker at major international gaming conferences and a frequent author of articles on the gaming industry.

Danielle Francis

Co-Founder & CEO

bCOACHED Training Solutions

Transitioning from an engineering background to a certified executive coach, Danielle has carved a niche in the training and coaching industry, impacting ventures from early-stage startups to executives at global companies such as LinkedIn, Etsy, and Binance. Her nearly two decades of experience have made her a key figure in empowering people and organizations to reach their highest potential, utilizing her extensive knowledge of business operations, human behavior, and organizational dynamics. Danielle and her team at bCOACHED Training Solutions focus on actionable training and coaching for growing companies, reducing friction and aiding effective scaling. They offer tailored training programmes to help founders and teams perform under pressure, promoting innovation and continuous growth. She also holds an MBA and works in shaping future leaders as a lecturer at EU and IESE Business Schools, specializing in entrepreneurship, design thinking, and communications.

Dr Claudia Borg

Senior Lecturer

AI Department – University of Malta

Her interests are primarily focused on the application of AI techniques to the processing of the Maltese language. This leads to several research threads, from large language models to investigation of bias in language models. She coordinated LT-BRIDGE, an H2020-Widening-Twinning project to bridge the gap between European and Maltese research in AI and Language Technologies. She currently leads several projects to develop the necessary computational tools to process Maltese, funded by MDIA, Malta Enterprise, and various EU programs. She was involved in building the first automatic speech recognition system for Maltese through the University of Malta Research Excellence Fund. She received the Women and Girls Inspirational Leadership Award 2023 from the British High Commission in recognition of the work done in the field of innovation and technology.

Nikita Sachdev

Founder

Luna PR

Nikita Sachdev is an Indian-American entrepreneur. She studied Chemistry and Business at the University of Texas, Austin and James Cook University. Shortly after graduating, Nikita launched Luna Management in 2015, a talent management and production agency, based in Singapore. Her passion and drive to tap into the Crypto and Blockchain space in 2017, led her to work with crypto giant, Huobi, as the host of their talk show, interviewing and gaining exposure to some of today's renowned crypto pioneers. She successfully exited Luna Management to launch Luna PR, a dynamic public relations agency with a keen focus on web3 technologies. Since its founding, the self-funded agency has served more than 500 clients, spreading its influence to four countries worldwide, today, thriving with a dedicated team of over 75 creative professionals. Nikita aims to implement web3 into mainstream media. She was the host and co-producer of CNBC Arabia’s first ever web3 show “On the Chain”, which hit 50 million homes across the Middle East. She is an active contributor on the Forbes business council, and acquired the franchise for Cointelegraph Middle East in 2022. Nikita is often invited to speak globally at universities and conferences, where she provides educational and valuable industry insight. Since 2017, she has launched and advised several web3 companies globally. Her growth in the industry has caught the attention of media and government officials worldwide. She has been recognized with several awards, including “Arabian Businesses 50 Inspiring Women Leaders”. She is passionate about the industry and aims to increase mass adoption by harnessing the power of media.

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.

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.

Dr Ioannis Revolidis

Lecturer of Media, Communications & Technology Law

University of Malta

Dr. Ioannis Revolidis studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He is a legal academic at the Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT), responsible for the legal stream of the interdisciplinary research and teaching endeavors of the Centre. He is also a lecturer in the Department of Media, Communications, and Technology Law at the Law Faculty of the University of Malta. Ioannis has been teaching and researching in European Information Technology Law for the past 12 years in various European countries such as Germany (Leibniz University Hannover), the UK (Queen Mary University of London), Norway (Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law), Greece (Aristotle University Thessaloniki). He focuses on the law and regulation of emerging technologies with an emphasis on digital commercial transactions, digital assets, copyright law, data protection law, private international law, electronic commerce law, civil liability and the philosophy of law.

Michele Magro

Head of Legal & Compliance

NSUS Malta

Michele is a legal & compliance professional with a focus on gambling law compliance, commercial law and AML/CFT. Previously, Michele spent ten years in the public sector, most recently as Technical Advisor to the CEO at the Malta Financial Services Authority, and Chief Counsel – International Affairs & Policy at the Malta Gaming Authority, where he was also Chairman of the Supervisory Council. During his time at the MGA, Michele also sat on the Board of Directors of the Gambling Regulators European Forum.

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.

Dima Mariievskyi

Head of Affiliates

Growe Partners

Dima Mariievskyi is the Head of Growe Partners and an expert in affiliate marketing within the iGaming and betting sectors, with over 8 years of industry experience. He specializes in traffic acquisition, partnership development, and building transparent, win-win relationships. Under his leadership, Growe Partners expanded globally and won the "Best Affiliate Program" at the 2024 SiGMA Americas Awards. Dima has significantly boosted brand visibility at major industry events, including SiGMA Europe, iGB Affiliate London, iGB Live Amsterdam, and SiGMA Americas, while driving innovation and optimizing affiliate performance.

Jekaterina Dubnicka

Head of Marketing & Communications

Slotsjudge

Annalise Seguna

PO – Managing Legal Counsel

Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA)

Annalise Seguna holds the position of a Managing Legal Officer at MDIA. She practices in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Distributed Ledger Technologies and contract law. Dr Seguna also assists in the drafting of legislation and serves as an advisor on a number of boards related to the schemes and initiatives of the MDIA. She graduated with a Master of Advocacy from the University of Malta in 2018 and was granted the warrant to practice law in 2019. Apart from her extensive experience in civil and commercial law, Dr Seguna also holds a Masters in Distributed Ledger Technologies.

Txema Hermoso

CGO

Revpanda

Txema has over eight years of experience in the gambling industry, primarily focusing on B2C marketing strategies, including SEM, SEO, and growth marketing. Although he initially studied cinematography and spent a decade in film production, he transitioned to the iGaming sector upon moving to Malta. There, he developed a passion for creating strategies that engage customers through Unique Selling Propositions (USPs) and enhancing websites with compelling content. His work aims to increase authority and optimize technical features for improved performance.

Alexander Belov

Forbes Journalist, Coinstelegram Media & Fund Founder

Alexander Belov is a recognized blockchain public speaker, co-Founder of Coinstelegram fund, contributor at Entrepreneur.com and Forbes Israel. He is also a PR director of Beeminer Group, which is building the largest mining farm in the world using a new immersion cooling technology. Alex is 40under40 top crypto entrepreneurs by Forbes Portugal 2022. Alex is in Top 10 leading blockchain entrepreneurs 2020 by Ibtimes. Top 30 influential people in blockchain by Hackernoon. Alex is also Encrypted Production Bitcoin documentary film Co-Founder (El Salvador, Dubai episodes). CZ – founder Binance, Nayib Bukele – president of El Salvador, Justin Sun – Tron Founder, Charles Hoskinson- Cardano founder and many others participating in the film.

Justin Franssen

Attorney at law & Partner

Kalff Katz & Franssen

Justin Franssen is an attorney at law and partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen, where he leads the Gaming Practice. His comprehensive advisory and litigation practice regularly deals with sector-specific acquisitions and complex public affairs processes. Prior to his admission to the Dutch Bar, Justin acted as general counsel for a gaming developer in Amsterdam and New York. His career as an attorney at law began at an associate firm of KPMG, where he founded their European Gaming & Entertainment Services Group. He subsequently spent 12 years as head of the Gaming, Sports & Entertainment practice group at a medium-sized law firm in Amsterdam. Justin regularly publishes in national and international professional journals, is a frequent speaker at sector events and conferences, and is on the editorial boards of Gaming Law Review & Economics and Online Gambling Lawyer. He is a board member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). Justin is also member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and holds a seat on the Advisory Board of the International Research Institute for Gambling and Gaming in Bonn. Justin has received no less than eight consecutive Band 1 rankings in the Chambers Global Guide.

Cordelia Morgan Cooper

Founder

CMC Consulting

Amit Kumar Baid

Head of Tax

BTG Advaya

Amit Baid is the Head of Tax at BTG Advaya. He has close to 20 years of extensive experience in Indian tax laws and has been advising clients spanning across sectors on tax structuring, planning, compliance, and dispute resolution. Amit’s practice covers cross border M&A (buy and sell side), inbound and outbound investment structuring, business restructuring, transfer pricing, bilateral APAs, tax litigation / representation, compliances, expat policies, employment structuring, and due diligence. His experience also includes working on unilateral and bilateral APAs, setting up of a domestic Infrastructure Fund and AIFs in GIFT IFSC, and assistance in preparing valuation reports. Amit has worked with companies globally across diverse sectors including technology, banking and financial services, private equity funds, media and communications, energy, infrastructure and automobile etc. Apart from his experience with Indian taxation, Amit has also been involved with direct tax regulations in Thailand, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Amit started his career with Ernst & Young and thereafter led the tax team at Morgan Stanley’s India office for about 15 years. Amit has read commerce from St. Xavier’s College and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Riccardo Furlan

Game Producer

Spade Gaming

Duncan Garvie

Head of ADR Services

CasinoReviews.com

Sini Rantala

SEO Lead

Betsson

Sini is the SEO Lead at Betsson, responsible for regional SEO acquisition, retention, and delivery by leading a sustainable SEO strategy. A firm believer in the power of learning and curiosity, Sini constantly explores emerging trends and best practices to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of search algorithms. She has a passion for innovation and growth and combines these with each new challenge.

Reuben Portanier

Advisory Partner

GTG

Reuben Portanier is GTG’s Advisory Partner. Reuben joined GTG in 2018 as the co-founding partner of GTG Corporate. Reuben is a C-Level professional with executive management experience in the consulting, technology, gaming and financial sectors. At GTG, he is responsible for the Gaming and Business Advisory, Outsourcing and Compliance Consulting, and Governance and ESG. Mr Portanier served as the CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority for 5 years and is a former board trustee of the International Association of Gaming Regulators. He is a former gaming advisor to the European Commission and the Government of Malta. Mr. Portanier also held management consultancy experience with Arthur Andersen, and held C-Level positions in the ICT sector. Reuben is a frequent speaker at international conferences, whilst he was awarded as one of the 50 most influential persons in the gaming industry by the Gaming Intelligence Magazine, and as iGaming Consultant of the Year by iGaming Idol. Reuben is a Board Member of the Malta Football Association, was a visiting lecturer on sport integrity with the ISDE University in Barcelona. Mr Portanier is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).

Gor Chatyan

Head of Marketing

BetConstruct

Gor Chatyan is a results-driven business development and marketing expert with over 10 years of experience in the Marketing, iGaming, and B2B sectors. Specializing in creating and executing strategic marketing plans, he has a proven track record of managing global product portfolios and driving significant business growth. His expertise spans market research, digital marketing, affiliate marketing, and customer engagement. Gor is highly adept at leveraging data analytics to inform strategy and optimize performance, ensuring alignment with business goals and KPIs. A visionary leader, Gor is committed to delivering innovative solutions that propel businesses forward in competitive markets.

Maria Bashkevich

Head of Marketing

Uplatform

Maria Bashkevich is the Marketing Maverick at Uplatform. Having extensive experience across various iGaming verticals and global markets, Maria has gained expertise in player psychology and regional needs. She's the mastermind behind all marketing strategies, propelling Uplatform to the forefront of the iGaming industry. Her marketing strategies power digital growth and successful market expansions, making her the force behind Uplatform's marketing dominance.

Martin Oelbermann

Director

MECN

Gabriel Monidelle

CEO

HockeyAllsvenskan

Gabriel Monidelle, CEO of HockeyAllsvenskan, is a trailblazer with over 25 years of experience shaping the fast-paced entertainment industry. From music and film to football, he’s held executive positions, and for the last four years, he’s been at the helm of HockeyAllsvenskan, transforming it into a rising force. Under his leadership, the league has shattered expectations, achieving record-breaking growth in attendance, TV ratings, and digital engagement. Monidelle has fostered a vibrant, fast-paced culture where every move is focused on creating buzz, driving ticket sales, and securing sponsorships.

Stefano Sbordoni

Founder

Sbordoni&Partners

Pedrão Bet

Director

Aposta Online

I have over 16 years working with in the sports-betting field within Brazil and was the first to promote online betting sites in the country. Before my time with Duelbet I operated as a consultant for leading online betting companies so that they could enter into the Brazilian market.

Ulrik Bengtsson

Chair of the Board

Racketech

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.

Teresa Meyer

Tax Lawyer

BMA Advogados

Teresa Meyer is a Brazilian Tax Attorney at BMA Advogados, specialising in direct tax advisory. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, she has gained international experience working in Austria and Spain, where she advised on cross-border tax matters and tax aspects of foreign direct investments in Brazil. Teresa holds an LL.B. degree from PUC-SP in Brazil and an LL.M. degree in tax law from WU in Austria and UIC Catalunya in Spain.

Witoldo Hendrich

Founder

Online IPS

Barbara Beltrami

Country Manager – Italy

Kindred

Barbara started her career in iGaming in 2008 when online poker had just been regulated and the now over Eur 1.6billion Italian iGaming industry, had just taken off. Barbara has been Italian Country Manager for PokerStars for 6 years, from 2008 till 2014 launching and growing the brand in Italy. In 2012 she relocated to Malta from Rome, after PokerStars moved its Italian operations on the Island. In 2016 Barbara joined Betsson Group as Global Brand Manager for the Italian Brand. Thanks to the success in Italy, the brand was also launched in Spain in 2017 and she took care of the marketing launch in the Spanish Market as well. Since October 2017 Barbara became part of Kindred Group and now she is leading the operations for the Italian market from Milan.

Josh Berger

Founding Community Member

PKT

Josh has 15+ years experience as a founder and entrepreneur in tech and entertainment. He started his career innovating social media marketing and ran a global marketing agency in 2009 working with blossoming company to movie studios with hundreds of millions of marketing dollars. Through this endeavor he co-founded multiple startup driving them from concept to product. Additionally, Josh produced and wrote multiple Hollywood films and worked as an executive at Radical Studios. In 2018 he became a founding community member of PKT (www.pkt.cash), which is a decentralized media network on Base that pays people to stake and host infrastructure to power the network. He Co-founded PKT Pal (www.pktpal.com) in 2020, which provides plug & play infrastructure hardware for the PKT Network and at-home streaming.

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.

Sergey Bidzan

CEO

Eden Esports

Sergey Bidzan is the CEO of Eden Esports, bringing 14 years of experience in the esports industry to his role. He leads the company’s global efforts to deliver premier esports services and events, with operations across Europe and the Americas. Sergey is committed to advancing the esports landscape through innovative tournament operations, content creation, and strategic partnerships, positioning Eden Esports as a prominent player on the international stage.

Mikheil Didebulidze

Founder & CEO

Arena Games

Founder and CEO at Arena Games and Degamefi. Entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience in crypto and blockchain fields. One of the pioneers in the development of industrial mining in Georgia. Being passionate about the crypto world, Mikheil co-founded an EU-based cryptocurrency exchange platform, NFT game development company and crypto processing gateway. Partner in VC firm concentrated on DEFI and GameFi startups.

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.

Alessio Crisantemi

Editor

Gioco News

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.

Francesca Zammit

Associate / Advisory – Technology

NOUV

Francesca brings a strong background in information technology and a passion for driving excellence in cybersecurity and compliance to her role as Associate Advisory – Technology. With a BSc (Hons) in Business & IT from the University of Malta, Francesca is certified as an Expert in the SWIFT Customer Security Programme and holds credentials as a GDPR Data Protection Officer (DPO) and ISO27001 Lead Auditor. She has received training as an ISO27001 Lead Implementer, ISO22301 Lead Implementer (BCMS), ISO42001 Lead Implementer (AIMS), and DORA Lead Manager. Her career includes extensive experience in performing IT audits, cybersecurity-related audits, and GDPR compliance audits, as well as ISMS implementations. At NOUV, Francesca specialises in guiding organisations through ISMS implementations, GDPR compliance, and technology projects, delivering strategic advisory and consultancy services. Her proactive approach and technical expertise ensure organisations meet international standards and navigate digital transformations seamlessly.

Tamara Novitović

Head of SEO

Bazoom Group

Tamara is the leading SEO at Bazoom Group in Denmark, helping clients of all sizes in competitive markets achieve their SEO goals. As an active conference speaker, she also shares expert insights on data-driven, customized link-building strategies for success in iGaming, affiliate, and FinTech markets.

Evgen Belousov

CEO

GR8 Tech

Evgen Belousov is the CEO of GR8 Tech, the provider of high-performance sportsbook and casino platforms. As CEO, Evgen oversees business development, performance, and global expansion. He works closely with marketing, product, retention, billing, and business analytics teams to execute the company's strategy and achieve its goals. Evgen is highly skilled in business development and growth management, revenue generation processes, business digitalization, and gambling products and tech solutions for the gambling industry. He is committed to driving innovation and growth in the iGaming industry and is passionate about helping iGaming operators scale their businesses and achieve sustainable, measurable success in any regulated market.

Dr Joerg Hofmann

Partner

Melchers Law Firm

Dr. Joerg Hofmann is head of the Betting and Gaming Group of Melchers Law Firm in Germany. He is a Past President of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). He has been consistently ranked as a “Leading Individual” in Gaming & Gambling by Chambers Global and listed among “Germany’s Best Lawyers” in the category “Gaming Law” by Handelsblatt and BestLawyers. Joerg frequently publishes articles in international professional journals and speaks regularly on leading gaming law conferences around the world. Who’s Who Legal granted Joerg the global award “Gaming Lawyer of the Year” in 2023”. Joerg lectures in gambling law at the University of Heidelberg as well as at the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg.

Christian Tirabassi

Senior Partner

Ficom Leisure

Christian Tirabassi is the Founder and Senior Partner of Ficom Leisure, an M&A advisory and consultancy company specialized in the offline and online betting & gaming industry since 1996. Ficom Leisure has more than 75 years of combined experience and expertise in all segments of the B2B and B2C international gambling industry: Betting, Casino, Lottery, Live Casino, Bingo, Poker and Skill Games for land-based and online, mobile, social gaming and e-sports. Christian leads a team to provide strategic and corporate advisory, business consultancy and sell-side and buy-side investment-related services from locations in London, Rome, Madrid, Malta and Miami. Ficom Leisure is specialized in the internet gaming & betting sector since its inception in 1999 working in each stage from strategy, planning, launch and development in all of the regulated markets.

Stefano Tino

Managing Director, Italy

Betsson Group

Stefano Tino has been in the gaming industry since 2012, he has always had a passion for gaming to such an extent that he dedicated his dissertation to the world of casinos. Over the years he worked in several gaming companies contributing to the success of different projects around the world, from Italy, and Africa to South America. He joined Betsson in 2021 as the Managing Director of the Italian operations tripling the group's revenue in Italy through the growth of Starcasino and the historic launch of the Betsson brand, making Italy the largest regulated business for the group.

Raimund Marcinkevič

CEO

Guru Pay UAB

After 20 years of playing the accordion—including performances with one of the country’s top youth orchestras—the transition to orchestrating payments has been a natural progression. Now, at the helm of a profitable EMI that has been in the market for the past six years, the focus is driving innovation in financial services. At 17, he became the youngest Lithuanian in his university and earned the title of the youngest CEO of an EMI in the country. The professional journey began even earlier, at age 16, as a Board Member at EYP Lithuania, responsible for Finance a part of a global NGO engaging 25,000 youth across Europe each year.

Kersten James Chircop

Business Development Director

GMR

Kersten is a leading figure in Maltese esports. Thirteen years ago, he co-founded GMR, which has, which has grown into Malta's premier organiser of esports and video game events, hosting major competitions like PLAYCON, the Malta ePremier League, and the Malta Cyber Series. Kersten’s goal was simple: to create a hub for Maltese gamers. Starting when esports was still in its infancy, he turned GMR from a school project into a key player in the industry. His dedication goes beyond running GMR – he holds a degree in Computer Science and has worked with GosuGamers, a leading esports media company. This combination of experience and education has cemented his position as a leader in Maltese esports. Now, Kersten is focused on expanding GMR internationally, continuing his vision of fostering growth within the esports and the video games communities.

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.

Maciej Orłowski

Founder

ICP HUB Poland

Founder of ICP HUB Poland & Orion Accelerator. Advising WEB3 startups in Poland & CEE. Building local ecosystem for launching & accelerating projects in Internet Computer ecosystem. Strong enthusiast of sustainable business models & tokenomics.

Ishan Haque

Executive & Head of Business

Shuffle.com

Ishan Haque is a founding executive at Shuffle.com, the world’s fastest-growing crypto iGaming brand. Launched in 2023, Shuffle reached $15B in wagering turnover in under 2 years.

Dr Robert Zammit

Partner

WH Partners

Robert Zammit is a regulatory, licensing and litigation lawyer and practices in the Gaming and Transport industries. His principal areas of expertise are licensing of gambling businesses and regulatory compliance in the area of gambling, intellectual property, information security, privacy and data protection. He assists clients with the preparation of correct procedures to be put in place to monitor and identify suspicious transactions related to money laundering. He also advises our client companies on employment matters. Robert is a member of the Malta Chamber of Advocates and of the International Masters of Gaming Law. Robert is listed as a Next Generation Partner in the "Commercial, Corporate and M&A" practice area in Malta in the Legal 500 EMEA 2020 Guide. Robert conducts business in English, Italian and Maltese, all of which he speaks fluently. Robert holds a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Malta and was admitted to the Bar in Malta in 2008.

Jessica Maier

Founder & Director

EGARA (Executive Gaming and Risk Advisory)

Jessica Maier is a co-founder of EGARA (Executive Gaming and Risk Advisory), a gaming consultancy firm specialised in providing C-level advice on regulation, licensing, risk-management, and compliance. Having been a partner in a law firm focussed on gaming law and the Chief Risk Officer/Head of Legal and Compliance and Head of Government Affairs in gaming software companies, Jessica comes with both private practice and in-house experience and has worked on various projects and public policy initiatives in close collaboration with regulators, legislators and industry stakeholders. She has been involved in numerous licensing proceedings (B2B and B2C), has performed regulatory due diligence reviews in the context of corporate acquisitions and provides strategic advice to help clients keep abreast of regulatory developments that impact their business, including ESG. Jessica is a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and Global Gaming Women (GGW).

Rachel Decelis

ESG lead

KPMG Malta

Rachel is a chemist and chartered environmentalist, having 18 years’ experience in sustainability. She joined KPMG in 2022 as Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) lead, after having worked in both the environmental consultancy and regulatory sectors. Throughout her career, Rachel has worked with public and private entities in various sectors, including in gaming, construction, waste management, energy, and manufacturing. Her specialisations include ESG reporting, climate change, environmental permitting, reporting, and auditing, as well as air quality monitoring and impact assessment. Rachel is also a skilled trainer and communicator, having lectured at various levels in academic settings, and published articles online and in print. She is also a co-founder of the ESG in Gaming roundtable.

Stefan Kovach

Technology Innovation & Growth Consultant

Stefan is a seasoned moderator with extensive experience in building fast-growing tech businesses across the gambling and blockchain sectors. With a background in strategy, marketing, and product development, he has held senior roles at PokerStars and was CEO of FunFair Technologies. He has been involved in prominent web3 projects, with the ATP, Rafa Nadal, the Australian Open and many gambling operators and startups showcasing a deep commitment to the intersection of sports, gaming, and gambling. Passionate about fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, Stefan is dedicated to advancing the conversation around technology in these dynamic industries.

Sergio Muscat

Founder

Oxygia Consulting

Sergio Muscat is a 20-year veteran of the iGaming, Payments and Technology industries. His experience spans from project management to strategy, operations, and management advisory. He founded Oxygia Consulting in 2018 with the goal to assist companies in through their growth stages by providing with that all-important “Swiss-army-knife” advisory, providing a sounding board to top management and support to all levels within the company when steering their organisations into the future. Sergio’s interests and experience across technology, science and art allow him to provide a multi-faceted and creative approach to strategic, operational, and human insight matters, defining him as a well-respected advisor to his long-standing clients.

Speakers Europe

Meet The SiGMA Europe Speakers

Meet Our Past Speakers