{"id":777043220,"date":"2026-06-05T08:52:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T11:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/?p=777043220"},"modified":"2026-06-05T09:28:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T12:28:50","slug":"manila-delivers-highlights-from-sigma-asia-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/manila-delivers-highlights-from-sigma-asia-2026","title":{"rendered":"Manila delivers: Highlights from SiGMA Asia 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>SiGMA Asia 2026 has concluded in Manila, welcoming an estimated 7.8 thousand international delegates to the Philippines to discuss regulated gambling, emerging technologies, and regional industry growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Press release.- Not even the sporadic showers over the last few days could dampen the mood here in Manila. Now in its <strong>fourth year<\/strong>, the summit is enjoying the sweet summer fruits of an event that has triumphed through adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The beginnings of the event were less than auspicious. The paint was fresh on the walls of the event&#8217;s new office, and everything was on track for the inaugural launch of SiGMA Asia in 2020 \u2013 set to be SiGMA&#8217;s first foray outside of Malta. No one expected a pandemic to turn up. The events industry ground to a halt and SiGMA&#8217;s path inevitably had to take a different turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happily, in 2023 the organisers of the event were back, armed with a new kind of experience, and determined to double down on their efforts to leave no stone unturned in the launch of their first event for the Asian markets. The industry was eager to get back into the swing of things too, with the first show serving as an important bridge between East and West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2026, the Philippines remains a leader amongst its peers. Strong engagement. Lucrative when it comes to revenue potential. And a clear legal framework that champions regulated gambling. Where better to hold SiGMA than here in Asia\u2019s highest performing jurisdiction?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The organisers said: &#8220;We\u2019ve done our calculations and <strong>SiGMA Asia 2026<\/strong> is estimated to have welcomed around 7.8 thousand international delegates over the last few days, with the company expecting this figure to nearly double next year to 12,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There\u2019s a lot to unpack \u2013 so let\u2019s get into it. Here are the moments that made it to the SiGMA halls of fame.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting into the swing of things<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Great networking<\/strong> is SiGMA&#8217;s speciality. From high-level conversations on the green to easy conversations over a plate of good food, SiGMA had your social calendar covered this week. Following an <strong>opening party<\/strong> on May 31, SiGMA started the month of June with a full blast of activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most delegates started their day with a stop at the Conrad Hotel to pick up their badge ahead of the conference. Meanwhile, exhibitors toured the expo floor at the SMX Convention Centre to put the finishing touches on their booth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For platinum ticket holders looking for high-level networking and a bit of sport, the <strong>SiGMA Nexus Elite Golf Tour<\/strong> hit the spot. Held at Club Intramuros, the 18-hole course was a site for sore city eyes. Lush tree-lined greens set amidst historical fortifications make this one of the most beautiful courses in the country. The site of a Rolex on the prize table wasn\u2019t a bad view either. Breakfast and lunch were served, while irresistible champagne stops along the course made for a pleasurable day amongst fellow C-levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guests in the mood for something a little less competitive headed down to Manila Bay. And what better way to start your week than with a gentle two-hour cruise. A glass of crisp white hit the spot as they headed out to find the sea breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As is tradition, SiGMA closed the curtains on the first day with an elegant <strong>awards ceremony <\/strong>at the Conrad Hotel. Beyond celebrating the industry, the event also cheered on the SiGMA Foundation. A <a href=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/filipino-artists-celebrated-at-sigma-asia-2026-charity-auction\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/filipino-artists-celebrated-at-sigma-asia-2026-charity-auction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">charitable art auction<\/a> raised \u20ac17,000 through bids, with companies such as OneHazel, Finera, Malta Media, and Z-Gaming lending their support. The National Lottery of Liberia also came through, bidding on two items \u2013 Bel Sison\u2019s Hello Kitten sculpture, and Ian Inoy\u2019s Lucky Knot painting. In a show of thanks, the companies will receive the value of their bids back in media spend with SiGMA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Highlights of the night included an award to PAGCOR CEO, Alejandro Tengco, recognising his outstanding contribution to gaming, a fun quiz with a Rolex up for grabs, a raffle, and a special round of honorary awards during Hall of Game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SiGMA Poker Tour Manila<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Running alongside the SiGMA Asia event, the <strong>SiGMA Poker Tour<\/strong> was in town for its second Asian edition. Its most ambitious tour to date, SPT Manila delivered the goods when it came to excitement \u2013 and of course, prize pools. Hosted at City of Dreams in Manila from May 30 to June 4, players competed for 2026\u2019s largest prize pool \u2013 with PHP 20 Million overall guaranteed. The SPT is back in September with its Mexican debut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From keynotes to closing night: Highlights from SiGMA Asia 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first day of the conference opened with a special <strong>welcome ceremony<\/strong> that included a ribbon cutting and several keynotes from prominent figures \u2013 including <a href=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/pagcor-chairman-and-ceo-opens-sigma-asia-summit-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PAGCOR CEO Alejandro Tengco<\/a> and Deputy Speaker, the Hon. <strong>Maria Rachel Arenas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking to the morning crowd, Tengco said, \u201cThe true measure of this industry is not simply its size or rate of expansion, but our ability to ensure that gaming remains properly regulated, socially responsible, and more importantly, genuinely beneficial to the communities we all serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At a time of uncertainty, gatherings such as the SiGMA Asia Summit are more important than ever, Tengco went on to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEvents like this allow regulators, operators, vendors, and stakeholders to come together, not merely to discuss opportunities, but to address challenges collectively and decisively. PAGCOR has always recognised the importance of the gaming industry as a critical source for government funding and a true partner in nation-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe hope that there will be another conference next year and in the many years to come,\u201d he concluded warmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deputy Speaker Hon. Maria Rachel Arenas, meanwhile, highlighted the transformative power of breakthrough innovations to reshape societies \u2013 particularly AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is redefining how we work, learn, create, and make decisions, \u201d she said. The question before us, Arenas emphasised, is no longer whether AI will transform our societies. The question is whether we will shape the transformation wisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later that day, over 40 ambassadors and consuls based in Manila gathered for a special <strong>Malta Day celebration<\/strong> to commemorate Sette Giugnio that was hosted by the Maltese Embassy to the Philippines. Present were key figures, such as H.E Ambassador of Malta to China and the Philippines, John Busuttil, Dr Regina Jacinto Barrientos, Malta Consul for Manila, and Maria Andrelita S. Austria, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Economic and Cultural Diplomacy. Traditional food was served, and young musicians from the youth orchestra played a selection of Maltese music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also taking place during SiGMA Asia was the <strong>Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific 2026<\/strong>. Before the announcement of the ten category winners, SiGMA founder <strong>Eman Pulis<\/strong> shared his thoughts on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re back, he said, stronger, and leading the pack in bringing the community to Asia,&#8221; he said. \u201cWith 8 summits annually, we are the only conference producer covering the whole globe. Our mantra, he went on to say, is to promote the idea that regulated gaming is the only way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event concluded with SiGMA\u2019s legendary <strong>closing event<\/strong>. Manila is a city that some say never sleeps. Its streets hum with an after-dark energy that filters a gritty, underground street style into an electric nightlife culture. Neon lights bleed onto the streets, and old-school hip hop, smooth jazz and pop mingle with superclub beats. Speakeasy bars, Shanghai-style art deco saloons, cool rooftop clubs \u2013 good times really don\u2019t discriminate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s here \u2013 in the heart of the city at BSK Manila \u2013 that SiGMA Asia hosted its official party, brought to you by 747.live. Cool city vibes, with references to old-school Pinoy hip-hop culture \u2013 all set to the rhythm of DJs John Odin and SEHEN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SiGMA Asia returns in June 2027 to the tune of 12,000 delegates. &#8220;A special offer on tickets is currently available, but not for long. Catch it before it\u2019s over,&#8221; organisers said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SiGMA Asia 2026 has concluded in Manila, welcoming an estimated 7.8 thousand international delegates to the Philippines to discuss regulated gambling, emerging technologies, and regional industry growth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":218,"featured_media":777043232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"is_press_release":true,"is_interview":false,"is_opinion":false,"focusai_summary":"SiGMA Asia 2026 in Manila successfully convened an estimated 7.8 thousand international delegates, reinforcing the Philippines' strategic position as a leader in regulated gambling within the Asian iGaming market. The summit facilitated high-level B2B networking, explored emerging technologies, and underscored the region's substantial revenue potential, with delegate attendance projected to nearly double for the subsequent event.","focusai_entities":"SiGMA Asia, SiGMA, OneHazel, Finera, Malta Media, Z-Gaming, National Lottery of Liberia, PAGCOR, Alejandro Tengco, SiGMA Foundation","focusai_location":"Manila, Philippines, Malta, Liberia, Asia","focusai_target_profile":"ceo_executive (0.95), regulator (0.9), compliance_legal (0.75), operator_casino (0.9), investor_analyst (0.95), supplier_vendor (0.9), journalist_researcher (0.85)","focusai_suggestions":[{"label":"Asia Regulatory Landscape","query":"Considering the Philippines' established 'clear legal framework,' what are the primary regulatory compliance and licensing hurdles for iGaming operators and B2B suppliers targeting expansion into other nascent or evolving regulated markets across Asia?"},{"label":"Regional Investment Outlook","query":"With the reported 'revenue potential' and anticipated delegate growth, what specific investment opportunities or M&A targets are emerging within the Asian iGaming sector, particularly in jurisdictions demonstrating progressive regulatory governance frameworks?"}],"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,159,24983,16333],"tags":[25271],"class_list":["post-777043220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events-articles","category-shows","category-sigma-asia-2026","category-south-east-asia-news","tag-sigma-asia-2026","press-release"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777043220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/218"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=777043220"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777043220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":777043241,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777043220\/revisions\/777043241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/777043232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=777043220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=777043220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=777043220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}