SiGMA World 2026 closes in Rome with enforcement, Italy and prediction markets in focus

The four-day Rome event examined whether tougher enforcement is making markets safer, how Italy’s new online regime is developing and where prediction markets fit within gambling regulation.

Key takeaways:

• SiGMA World 2026 closed at Fiera Roma on November 5 after four days of conferences, exhibition and networking.
• Enforcement was a central theme, with panels questioning whether stricter regulation is creating safer markets or pushing players towards unlicensed operators.
• Prediction markets featured across the programme, including debates on their impact on sports betting, their regulatory classification and the role of crypto assets and tokenised markets.
• Italy’s new online regime was closely examined, with industry figures describing 2026 as a transition year as licences fell from around 90 to 46 and new technical requirements approach in February 2027.
• A panel on Brazil warned that the ban on legal online gambling had strengthened the illegal market and created uncertainty for operators and investors.
• SiGMA Group announced that SiGMA World 2027 will move from November to May to create a more balanced European events calendar.

SiGMA World 2026 has closed at Fiera Roma after four days of conferences, awards and exhibition, with regulation, enforcement and prediction markets among the dominant themes. Organisers had expected more than 30,000 delegates, 1,200 sponsors and exhibitors and 550 speakers across five stages and nine halls. The event also examined Italy’s first year under its new online gaming regime, Brazil’s regulatory reversal and the growing overlap between betting, trading and crypto-based prediction platforms.

Italy.- SiGMA World 2026 closed yesterday (November 5) at Fiera Roma after four days of conferences, exhibition and networking that began on November 2. Ahead of the event, organisers had expected more than 30,000 delegates, 1,200 sponsors and exhibitors and 550 speakers across five stages and nine halls.

Regulation and prediction markets took centre stage

One of the questions that dominated the agenda throughout the event was whether tougher enforcement was creating safer markets or pushing players towards unlicensed operators. The topic was discussed during the panel titled “Europe’s Enforcement Era: Regulation Is Winning But At What Cost?”, held on the Main Stage on November 3 with regulators and industry representatives from several European jurisdictions. The debate continued on November 4 with “Fragmented Europe: Can Regulators Coordinate Without a Single Rulebook?”, where authorities from Cyprus, Montenegro, Armenia and Estonia discussed the difficulty of supervising activity that crosses borders, and with “Black Market Economics: Why Illegal Gambling Still Wins”.

Prediction markets were also one of the topics running through the programme. On November 3, the Main Stage debate “The World Cup Betting Autopsy: Did Prediction Markets Kill the Old Playbook?” looked back at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first global tournament in which sportsbooks, prediction markets and AI-powered betting experiences competed for the same fans, to assess what worked, what did not and whether the new platforms changed the economics, engagement models and technology of sports betting. “When Betting Meets Trading: Prediction Markets and Regulatory Chaos” examined how these platforms are blurring the lines between regulated gambling, financial products and betting in disguise, while “Crypto Assets, Prediction Platforms: A Bet Within the Bet?” explored where tokenised markets and prediction platforms fit legally, how their risk is assessed and whether they represent competition, convergence or a new category altogether.

Other topics discussed during the event included fraud, player protection, and responsible gaming. Sessions brought together law enforcement, compliance teams, and operators to discuss these issues.

Italy under the microscope

Italy’s new online regime, in force for about a year, was one of the most closely followed topics. “Italy’s New Online Gaming Regime: One Year Later” was held on November 3 at the Italy Stage. Fabio Felici, journalist & director at AGIMEG, moderated the session, with contributions from Davide Diodato, managing director at HBG Online Gaming; Marco Castaldo, president & CEO at Microgame; and Fabio Angeli Bufalini, country director at Stake Italy. The executives described 2026 as a transition year in a market where licences fell from around 90 to 46. The next key date they pointed to is February 15, 2027, when new technical requirements come into force.

The Italian model was also examined on November 4, in a session on ADM’s role while a panel titled “Payment Innovation Against Financial Crime and Money Laundering” explored how the growing shift towards cashless payments is reshaping transaction traceability, fraud prevention and the customer journey as a whole.

Brazil’s online betting market

On November 3, the panel “Brazil’s Regulatory U-Turn: From Boom to Ban” examined the consequences of Provisional Measure 1,394/2026, signed by President Lula on September 25, which banned online betting and online casinos in the country.

Nick Farley, president of Eclipse Compliance Testing, moderated the panel, which featured the following speakers: Juan Camilo Carrasco, Managing Partner at Sora Lawyers; H.E. Lucimara Batista dos Reis, consul & chief compliance officer and AML, Honorary Consulate of Brazil in Malta; Stepan Dobrovolskiy, CEO of BetBoom LatAm; John Aquilina, former Ambassador Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Malta in Brazil; and Bruna Mirandola, responsible gaming parliamentary front coordinator at the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (PP).

The participants agreed that the illegal market had gained momentum following the ban on legal gambling, and warned that Lula’s decision had set a negative precedent for businesses. According to SiGMA World, Dobrovolskiy said that, should the market reopen in March, most operators would have to start from scratch. He added that his investment horizon has shrunk from three to five years to three to six months, as another election could result in another ban.

Strong turnout and an active show floor

Throughout the four-day event and across more than 1,000 stands, exhibitors showcased content, portfolios, novelties and turnkey solutions, and presented their roadmap for 2027. Among them, Amusnet, named Best Live Casino Game Provider 2026 at the SiGMA World Awards, took stock of its week in Rome. Polina Nedyalkova, managing director of Amusnet Italy, said: “SiGMA World brought our all-casino offering to life, demonstrating the product expertise, technology and creativity behind Amusnet. In 2027, our ambition here in Italy is to translate these strengths into a competitive advantage for operators, helping them create more distinctive casino experiences.”

Industry recognition at the SiGMA World Awards

The awards night, held on November 2 with 35 categories, recognised achievements across platforms, products, compliance and services. Focus Gaming News was named “Best iGaming Media 2026”, the fifth consecutive year it has been recognised in this category at SiGMA’s European events.

Other winners at the ceremony included 1xBet, named Best Sportsbook; 1xSlots, Best on Mobile; CT Interactive, Best Slot Game Provider; Pascal Gaming, Best New Game Release (Avinho R10); Amusnet, Best Live Casino Game Provider; Alea, Best Aggregator; BetConstruct AI, Best Sportsbook Platform; Digitain, Best B2B Native Mobile App Provider; Frogo, Best AI & Innovation Solution; BETBY, Best Innovative Sportsbook Feature; Altenar, Most Innovative Sportsbook Provider; EGT Digital, Fastest Growing Sportsbook Provider; RedCore, Best Workplace; Imagine Live, Outstanding Contribution; and SOFTSWISS, Game Changer Marketing Excellence.

Meanwhile, on November 5, the SiGMA Italia Awards recognised 27 companies, projects and leading figures from Italy’s gaming industry at the Corsie Sistine di Santo Spirito in Sassia. The evening also celebrated the 50 individuals selected in collaboration with Forbes Italia.

SiGMA World 2027 moves to May

At the end of the event, SiGMA Group announced that SiGMA World 2027 will move its Rome show to May, following feedback from clients, exhibitors and industry partners calling for a more balanced European event calendar.

SiGMA Group founder, Eman Pulis, said, “We have listened and taken the bold decision to move our show to May. We’ve taken this decision in the best interest of the industry.”

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• What were the main themes at SiGMA World 2026 in Rome? The main themes included gambling enforcement, regulatory fragmentation in Europe, prediction markets, fraud, player protection and responsible gaming. Sessions also examined Italy’s new online regime and Brazil’s ban on legal online gambling.
• What did speakers say about Italy’s online gaming regime? Industry executives described 2026 as a transition year for Italy’s online market, noting that the number of licences fell from around 90 to 46. They highlighted February 15, 2027 as the date when new technical requirements come into force.
• Why is SiGMA World moving to May in 2027? SiGMA Group is moving its Rome show from November to May following feedback from clients, exhibitors and industry partners seeking a more balanced European events calendar. The change is intended to create roughly four-month intervals between the major events in Barcelona, Rome and Lisbon.