SiGMA events continue to be more impressive every year, as their organizing team really understands what the gaming industry is about, and what it needs next. Eman Pulis, Founder and CEO of SiGMA, joined our Becky Liggero to discuss how SiGMA Malta met those needs, and what they are planning for future events.
Liggero Fontana spoke with Pulis at SiGMA Malta, at a time when nobody could have guessed we’d lose the majority of the 2020 conference schedule to a pandemic. Originally, SiGMA Manila was planned for June, but now has been postponed to May 27-28, 2021.
In its place, SiGMA will be offering an online conference, held between June 8 and June 10, in partnership with ICE Asia and AIBC.
Even before Pulis could have foreseen these changes, he was happy to talk to us about how SiGMA is constantly evolving, and the 6th edition of the event was the biggest yet. “We broke records on all fronts, record number of exhibitors, sponsors, record number of delegates, and I think most importantly, record number of handshakes,” Pulis said. “I’ve seen so much business coming into the show between exhibitors and delegates, couldn’t be happier.”
As the conference keeps getting bigger, Pulis finds new ways to treat his guests well. “It’s all about giving them that extra TLC, you know?” he told our Becky Liggero Fontana. “And I thought, well, what can I solve? What problem can I solve, and I know in Malta, traffic can be a small issue. I don’t mean affiliate traffic, that’s always great, but really tragic on the streets can be an issue, so what better way to beat it than a helicopter. So we have a helicopter shuttle going in and out, and that kept the delegates happy. I know you guys also had a chance to ride on it as well.”
One thing that makes SiGMA a favorite event on the gambling conference circuit is how much fun it can be, and that’s by design. “I think what’s making SiGMA unique is the festivity,” said Pulis. “If you look around at the other shows in Europe, they’re a little bit more corporate, there’s a few more ties walking around the floorplan, not in Malta. Here it’s more about the festival feel, people want to become friends first and do business later, and we don’t want to kill that, we want more of that, and I think coming next year you’re going to see even more of that festival team at SiGMA.”
Another area Pulis and SiGMA have started to concentrate is blockchain technology. “Yeah look, the two verticals are coming very close together now,” he said. “Slot providers, odd makers, they’re looking at blockchain solutions, and I think we’re in a very good position because of our blockchain show, to bring the actual two verticals closer together and help them understand each other a bit better.”
