Liverpool legend John Arne Riise sits down with Ivonne Montealegre on the SiGMA Poker Face Podcast to share his journey from football pitch to poker table. From playing cards on the team bus to competing in major poker tournaments, Riise talks about the lessons in discipline, patience and strategy that carried over from his football career, his love for the poker community and the thrill of taking on a new competitive challenge. Catch his insights and follow his poker journey at the SiGMA Poker Tour as part of SiGMA Euro-Med Summit 2025 in Malta!

Check out the full article for a further breakdown: https://sigma.world/news/watch-can-lessons-from-football-shape-success-in-poker/
#SiGMAPodcast #Poker #SiGMAPokerTour #PokerTournaments

In this SiGMA podcast, Trevor De Giogio interviews Stefano Sbordoni, Managing Partner of Sbordoni & Partners, on the sweeping reforms to Italy’s gaming concessions. The discussion explores new compliance measures, responsible gaming requirements, the end of white-labelling, and the evolving debate surrounding sports sponsorship.

Discover more insights: https://sigma.world/news/watch-stefano-sbordoni-on-gaming-concessions-in-italy/

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐆𝐌𝐀'𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zsBVGiIkYRyZt9AaGUtkg?si=b24f1528d00c4098

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: https://linktr.ee/sigmaworld

Italy is no longer an “emerging” gambling market - it’s entering a new era of maturity, regulation, and high stakes. In this episode, Trevor De Giorgio, Regulatory and Compliance Specialist, speaks with legal expert Giulio Coraggio, Partner at DLA Piper, about what the next chapter looks like for operators, regulators, and investors.

💡 Key insights you’ll take away:

- Why Italy is raising the cost of gambling licenses to €7M—and how this move is designed to filter out smaller or unprepared companies.

- What PVRs (top-up points) are, and why shops, bars, and tobacconists are becoming crucial for reaching players in a country where gambling ads are banned.

- How Italy’s advertising ban created loopholes and unintended advantages for unlicensed operators.

- Why regulators are banning “skins” (multiple websites under one license) to improve trust and transparency.

- The timeline for when the new rules will fully kick in by 2026, and what this means for the industry.

👉This episode will help you understand why Italy is now considered Europe’s second-largest gambling market and why only the strongest, most strategic operators will succeed there.

📅 All this comes just ahead of SiGMA Europe in Rome (3–6 Nov 2025), a key event for anyone following the future of gaming.

Can gaming executives really be held personally liable for money laundering, financial crime, and compliance failures? In this episode of Decoding Gaming Law, Dr. Franklin Cachia, Head of Legal at BDO Malta, speaks with Dr Stefano Filletti, Senior Managing Partner, Filletti & Filletti Advocates, to break down:

✅Why the corporate shield no longer protects directors

✅How negligence and oversight failures can lead to fines or even prison

✅The growing risks in cross-border gaming operations

✅Best practices to safeguard yourself through strong compliance

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐆𝐌𝐀'𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zsBVGiIkYRyZt9AaGUtkg?si=b24f1528d00c4098

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: https://linktr.ee/sigmaworld

In this episode of Poker Face, Ivonne Montealegre sits down with Julien Liarte, Business Development Manager at Flutter Entertainment plc., to discuss what goes on behind the scenes of major live poker events like the European Poker Tour (EPT), the return of EPT Malta, and the growing role of women in poker. He also shares insights on charity work, event logistics, and how poker players can transition into the iGaming industry.From player stories to poker logistics, Julian breaks down what really happens behind the felt.

This episode of Decoding Gaming Law, hosted by Dr. Franklin Cachia, Head of Legal at BDO Malta, features an in-depth discussion with Charles Mizzi, CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority, on the evolution of gaming regulation.Charles shares how the MGA has shifted focus from rapid growth to sustainable quality, embracing innovation like AI and blockchain while maintaining robust compliance standards. The conversation highlights MGA’s collaborative work with global regulators, the proactive compliance culture emerging post-FATF grey list, and how the regulator balances business-friendliness with accountability.Plus, get insights into what’s next for Maltese gaming law. A must-listen for gaming operators, legal professionals, and anyone interested in the future of gaming regulation!

In this episode of Poker Face, host Ivonne Montealegre welcomes Antoine Degiorgio, founder of the Malta Poker Fish community and a key entrepreneur behind the rise of live poker in Malta. Antoine shares his journey from grassroots community-building to becoming a neutral ambassador for all major poker events on the island, including the SiGMA Poker Tour, Malta Poker Festival, and Battle of Malta. Antoine reflects on Malta’s rise as a poker hub, the impact of the iGaming industry, the return of PokerStars, and the island’s unique poker culture. He also shares insights on charity events, industry challenges, and advice for new players. A must-listen for anyone curious about Malta’s growing poker reputation.𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐆𝐌𝐀'𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲➡️ https://spoti.fi/42NmUji𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲➡️ https://linktr.ee/sigmaworld

In the latest episode of the SiGMA Poker Face podcast, our host Ivonne Montealegre speaks with Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming, on key developments in the online poker industry. They discuss effective player retention strategies, including the use of daily bonuses and engagement incentives to reduce bonus abuse.

Starostenkov provides insights into EvenBet’s strong market position in Asia, particularly in India, and examines evolving player expectations that blend competitive gameplay with enhanced social interaction and entertainment.

Explore more about SiGMA Poker Tour➡️ SiGMA Poker Tour - SigmaPlay𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲➡️ https://linktr.ee/sigmaworld

In this edition of SiGMA Poker Face, brought to you by EvenBet Gaming, Ivonne Montealegre sits down with one of the most influential and respected voices in the poker industry, Rebecca McAdam Willetts, Founder, QueenBHive.

She shares her journey from casual home games to becoming a leading advocate for women in poker, promoting inclusivity and responsible representation. Rebecca also reflects on her recent induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, the challenges of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and how poker's lessons in resilience and risk-taking translate beyond the table.

Don't miss this exclusive conversation packed with industry insights, personal stories, and a look at the future of women in poker.Explore more about SiGMA Poker Tour➡️ ⁠SiGMA Poker Tour - SigmaPlay⁠𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲➡️ https://linktr.ee/sigmaworld

In the latest episode of the SiGMA Poker Face podcast, our host Ivonne Montealegre speaks with Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming, on key developments in the online poker industry. They discuss effective player retention strategies, including the use of daily bonuses and engagement incentives to reduce bonus abuse.Starostenkov provides insights into EvenBet’s strong market position in Asia, particularly in India, and examines evolving player expectations that blend competitive gameplay with enhanced social interaction and entertainment.