Nick French, Founder and CEO of BetMatch, reflects on his win at the SiGMA Africa 2026 Media Lounge Pitch competition. He introduces South Africa’s first licensed betting exchange and unpacks the regulatory and operational complexities shaping market entry in the region. French discusses investor engagement at SiGMA, emphasising ecosystem collaboration over traditional fundraising. He outlines immediate priorities including regulatory navigation and successful launch execution, alongside long-term ambitions centred on sustainability and community upliftment. A strong focus is placed on his CSI programme and youth development initiatives in Mafikeng, reinforcing a broader vision of responsible growth within Africa’s gaming sector.

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In this interview at SiGMA Africa, Henry Ross, Account Executive at Opti Move, explores the growing importance of data-driven CRM within rapidly expanding African iGaming markets. He discusses how operators are shifting towards intelligent customer engagement strategies to improve retention and lifetime value. The conversation delves into the role of AI in delivering personalised, multi-channel experiences for mobile-first players, alongside the operational challenges of scale, regulation, and localisation. Henry also addresses common misconceptions around AI, highlighting its true value in orchestration, decisioning, and player segmentation. The discussion concludes with insights into emerging technological trends shaping CRM innovation across the sector.

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At SiGMA Africa, Oluwafisayo Oke, CEO of Gamble Alert, explores the realities of Nigeria’s fragmented gaming regulation and the shift towards a more unified framework. He discusses the role of the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria in streamlining licensing and advancing player protection policies across states. The conversation highlights the rollout of the Safe Play Initiative, a unified self-exclusion system, alongside key challenges such as funding gaps and operator readiness. Oke emphasises the importance of evidence-driven, public health-focused strategies in shaping responsible gaming across Africa, underlining the need for collaboration between regulators, operators, and healthcare stakeholders.

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In this exclusive SiGMA Eurasia 2026 panel, industry leaders dive into the future of entertainment marketing, where streaming TV, first-party data, and AI-driven targeting are revolutionizing how brands reach premium audiences. Hosted by Jenny Ortiz-Bolivar, the panel features insights from Andrey Belinskiy of Amazon Ads, Vasilina Koneva of TonyB, and Alexander Bobkov of OHM Agency, as they discuss brand building, audience engagement, and the evolution of marketing through digital platforms. Discover how to leverage these strategies to stay ahead in the highly competitive entertainment landscape.

Moderator:
-Jenny Ortiz-Bolivar is the Asia Lead Senior Journalist at SiGMA Group.

Guest Details:
-Andrey Belinskiy is the Head of Sales - Global Gaming at Amazon Ads.
-Vasilina Koneva is the Agency Account Executive at TonyB.
-Alexander Bobkov is the General Manager, MENA at OHM Agency.

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In this exclusive panel from the AIBC Eurasia 2026 in Dubai, industry experts discuss the importance of digital integrity and product reliability for fast-growing gaming platforms. Moderated by Giusy Campo, the session explores how companies can ensure system stability, manage data hygiene, and maintain performance as they scale rapidly. Featuring insights from Vlad Bondarenko (ReferOn), Ivan Korkin (Kanggiten), and Nikolay Lobov (Nobles Gaming), this discussion uncovers key strategies for maintaining trust and reliability in the entertainment industry while scaling. Tune in to learn how top platforms are navigating these challenges.

Moderator:
-Giusy Campo is the Business Development Director at Groovetech.

Guest Details:
-Vlad Bondarenko is the Head of Product at ReferOn.
-Ivan Korkin is the Head of Account Management at Kanggiten.
-Nikolay Lobov is the CEO at Nobles Gaming.

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How does a local crypto community transform into a regional powerhouse? ArtsDAO shares the secret to winning Best Local Crypto Community 2026 at the AIBC Awards. With a strong foundation in belonging, they’ve built the Middle East's largest Web3 community, focusing on unity over segmentation.

In this interview, learn how ArtsDAO fosters deep member engagement, celebrates victories together, and tackles challenges as a family. Discover their predictions for AI-driven crypto innovations and why Bitcoin's all-time high could be closer than we think.

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Trust, speed, and scale; the real pillars behind winning “Best Payment Provider 2026.” In this exclusive SiGMA interview, Payment Center reveals why people-first relationships still outperform pure technology in today’s fast-evolving payments landscape.

From explosive transaction growth and local payment innovation to the rising complexity of compliance and AI-driven systems, this conversation unpacks what it takes to lead globally. With bold predictions for 2027, discover how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and trust-driven partnerships are redefining the future of payments in iGaming.

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In this SiGMA interview, Alex Jones, Co-Founder of Conduet, shares his journey into the iGaming industry and how the company evolved into an AI-driven operations partner. He discusses key shifts shaping the B2B iGaming landscape, including cost reduction, automation and the growing demand for 24/7 customer support. Alex also explores how operators are balancing innovation with compliance, and why AI adoption is accelerating despite budget constraints. With insights into outsourcing, AI-human collaboration, and future trends, this conversation highlights how technology is redefining operational efficiency and customer experience across the global iGaming sector.

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At SiGMA Africa 2026 in Cape Town, Carl Lewis, Reporter for SiGMA News, speaks with Dennis Mudene Ngabirano, CEO of the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, in the Media Lounge. The discussion explores how African regulators are managing the rapid expansion of the gaming sector while maintaining fairness, transparency and enforcement. Ngabirano explains the importance of risk-based regulation, cross-agency collaboration and real-time monitoring to combat illegal online platforms and slot machine operations. The interview also highlights the growing role of AI and data-driven systems in modern regulation, helping authorities move from reactive enforcement to proactive oversight across Africa’s evolving gaming industry.

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At SiGMA Africa 2026 in Cape Town, Mercy Mutiria, Reporter for SiGMA News, speaks with Deidre Baartman, Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, in the Media Lounge. The discussion explores how the gaming and gambling industry is driving economic growth through job creation, tourism, and business investment, while also raising important regulatory and social responsibility challenges. Baartman highlights the need for stronger collaboration between provincial government, national regulators, and industry stakeholders to strengthen legislation, tackle illegal gambling, and protect vulnerable communities, especially minors, in an increasingly digital betting environment.

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