SiGMA founder Eman Pulis discusses international expansion, the convergence of gaming, finance and technology, and why lasting commercial impact matters more than event size alone.

The global gaming industry is built on more than operators, technology and investment. Behind many of its commercial opportunities are the people, platforms and events that bring businesses together.

SiGMA founder Eman Pulis has built an international events business around those connections. What began in Malta in 2014 has developed into a global events and media organisation serving gaming, emerging technology and affiliate marketing.

But as SiGMA prepares to bring four industry communities together in Rome, a bigger question emerges: is the real value of an industry event measured by the number of people attending, or by the business that follows?

For this GamingMarkets interview, Oren Dalal put five questions to Pulis about SiGMA’s international expansion, emerging commercial opportunities and the importance of partnerships that continue beyond the exhibition floor.

His vision for the next chapter is clear: “For me, the next chapter is about growing our impact, not simply our size.”

Interview Snapshot

Why This Interview Matters

Founded by Eman Pulis in 2014, SiGMA has expanded from its origins in Malta into an international events and media organisation operating across the gaming and technology sectors.

SiGMA World 2026 is scheduled to take place at Fiera Roma from 2 to 5 November. The event will bring together four specialist communities: SiGMA, AIBC, FX World and AGS, covering gaming, emerging technology, financial markets and affiliate marketing.

According to the organiser’s published projections, more than 30,000 delegates are expected. That figure is a pre-event forecast, not confirmed attendance.

For gaming operators, suppliers, payments providers, affiliates, investors and other market participants, industry events create opportunities to establish relationships across different parts of the business ecosystem.

However, the scale of an event does not independently establish its commercial value. Attendance figures provide information about reach, while partnerships, business development and transactions are separate measures of potential impact.

GamingMarkets examines Pulis’s perspective on these connections, the opportunities emerging across industries and his emphasis on business impact rather than size alone.

Interview

GamingMarkets: Looking back at SiGMA’s journey from Malta to the international stage, what are you most proud of?

Eman Pulis: I am most proud of the community we have built and the fact that a vision that started in Malta has grown into a global platform. We have brought together businesses, entrepreneurs, regulators and innovators from across the world, creating opportunities that go far beyond the events themselves. For me, it has always been about building relationships, opening doors and putting Malta on the international map. Seeing the people and companies who have grown alongside us makes the journey particularly rewarding.

GamingMarkets: What inspired SiGMA to bring gaming, Forex, payments and affiliates closer together, particularly through the Rome event?

Eman Pulis: These industries have always been connected, even when they operated in separate spaces. Gaming relies on payments, affiliates drive customer acquisition, and financial markets and technology continue to shape how businesses operate. Bringing these communities together creates opportunities for collaboration that might not happen otherwise. Rome is an important step in that direction, with SiGMA, AIBC, FX World and AGS under one roof. We want delegates to look beyond their own sectors and discover partnerships, technologies and markets they may not have considered before.

GamingMarkets: Where do you see the biggest business opportunities as these industries become more connected?

Eman Pulis: I see significant opportunities in payments, artificial intelligence, blockchain, data-driven marketing and regulated market expansion. As these industries become more interconnected, businesses can develop better solutions, reach new audiences and operate more efficiently. There is also considerable potential in emerging markets where regulation is evolving and demand for reliable technology and infrastructure is growing. However, success will depend on understanding local requirements, building trust and finding the right partners. The companies that combine innovation with strong compliance and a clear understanding of their markets will be well positioned to grow.

GamingMarkets: Beyond attendance figures, what do you think makes an industry event truly valuable for the companies taking part?

Eman Pulis: An event’s real value is measured by what happens beyond the exhibition floor. It is about the partnerships formed, deals concluded, knowledge exchanged and relationships that continue long after everyone has gone home. We want delegates to leave with tangible business opportunities, new contacts and a clearer understanding of where their industries are heading. That is why the quality of the audience, the diversity of the businesses represented and the opportunities for meaningful engagement matter so much. Attendance figures tell only part of the story. What really matters is the business generated and the lasting connections.

GamingMarkets: Looking ahead, what excites you most about SiGMA’s future, and what would you like to achieve next?

Eman Pulis: What excites me most is the opportunity to keep expanding our global reach while bringing new industries and ideas into the conversation. We have built a strong foundation, but there is still plenty of room to grow, particularly at the intersection of gaming, technology, finance and digital innovation. I want SiGMA to continue creating environments where businesses can connect with the right people, enter new markets and turn ideas into real opportunities. At the same time, we must remain close to our roots in Malta and continue creating opportunities for the community that helped us get here. For me, the next chapter is about growing our impact, not simply our size.

GamingMarkets Analysis

The interview highlights a distinction between the scale of an industry event and the business value it may generate for participating companies.

Pulis places emphasis on relationships that continue after delegates leave the exhibition floor. His responses identify payments, artificial intelligence, blockchain, data-driven marketing and international market expansion as areas of potential business opportunity.

These are the interviewee’s assessments of where opportunities may emerge, not independently verified forecasts of future market performance.

SiGMA’s decision to bring four specialist event communities together in Rome creates an opportunity for participants from gaming, technology, financial markets and affiliate marketing to interact beyond their usual professional networks.

Whether that convergence produces stronger commercial outcomes will depend on the businesses involved and on what develops from those relationships after the event.

For investors and companies pursuing international growth, the distinction is relevant. Industry connections can help businesses identify potential partners, technologies, suppliers and acquisition opportunities, but the existence of those connections does not establish that a transaction will occur.

Pulis’s emphasis on impact rather than size therefore raises a broader question for the industry: how effectively can event organisers translate their audiences and business networks into lasting commercial value?

What to Watch After SiGMA World 2026

Following SiGMA World 2026, the more meaningful measure of its commercial impact will be whether connections established across gaming, finance, technology and affiliate marketing develop into lasting partnerships and business opportunities. Such outcomes cannot be determined from delegate numbers alone.

About Eman Pulis

Eman Pulis is the founder of SiGMA Group, an international events and media organisation connecting businesses across gaming, emerging technology and related industries.

Through SiGMA’s international expansion, Pulis has focused on bringing together entrepreneurs, gaming operators, technology providers, affiliates and other industry stakeholders, creating opportunities for business development, partnerships and cross-border collaboration.

His approach increasingly reflects the connections between gaming, financial services, emerging technology and digital innovation.

In his interview with GamingMarkets, Pulis outlines a vision centred on international growth, meaningful business relationships and long-term commercial impact. As he explains, the next chapter is about growing SiGMA’s impact, not simply its size.

Editorial Note

This executive interview is part of GamingMarkets’ commitment to bringing industry leaders’ perspectives to an international audience, examining the business decisions, market opportunities and strategic developments shaping the global gaming industry.

The interview explores Eman Pulis’s vision for SiGMA’s international expansion and the commercial relationships connecting the industry.

GamingMarkets independently developed the interview questions and prepared the accompanying editorial analysis. Eman Pulis’s responses are presented without substantive alteration.

Verified Sources and Endnotes

1. SiGMA Group, About Us. Official corporate information identifying Eman Pulis as founder and the group’s establishment in 2014.
2. SiGMA World 2026, Official Event Website. Official event dates, venue, participating event communities and organiser projections.
3. The Essential Guide to SiGMA World 2026. SiGMA, October 9, 2026. Official information concerning the Rome event and its programme.

For more interviews with business leaders across the global gaming industry, visit the GamingMarkets Executive Interviews hub.