Behind the scenes of iGaming: We were at SIGMA Malta

From November 28th to 30th, 2018, the fifth edition of one of the most renowned iGaming expos worldwide took place. With approximately 49 billion dollars in revenue related to the online gaming industry, it's no wonder that the event was highly anticipated. We went there for you, and here is what we found:

What is the SIGMA iGaming Show?

The annual SIGMA edition is an opportunity for suppliers, affiliates, and other investors to gather and discuss business. SIGMA allows all stakeholders, whether directly or indirectly involved in the gaming industry, to discuss finances, partnerships, and also to discover and showcase new products.

SIGMA in numbers:

• 12,500 attendees
• 200 affiliates
• 400 exhibitors
• 200 speakers
• + 80 countries

Why is this event taking place in Malta?

Malta, this small archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, has become in just a few years the European capital of online gambling. Besides very advantageous taxation, Malta was one of the first countries to authorize online gambling. Many operators and virtual gambling providers have therefore taken advantage of this movement to set up their services on the island.

Nowadays, iGaming is the second source of income for the country and employs nearly 8,000 people. Observing this enthusiasm, Malta wanted to provide guarantees for reliable and legal gambling: this is how the Gaming Authority of Malta was established. Malta Gaming Authority was created. The organization ensures that the services provided by operators comply with the rules by issuing operating licenses to online casinos, it also ensures that they promote responsible gambling.

What's new in the world of iGaming?

We took advantage of our stay at SIGMA to discover the new features to come. In particular, we were able to test in preview the new slot from Thunderkick: Rocket Fist™. The game will be released on December 5 and will offer a 96.1% payout rate and 30 gem mine-themed paylines.

In exclusivity, we also had the privilege of trying virtual reality games. Yes, this time it's the real deal: virtual reality should be making its way into the casino soon. Put on your glasses and let yourself be captivated by this game of a completely different dimension: you are at the heart of the action.

We have also discovered a new type of betting: Qalba, a Maltese company, came up with the idea of capitalizing on the craze for cryptocurrencies. Qalba allows you to bet on the value of virtual currencies, with a payout rate of 92%.

Stay tuned and connected on shoutmix.com, we still have plenty of other very exciting new features to present to you!