Following three days of meetings and deal-making at SiGMA Eurasia 2026 in Dubai, Andrii Lypovyi, Senior Sales Manager at Slotegrator, shares his key takeaways from the global gathering. Bringing together operators, providers, and investors from across MENA, Asia, CIS, Africa, and LatAm, the event once again underscored the growing importance of cross-regional collaboration and technology-driven growth.
In this exclusive interview with Yogonet, Lypovyi reflects on the quality of conversations at this year’s edition, the increasing strategic maturity of attendees, and the recurring challenges raised around scalability, localization, and regulatory complexity. He also discusses how AI, blockchain, and flexible payment solutions are shaping client expectations, and how Slotegrator is adapting its product strategy to meet the evolving demands of emerging and high-potential markets.
SiGMA Eurasia 2026 brought together a wide mix of operators, suppliers, and tech providers in Dubai. From your perspective, how did this edition compare to previous events in terms of deal-making and quality of conversations?
SiGMA Eurasia is an amazing platform where operators, providers, and investors from various markets connect and find opportunities for future cooperation. This exhibition is always productive for us, and this edition stood out for the quality and focus of the conversations — discussions were more deal-driven, which was brilliant, in my point of view.
We saw strong interest in market entry, payment localization, scalability, and regulatory alignment, which made the meetings highly practical. SiGMA Eurasia continues to be a valuable platform for connecting with decision-makers across multiple regions and advancing real partnership opportunities.
What stood out to you most about the audience this year? Based on your meetings at the show, how do you assess the MENA region’s current level of maturity when it comes to iGaming infrastructure and payments?
What stood out most was how strategic and tech-aware the audience was. Many attendees came with a clear understanding that technologies like AI, blockchain, and data analytics are no longer optional, but essential for scaling and staying competitive in iGaming.
The MENA region is developing, but still complex. The infrastructure is improving, and the demand is strong, particularly around platforms and payments, but fragmentation and localization challenges remain. Overall, it’s a high-potential region that requires flexible technology and a market-specific approach.
From a solutions provider’s point of view, what makes this region different from more established European or LatAm markets when it comes to launching and operating iGaming projects?
When you look at MENA as a whole, you see a highly fragmented market. Most jurisdictions either have no regulations or a complete ban on iGaming, which makes it hard to have a unified approach for the MENA region when compared to, say, Europe or LatAm.
But still, I’d say that the region has enormous untapped potential and presents many opportunities for new and upcoming operators, as it is not as dominated by big international players and companies yet.
Were there any recurring themes or challenges raised by attendees during the event, particularly around scaling, localization, or regulatory readiness? Did the conversations at the show reinforce any strategic priorities for Slotegrator?
Yes, definitely. Unresponsive support teams, as well as a lack of flexibility in business and operational terms, came up again and again. That’s why we are focused on rolling out AI solutions to make our products even more user-friendly, as well as remaining flexible and attentive to our clients, as opposed to letting them face challenges alone.
Dubai positions itself as a hub for emerging technologies and cross-regional business, and SiGMA Eurasia places strong emphasis on technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data. How often did these topics come up in your discussions with operators?
They came up constantly. Technology was the main focus of the conference, and hosting this expo in Dubai was a great idea, as it naturally attracts cross-regional decision-makers focused on innovation and growth.
I think AI integration is already a mainstream topic in iGaming circles, especially in combination with analysing big data, as both of them are a perfect match and are critical tools for any successful iGaming business. Blockchain is definitely still relevant, and we are seeing a trend of introducing blockchain technologies to casino game engines, as well as other use cases.
Shortly before the event, Slotegrator unveiled the Moneygrator AI Bot. How does Moneygrator AI Bot reflect Slotegrator’s broader approach to using AI as a practical tool rather than a buzzword?
Moneygrator is a multi-currency payment solution that helps operators integrate various payment systems with just one contract and one integration session. It saves time, but what’s more important, it offers flexibility and security. It includes over 200 payment methods from more than 50 providers, with 150+ currencies and 150+ cryptocurrencies.
Moneygrator AI Bot can answer any question in relation to the API documentation, helping streamline the integration process. It also provides any information you need in relation to Moneygrator’s functionality, significantly shortening the time it takes to get an answer, making your operation more efficient.
After three days at SiGMA Eurasia, what key takeaways are you bringing back to the team in terms of client expectations and market demand? How do live events like SiGMA Eurasia help validate whether a product or strategy is truly aligned with what the market needs right now?
SiGMA Eurasia is a great opportunity to meet operators coming from South Asia, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Latam, and Africa, which is a great way to get to know the needs of these markets better.
Walking away from this year’s edition, I’m convinced that clients expect uninterrupted support and a focus on AI functionality within our core products, as well as a flexible approach to business. Live events are still a fantastic way to get key insights and see how you should adjust your approach.
