MEET THE SPEAKERS
Dr Manida Xongmixay-Lau
Vice President – Business Solutions & Premium Marketing Operations
Okada Manila
Chris Nikolopoulos
CCO | Betby
Chris Nikolopoulos
Chris Nikolopoulos is very experienced in providing high-value, complex, software solutions for companies with fast-evolving needs within the iGaming sector. His know-how focuses but is not limited to: Sales policies, Account Management, iGaming operations, and legislation, online gambling workflows (both casino and sportsbook), Business Analytics as well as Trading & Risk Management. Chris holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the National Technical University of Athens as an Electrical & Computer Engineer while he has working experience in various iGaming companies such as Altenar, Playson, and EveryMatrix before taking over the Chief Commercial Officer role in BETBY.
Today Chris Nikolopoulos has the role of commercial director at BETBY:
BETBY is a 
software provider which has built and has been constantly improving a revolutionary sportsbook involving machine learning and artificial intelligence and integrated with premium quality data feeds. “We develop, we predict, we detect, and we do it quickly, efficiently, and with absolute focus on the needs of our partners.
SiGMA World celebrated the iGaming industry’s resilience even in the most troubling of times. With this we also congratulate the efforts made to make the iGaming world ethical, fraud-free and lawful.
Affiliate Grand Slam congratulated the brilliant marketers and influencers bringing much needed attention to a massive portfolio of industries and rejuvenating the economy one click at a time.
AIBC brought together the pioneers of a bright new age of emerging technology ready, able and willing to be the vanguard of Tomorrow. Other than just the established names, we also hosted many an entrepreneur seeking to expand the frontiers of AI and the Blockchain ever forward.
Finally, Med-Tech World united the medical professionals of many disciplines to combine their keen minds and inexhaustible passion for a better tomorrow with the entrepreneurial spirit of investors who also dream of a world free from disease and cancer.
The Week also saw many a networking dinner, speaking panel, drink gatherings and other opportunities for our hard-working delegates to unwind. A few highlights include the awards that congratulated those whose dedication, skill and acumen made them a leading figure in their industry as well as the fact that the conferences where graced by titans such as John Karony, Nolan Bushnell, Djibril Cissé, Akon and Mark Blandford who was awarded an Outstanding Contribution of the Year award for his pioneering work in the iGaming industry.
Dr. Sarah Grace Manski
Professor of Business and Global Affairs
George Mason University
MEET OUR PAST SPEAKERS
Daven Michaels
Executive Chairman | CurrentC Power
Daven Michaels has been an entrepreneur since he was 15 years old, which is now more than 30 years. During this time, he discovered a business formula that he used to turn a variety of firms into incredibly profitable ventures, including a couple multimillion-dollar home runs.
Daven Michaels was very fortunate to have crossed paths with a very smart individual at a very young age. Daven took him under his wing, he mentored him and guided him. he finds himself applying those same lessons and principles even today.
In 2006 Daven started 123Employee, a virtual employee center in the Philippines. Daven started with one employee and today they have hundreds of employees operating from several managed facilities. In 2011 Daven used the power of public speaking to cast a wider net and reach even more entrepreneurs all over the world.
They began delivering higher-level marketing, business consulting, and coaching services the same year. In 2009, a friend advised that he teach others how to succeed, which created a larger desire to help others. This sparkled flame that has continued to burn for years.
However, teaching alone was not enough. Daven Michaels believes that talk is cheap these days. There are many people who teach business and marketing, yet very few understand the trials and tribulations business owners are facing in today’s economy.
SiGMA World celebrated the iGaming industry’s resilience even in the most troubling of times. With this we also congratulate the efforts made to make the iGaming world ethical, fraud-free and lawful.
Affiliate Grand Slam congratulated the brilliant marketers and influencers bringing much needed attention to a massive portfolio of industries and rejuvenating the economy one click at a time.
AIBC brought together the pioneers of a bright new age of emerging technology ready, able and willing to be the vanguard of Tomorrow. Other than just the established names, we also hosted many an entrepreneur seeking to expand the frontiers of AI and the Blockchain ever forward.
Finally, Med-Tech World united the medical professionals of many disciplines to combine their keen minds and inexhaustible passion for a better tomorrow with the entrepreneurial spirit of investors who also dream of a world free from disease and cancer.
The Week also saw many a networking dinner, speaking panel, drink gatherings and other opportunities for our hard-working delegates to unwind. A few highlights include the awards that congratulated those whose dedication, skill and acumen made them a leading figure in their industry as well as the fact that the conferences where graced by titans such as John Karony, Nolan Bushnell, Djibril Cissé, Akon and Mark Blandford who was awarded an Outstanding Contribution of the Year award for his pioneering work in the iGaming industry.
Carl Brincat
CEO | MGA
Carl Brincat is an advocate by profession who graduated from the University of Malta in 2014 and was admitted to the bar in 2015. Prior to graduating he spent a number of years training in litigation, principally in the fields of criminal and human rights law. He joined the Malta Gaming Authority’s legal team in 2014, with his main practice and experience relating to regulatory policy within the gaming sector, and legal affairs.
Having formed part of the legislative overhaul conducted in the Maltese regulatory framework for the gaming sector in the recent past, he gained considerable experience in legislative reforms, stakeholder management, and regulatory strategy. He has recently been appointed to the position of CEO at the Malta Gaming Authority.
Dr Brincat, an expert on gaming law and regulation, headed the MGA’s legal department as the Authority’s Chief Legal Officer for the past years. Dr Brincat, a technology lawyer since 2014, has formed part of the MGA’s legal team since 2015, throughout this period he played a pivotal role in the design of the new gaming regulatory framework in 2018 and was also key in the introduction of GDPR guidelines for the gaming industry. Dr Brincat is also passionate about DLT technologies, and was the Authority’s focal point on the assessment of innovative technology arrangements and DLT assets in the gaming sector. Dr Brincat also headed the MGA’s Enforcement function.
The appointment of Dr Brincat as CEO was a result of a public call published in late 2020. This was the second time that the MGA issued a public call for the top post. The first time a public call was issued was in December 2008.
Afilexion Alliance and GTG Advocates wish Dr Brincat the best of luck in this challenging role.
The Board of Governors of the Malta Gaming Authority has appointed Dr Carl Brincat as Chief Executive Officer of the MGA with immediate effect, in terms of article 6(2)(a) of the Gaming Act (Cap. 583 of the Laws of Malta). The appointment follows a highly competitive selection process which was commenced with the launch of a public call for applications on 17 December 2020.
Carl is a member of the Chamber of Advocates (Malta), the International Masters of Gaming law (IMGL), and the International Association of Gambling Regulators (IAGR). He holds a warrant to practice in the Maltese Courts and has also been a regular speaker in local and international conferences relating to gaming and international regulatory issues.
Carl Brincat said: “It is an honour to be selected to lead the organisation at such a critical juncture for the MGA and the industry alike. I am proud of the work that has been done by the Authority so far in raising regulatory standards and committed to ensuring that we continue along this path. However, it is essential that we cultivate stronger partnerships with other regulators and stakeholders, and the industry itself, to achieve a regulatory environment that accomplishes the MGA’s objectives as set out in the law in the most effective, transparent, and proportionate manner.”
He spoke at the SIGMA 2021conference about Malta 2022 and ahead: Why is Malta still an optimal gaming destination? (Day 1)
During Europe Malta Week 2021, WH Partners held the Regulation and Compliance Conference Focus on Europe, marking the beginning of the SiGMA Main Stage Agenda, passing through insightful topics covering the future of Malta in the Gaming Industry, The Market Consolidation, The Room for Startups and Mid Market, Regulatory Updates, the increase of players claiming for losses, Tac Aspects od M&A in the Online Gaming Industry and more. WH Partners has added an huge value to the Malta Week Expo, remaining as the top Law firm Focus in Gaming not only in Malta but also on the whole continent, providing a reliable platform to work with.
Fiona Hickey
Director of New Business & Markets | Push Gaming
Fiona Hickey
Fiona Hickey is a forward-thinking Commercial Leader in the iGaming industry with over 10 years experience in the space.
Her role as Head of Sales at Push Gaming, a leading Slots provider, exposes her not only to current trends and both leading and start up operators in gaming, but also gives her a solid understanding of new and emerging markets as well as the technical and compliance requirements for each. Push Gaming is a games development studio which specialises in creating premium, mobile-optimised HTML5 games. With a wide range of global partners which includes some of the world’s most influential operators, we are successfully taking on a competitive industry in order to provide more entertaining mobile gameplay than ever before.
From prospect to implementation of the integration and contract to go live planning, Fiona Hickey knows what it takes to grow and build market share with her customers.
Talk us through Push Gaming’s commercial journey over recent years, what growing regulated markets have been particularly key?
“Push Gaming’s core focus in recent years has always been towards regulated markets. Europe has obviously been the crux of this approach and building strong relationships with the likes of the MGA and the UKGC has allowed us to flourish in their covered markets, and with more deals to announce in the coming months in the region, there’s plenty more potential to tap into.
The UK has sustained a regular spot in our ‘top ten’ markets in recent years, and we’ve been laser-focused on signing deals with a number of the country’s tier ones. Tied in with our efforts to tailor content to the territory, we have now seen it propel rapidly into our top five performing countries. Our partnerships with the likes of Rank Group, William Hill, and most recently Gamesys, are testament to this, and it’s looking likely to be our top performing market sooner rather than later.
Sweden has also been a major focus for us, and with some of the world’s most discerning players, we’ve certainly enjoyed taking on the challenge! The same goes for Norway, and we’ve seen considerable action there since recently integrating with Norsk Tipping.”
She spoke at the SIGMA 2021 conference about : Striking a balance with gamification – Fireside chat (Ikigai Ventures Stage Day 2)
SiGMA World celebrated the iGaming industry’s resilience even in the most troubling of times. With this we also congratulate the efforts made to make the iGaming world ethical, fraud-free and lawful.
Affiliate Grand Slam congratulated the brilliant marketers and influencers bringing much needed attention to a massive portfolio of industries and rejuvenating the economy one click at a time.
AIBC brought together the pioneers of a bright new age of emerging technology ready, able and willing to be the vanguard of Tomorrow. Other than just the established names, we also hosted many an entrepreneur seeking to expand the frontiers of AI and the Blockchain ever forward.
Finally, Med-Tech World united the medical professionals of many disciplines to combine their keen minds and inexhaustible passion for a better tomorrow with the entrepreneurial spirit of investors who also dream of a world free from disease and cancer.
The Week also saw many a networking dinner, speaking panel, drink gatherings and other opportunities for our hard-working delegates to unwind. A few highlights include the awards that congratulated those whose dedication, skill and acumen made them a leading figure in their industry as well as the fact that the conferences where graced by titans such as John Karony, Nolan Bushnell, Djibril Cissé, Akon and Mark Blandford who was awarded an Outstanding Contribution of the Year award for his pioneering work in the iGaming industry.