It’s that time of year again – and, as summer approaches, so does the SiGMA Asia Summit 2025. Following last year’s successful outing, the show is set to return for its third iteration since SiGMA launched its Philippine exhibition in 2023. The event is set to attract delegates from across the global gambling industry for a range of networking and social opportunities as companies look to showcase their latest offerings in the Asian market.
Indeed, between 1-4 June 2025, Manila will see an influx of an estimated 20,000 delegates from all four corners of the global gaming industry bound for the SMX Convention Center. Among them, government officials, C-Level executives, industry influencers, innovators and regulators seek to both discover and unveil the latest innovations within the Asian market.
This third outing of the SiGMA Asia Summit comes 11 years after the first-ever SiGMA conference held in Malta in 2014. Now, SiGMA operates a growing number of gambling expositions across the globe, following recent launches in the United Arab Emirates in 2021 in Dubai – followed by Toronto, Belgrade and Brazil – with the first ever SiGMA in Rome also set to be held in late 2025.
The conference in Manila, however, represents one of the core events around which gambling businesses in the region arrange their annual calendar and is set to attract a number of operators to the Philippine capital in June. In fact, the predicted number of operators set to be attending this year’s show may even be expected to represent a rise in comparison to 2024, although it remains to be seen how the outlawing of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators affects this.
The Philippines is, of course, a core gambling market in the Asian region as well as on the global stage – and one that has undergone some changes since 2024’s SiGMA Manila show. 2024 was a year that saw the nation surpass its revenue targets and achieve the highest GGR in the country to date – a piece of news which acted as a healthy antidote to the now-resolved POGO headache that gripped the market over the course of the year.
Indeed, many of the issues related to the Philippines’ illegal offshore gambling operators have now been remedied by the nation’s main gambling representative – regulatory body and operator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The organisation is, of course, also heavily involved with the nation’s largest gambling exposition of the year. As such, SiGMA Asia Manila is an officially PAGCOR-endorsed event. The company’s Managing Director for Asia, Neil Shih, stated the following ahead of the show: “It is with great pleasure that, on behalf of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), we extend our full endorsement and enthusiastic support for SiGMA Asia 2025. We are excited to see this premier event take place.
With the increasing diversification and prevalence of Macau on a global scale – alongside the announcement of new casino locations in Thailand, a growing industry in the UAE and the continued maturation of the Philippine landscape – Asian gambling is one of the most exciting facets of the developing global industry in 2025
“PAGCOR recognises the vital role that SiGMA Asia plays in uniting industry leaders and key stakeholders from the gaming and technology sectors. This event not only showcases cutting-edge innovations but also underscores the Philippines’ position as a leading destination for business, collaboration; and excellence in the gaming industry.
“We are proud to lend our support to this initiative, which perfectly aligns with our ongoing commitment to fostering the growth and sustainable development of the regulated gaming industry in the Philippines.”
Coinciding with the conference and developed in partnership with SiGMA, a PAGCOR-operated retreat for 120 land-based operators is set to run from 1-4 June – in which delegates can enjoy a round-trip airfare, exclusive entertainment activities and luxury accommodation alongside full access to the SiGMA Asia expo. Indeed, the retreat looks to bring together a number of key executives from the land-based sector – which is set to make up half of the ground floor at the SMX Convention Center – for networking and other opportunities.
As delegates arrive prior to the event, Sunday 1 June sees a SiGMA official pre-event celebration party at Uma Nota Manila – a Japanese Brazilian fusion restaurant in the heart of the city, which is open to premium and platinum ticket holders. Following on from this on 2 June, pre-registration for the conference takes place alongside a welcome drinks reception and evening poker tournament.
The event launches into its first day of exhibition on the Tuesday, with the industry’s best and brightest showcasing their newest offerings – alongside commentary from industry experts on the latest happenings across the globe in the form of informative panels and presentations. SiGMA Manila officially runs from 10am to 6pm on both Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 June – closing with networking drinks, an iGathering dinner and the SiGMA official celebration party from 10pm until late – held at XYLO at The Palace club, open to all event ticket holders.
This year’s SiGMA Asia exhibition also sees the organisation provide a platform for up-and-coming innovators within the gaming industry with the latest outing of the SiGMA Pitch – which offers support to young, developing businesses and the people behind them. Indeed, SiGMA Pitch 2025 looks to replicate its popularity from last year’s outing as it attempts to connect fledgling businesses with investors and industry mentors – offering a selection of 100 startups the chance to present, pitch and showcase their initiatives and products during the exposition. Following the respective pitches, a panel of judges will select the top six companies – who will present their respective pitches during the final legs of the exposition.
With the increasing diversification and prevalence of Macau on a global scale – alongside the announcement of new casino locations in Thailand, a growing industry in the UAE and the continued maturation of the Philippine landscape – Asian gambling is one of the most exciting facets of the developing global industry in 2025. This, therefore, makes SiGMA Manila one of the most important expositions of the year for delegates with an interest in the Asian landscape.
