SiGMA Magazine: Alessandro Valente on BiS, SiGMA synergy, and the future of iGaming in Latin America
Alessandro Valente, Co-Founder of the Brazilian iGaming Summit (BiS), is featured in SiGMA Magazine , launched during BiS SiGMA Americas 2025 in São Paulo. This exclusive highlights Valente’s instrumental role in the development of Latin America’s iGaming sector, the strategic merger with SiGMA Group, and the summit’s emergence as the continent’s premier industry gathering.
The inception of BiS: Bridging a market gap
The concept for BiS materialised from a critical need: the absence of a unified platform for Brazil’s nascent yet high-potential iGaming market. Despite increasing interest from both local and international stakeholders, there was a lack of a centralised forum to exchange insights, forecast trends, and address sectoral challenges. Recognising this, Valente and his team launched the inaugural Brazilian iGaming Summit in 2021, with a vision to foster dialogue, promote sector development, and spotlight Brazil as a market of strategic importance.
Navigating early-stage volatility
BiS’s formative years were marked by a complex operating environment, notably a lack of clear legislative frameworks in Brazil and the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Valente highlights the dual challenge of educating the market on iGaming’s potential while also adapting event formats to comply with evolving public health requirements. Through resilience, strategic foresight, and stakeholder engagement, BiS weathered these difficulties and quickly positioned itself as Latin America’s flagship iGaming forum.
Strategic synergy: The SiGMA merger
A pivotal chapter in BiS’s evolution was its strategic alignment with global events powerhouse SiGMA. Valente first encountered SiGMA in 2015 at its second event in Malta and closely followed its meteoric rise. Years of rapport and mutual respect culminated in a partial acquisition by the SiGMA Group, resulting in the formation of BiS SiGMA Americas. This merger was more than a commercial transaction; it was a strategic consolidation that brought BiS into the orbit of SiGMA’s expansive international network, bolstering its operational scope and appeal.
Scaling participation and enhancing value
The merger’s impact was immediate and tangible. BiS SiGMA Americas witnessed a 30% to 40% spike in attendance, primarily driven by SiGMA’s global credibility and extensive ecosystem of exhibitors and investors. This expansion has elevated the summit’s stature, making it a premier destination not just for regional operators but also for international stakeholders eyeing the Latin American opportunity.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond
With a growth mindset firmly embedded in its DNA, BiS SiGMA Americas is scaling up for its 2025 edition, scheduled for 7–10 April at São Paulo’s Transamerica Expo CCentre The event will occupy a significantly larger venue to accommodate demand and introduce fresh value propositions, including cutting-edge exhibitions, high-level panels, and curated networking opportunities. Valente affirms the objective: to position BiS SiGMA Americas as the definitive iGaming event across the continent.
Shaping industry standards and fostering credibility
Beyond commercial expansion, Valente is emphatic about the event’s role in professionalising the region’s gaming sector. With Brazil’s recent regulatory advancements, BiS SiGMA Americas is poised to be an instrumental platform in guiding stakeholders through compliance, innovation, and market entry. Its agenda increasingly features regulatory roundtables, expert-led workshops, and policy-focused sessions aimed at fostering informed dialogue between regulators, operators, and technology providers.
Challenges on the regulatory horizon
Despite progress, the road ahead is not without complications. One pressing concern is the regulatory fragmentation across Latin America. Differing legal regimes across countries pose barriers to cross-border operations and discourage uniform investment. Equally important is the fight against unlicensed operators, whose presence undermines consumer safety and market integrity. Lastly, fostering a culture of responsible gaming remains a top priority to ensure long-term sustainability.
A blueprint for sustainable growth
To address these challenges, BiS SiGMA Americas is doubling down on its thought leadership mandate. Future editions will place greater emphasis on educational programming, including campaigns centred on compliance and responsible gaming. Furthermore, the event will continue to champion transparent, legally compliant enterprises, reinforcing a culture of best practice across the ecosystem.
Final thoughts
Through strategic vision, robust international partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to industry integrity, BiS SiGMA Americas has evolved from a pioneering local initiative into a cornerstone of Latin America’s iGaming transformation. Under Alessandro Valente’s stewardship, it is set not only to reflect the market’s growth but to shape it actively. The path from BiS to BiS SiGMA Americas is not just a story of expansion, but one of leadership, foresight, and ecosystem-building at scale.
