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Brazil and Malta Announced as New Locations for 2025 SiGMA Poker Tour
Speaking during a press conference for the official launch of the SiGMA Poker Tour, Operations Manager, Ivonne Montealgre, announced the launch of two official tour locations for 2025 – Brazil and Malta.
She also shared that the first-ever edition of the Hendon Mob Latam Championships (THMC Latam) will take place during the Brazil leg of the tour.
“I´ve been a fan of this company for 10 years, to now be part of that Group is thrilling. We’re bringing the tour to the next level and putting it on the poker map,” Ivonne explained.
Roland Boothby, Head of Partnerships at GPI/The Hendon Mob, offered further insights into the strategic partnerships between SiGMA and the Hendon Mob – a recognised industry standard for ranking poker players. Commenting on his excitement to venture into new territory with the SiGMA tour, Bootby noted that, “One place we’ve never entered in terms of the live event realm is South America. Brazil is booming when it comes to poker, Brazilian players are known for being the most fun to play with. The market is at the start of its journey and SiGMA has unique potential to connect events and networking to the poker community.
“The 2025 Hendon Mob championships will take place across 5 different continents and we are very proud to join the SiGMA team to explore the Latam market. Poker is in a position where it needs to attract new players to the game. SiGMA has already proved itself in the B2B space and the launch of the Poker Tour will be a great opportunity to prove themselves in the B2C world.”
Designed to bring a fresh, global edge to the world of competitive poker, the tour aims to attract players from diverse backgrounds and skill levels to high-stakes tournaments in major cities around the world.
Eman Pulis, the founder of SiGMA Group, spoke to the broader vision of the event, explaining how the Poker Tour complements SiGMA’s mission to connect the gaming industry worldwide – a venture that has charity at the heart of its mission.
“We have set the bar very high for this mission. We have, from the beginning, done this with charity in mind. Surrounded by a hyper successful industry in the B2B industry, we have tried to merge the two – connecting charity outreach with our exhibitors. We now want to replicate this formula on the B2C side of things,” he explained.
“We want to elevate poker. Poker players are pro consumers – giving them access to the SiGMA platform is something that every player has been craving. Combining poker with business and pleasure should pave the way for a dynamite tour,” noted CEO of SiGMA Group Emily Micallef.
The SiGMA Poker Tour will align with the SiGMA Foundation to make a meaningful impact in the communities it visits. For each main tour stop, a percentage from every buy-in at a designated side event will be donated to support local SiGMA Foundation projects. This initiative not only enhances the tour’s commitment to responsible gaming but also ensures that each event leaves a positive legacy in the host locality, connecting the excitement of poker with the spirit of giving back.
The event wrapped up with a networking coffee, offering guests a chance to connect with the speakers and learn more about the SiGMA Poker Tour.
The post Brazil and Malta Announced as New Locations for 2025 SiGMA Poker Tour appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Carlo Santarelli
Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. announced that Carlo Santarelli has been appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations, a new position at the Company. Mr. Santarelli will begin his new position on August 18, 2025 and will report to GLPI President and Chief Operating Officer, Brandon Moore.
Mr. Santarelli brings over 25 years of Wall Street experience in Equity Research and Investment Banking to his new role and joins the Company from Deutsche Bank where he was Managing Director of Gaming & Lodging Equity Research. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Mr. Santarelli held similar positions at Bear Stearns, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo. He consistently ranked highly in Institutional Investor and other sell-side analyst research polls as a thought leader in the space, providing unique perspectives on industry events and trends with his data-driven approach and stock picking talent. Carlo Santarelli graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Economics in 2000.
Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI, said: “We’ve known and respected Carlo’s research work on the gaming, lodging and gaming REIT sectors for many years. Carlo brings to GLPI an in-depth knowledge of the industry and its participants, having experienced GLPI’s original formation of the gaming triple-net-REIT structure from a research analyst and capital markets perspective. We value his deep network of contacts among institutional investors, sell-side analysts and a wide range of gaming industry operators and we look forward to the value of his contributions.”
In his new role, Mr. Santarelli will work with Mr. Carlino and GLPI’s senior management to develop and evaluate growth opportunities and strategic relationships, and will oversee investor relations interactions.
The post Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Industry News
VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer

VIP Play, a technology-driven leader in interactive consumer engagement, announced that Jim Mackey, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, will step down from his role, effective August 8, 2025.
The Company has initiated a transition process and is in the process of identifying a successor. Mackey will assist in an orderly transition over the coming weeks.
“We thank Jim for his contributions to the Company, particularly during a transformative period for our business. We remain focused on executing our strategic priorities, including financial visibility, operating efficiency, and delivering value to our stakeholders,” said Les Ottolenghi, CEO of VIP Play.
The post VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
eSports
Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, has partnered with StarLadder, a pioneering tournament organiser. The Budapest Major 2025 marks a highly anticipated comeback for StarLadder, as it is their first Counter-Strike Major since 2019 and a significant return to the top-tier esports arena.
As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event. This will empower organisers, teams, sponsors and fans with unparalleled transparency and a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.
Artyom Odintsov, Co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts, said: “We are thrilled and proud to provide viewership analytics for StarLadder for the Budapest Major 2025. Since both Esports Charts and StarLadder are Ukraine-born companies, we share similar values and deal with similar challenges, which brings us even closer.
“It’s genuinely exciting to follow how viewership will develop at this Major. But knowing the expertise, drive, and passion that the organizers are bringing, I have no doubt we’ll witness some incredible things happen in Budapest.
“Esports Charts has always been driven by a mission to provide the esports community with accurate, actionable data, and we look forward to showcasing the impact and audience engagement of this world-class event.”
StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 15 years now, since hosting its first tournaments in 2011. Renowned for its innovation and reliability, the company has organised some of the industry’s most iconic events. These include the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, which accumulated over 44 million hours watched and remains in the top 10 CS events by this metric, and the legendary StarSeries tournaments which started back in 2012.
Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Sales and Partnerships at StarLadder, said: “We’ve been working with Esports Charts since their founding and have always valued their professionalism and integrity. In a market where reliable data is essential, Esports Charts provides honest, transparent numbers, exactly the kind of insights sponsors and stakeholders rely on when assessing the potential reach of a World Championship event.
“We’re confident that this partnership will result in a high-quality analysis of our tournament’s performance and the audience data we’ll report to our partners. It’s a collaboration built on trust, shared values, and a deep understanding of what it takes to elevate esports to the next level.”
The Starladder Budapest Major 2025 will be held from November 24 to December 14 in Budapest, Hungary. The event will bring together the world’s top 32 Counter-Strike 2 teams to compete for a $1.25 million prize pool and one of the most prestigious titles in esports.
The post Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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