6 reasons Milan will shine as SiGMA Central Europe’s host city
SiGMA Central Europe will head to Milan for the first time next November. The event is expected to welcome over 1,000 exhibitors from the gaming and tech sectors for a summit that blends business and pleasure seamlessly.
And with 30,000 delegates estimated to attend, we´re expecting our first event in Milan to become one of the biggest global gaming events out there.
1. Connected and central
Centrally located in Europe, Milan offers an easy gateway to the event, thanks to its three international airports—Malpensa, Linate, and Orio al Serio—that provide excellent connectivity for participants from around the globe. Milan also features a highly efficient public transportation system, with five metro lines and an extensive network of buses and trams that reach even the city’s outermost areas, allowing delegates from important neighbouring jurisdictions to easily travel to the event.
Malpensa Airport (MXP)
Malpensa (MXP) is Milan’s largest and busiest international airport, located about 50 kilometres from the city centre. It’s a major hub for both long-haul and short-haul flights, with extensive connections across Europe and beyond. Airlines like easyJet and Ryanair lead the operations here, with easyJet flying to 71 European destinations and Ryanair offering routes to 42 locations. MXP is favoured by airlines from major European cities, with frequent flights from London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA), and Zurich (ZRH).
Malpensa’s strong connectivity also includes routes to other key European cities, such as Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, and Brussels.
Linate Airport (LIN)
Linate Airport (LIN) is only 8 kilometres from central Milan, making it an ideal airport for business travellers and visitors looking for quick access to the city. Linate mostly serves domestic and short-haul European routes, connecting Milan with important nearby cities. Alitalia, Lufthansa, and Iberia are among the main airlines operating here.
Paris and London: Paris-Orly and London-Heathrow have frequent connections with Linate through Alitalia, Air France, and British Airways, with flights multiple times per day.
Rome: Given the high volume of business and government travel between Milan and the Italian capital, flights from Rome Fiumicino to Linate are frequent, with nearly hourly options operated by Alitalia.
Madrid: Iberia connects Madrid with Linate, providing a convenient link for those travelling from Spain’s capital to Milan’s city centre.
Linate’s focus on short-haul flights and proximity to Milan’s business districts make it an efficient option for European travellers on tight schedules.
Orio al Serio Airport (BGY)
Orio al Serio (BGY), or Milan-Bergamo Airport, is located 45 kilometres northeast of Milan and primarily serves as a base for low-cost carriers, especially Ryanair, which offers a wide range of budget flights across Europe. It’s especially popular with travellers looking for affordable connections to Milan from cities like Barcelona, Berlin, and Vienna
Barcelona: Frequent Ryanair flights operate between Barcelona and BGY, with schedules that allow for both morning and evening arrivals.
Berlin and Vienna: Both cities are connected to BGY by Ryanair, with flights running several times a week, making Bergamo a key entry point for budget-conscious travellers.
Eastern European Connections: BGY is particularly well-connected with Eastern Europe, with direct flights to cities like Bucharest, Warsaw, and Budapest, expanding Milan’s accessibility across a broad geographic area at lower prices.
Orio al Serio is a favoured option for budget travellers, and despite its distance from central Milan, the efficient shuttle services make it a viable alternative for visitors from all over Europe.
2.Huge market size and untapped potential
Italy has emerged as a key destination for SiGMA Central Europe, driven by its immense potential as Europe’s largest untapped online gambling market. With a total gambling market revenue of €16 billion—the second-highest in Europe—only 25% stems from online platforms, leaving €12 billion in offline revenue largely untapped. The online sector, projected to reach €2.89 billion in 2024, is growing at an annual rate of 5.52%, set to hit €3.78 billion by 2029 (Statista). As player preferences shift online, and with its status as a global financial hub, Italy offers unparalleled opportunities for operators attending SiGMA Central Europe seeking expansion.
3. Heritage with a contemporary vision
Standing at the forefront of fashion, finance, and culture, nowhere combines tradition with modernity quite as well as Milan. A feast for history lovers, historical landmarks line its streets, from the iconic marble facade of the Duomo di Milano and the cobbled streets of Brera´s art district to the Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano – currently home to Da Vinci’s Last Supper. Da Vinci fans should also plan to visit the Casa degli Atellani, a house-museum and garden that houses his vineyard, gifted to him by Ludovico il Moro for his years of work at the Duchy.
For those seeking something out of the ordinary, the Santuario di San Bernardino Alle Ossa brings out the gothic in the city with its skull and bones chapel. For more contemporary souls, skyscrapers Bosco Verticale and Tre Torri add to the city’s future-looking vibe. The Museo del Novecento also has an impressive selection from the modern art world, with exhibits from Picasso, Modigliani and Klee, to name a few.
4. Michelin-Starred excellence
Italy is renowned for its deeply rooted culinary traditions, where distinct regional cuisines have helped put the country on the map for food lovers.
The city´s signature risotto dish often comes to mind (and for good reason), but Milan offers more than meets the eye when it comes to its food scene. Gilded pastry shops and cosy trattorias along the Navigli canals segue into the upscale dining rooms of Michelin-starred restaurants, providing plenty of options for SiGMA Central Europe´s evening calendar of networking events.
The Lombardy region consistently stands out with the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy. Destinations in their own right, restaurants such as Seta, Sadler, Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, Cracco, and Il Ristorante Trussardi alla Scala elevate Milan’s dining scene.
5.See you at the Colonne
In a city where to be industrious is a way of life you might wonder if the wheel ever stops turning. The answer is yes, and it starts with an aperitif in Milan´s many nightlife districts.
From the Navigli canal to Isola, Brera and the Colonne di San Lorenzo, there´s something for everyone attending the SiGMA Central Europe networking events. For casual nights out there are plenty of craft breweries, pubs and bars, and for a more upscale crowd wine bars dot the streets. The cosmopolitan Corso Sempione and the avant garde Corso Como meanwhile is home to trendy nightclubs and lounge bars known for excellent cocktails and eclectic DJs.
6. Made in Italy – from fashion to design
Known as the Quadrilatero della Moda (Fashion Quadrangle), Milan’s luxury shopping district is a major attraction in its own right. This area is defined by Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant’Andrea, and Via Manzoni. These streets are lined with flagship stores of iconic fashion houses, including Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, and many others, making it one of the most prestigious shopping areas in the world. Milan’s reputation as a fashion capital is cemented here, with the area attracting fashion enthusiasts from across the globe. Don´t miss the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping gallery and home to the likes of Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
