Petition Calls on SiGMA to Reconsider Conor McGregor Appearance

SiGMA World is facing calls to reconsider Conor McGregor's appearance at its upcoming Rome conference after an online petition questioned whether promoting the former UFC champion is consistent with the event organiser's stated commitments to women and inclusion.

McGregor is scheduled to attend SiGMA World at Fiera Roma on November 3 as a special guest of betting operator 1xBet, which named him a global brand ambassador earlier this year.

SiGMA has promoted the Irish fighter as one of the event's high-profile guests. He is expected to appear at the 1xBet stand before taking part in a media briefing.

An online petition titled "Women in iGaming Call on SiGMA to Reconsider Conor McGregor's Appearance" is now asking organisers to review that decision.

Petition Questions SiGMA's Choice of High-Profile Guest

The petition says the dispute is not about McGregor's achievements in combat sports but about the standards represented by major iGaming events when selecting celebrities to promote.

Its authors are asking SiGMA to reconsider presenting McGregor as a special guest, explain how the decision aligns with its commitments to women in the industry, and introduce clearer standards for future celebrity guests and ambassadors.

The petition invites operators, affiliates, suppliers, regulators and other iGaming professionals to support the request.

It does not call for changes to 1xBet's wider commercial relationship with McGregor, focusing specifically on his prominent appearance at SiGMA World.

2024 Civil Case Is Central to Criticism

The campaign refers to the civil case brought in Ireland by Nikita Hand against McGregor.

In November 2024, a High Court jury found that McGregor had assaulted Hand after she alleged that he raped her at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

The jury awarded Hand €248,603 in damages.

McGregor denied the allegation and maintained that their sexual encounter was consensual.

He appealed the verdict, but the Irish Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of his appeal in July 2025.

The case was a civil proceeding rather than a criminal conviction. The jury applied the civil standard of proof when deciding Hand's damages claim.

McGregor Scheduled to Appear With 1xBet on November 3

SiGMA World is scheduled to take place in Rome from November 2 to 5, with organisers expecting more than 30,000 delegates and 1,200 sponsors and exhibitors.

McGregor is due to appear at Fiera Roma at approximately 3 p.m. on November 3 as part of 1xBet's presence at the event.

The betting company announced McGregor as a global brand ambassador in 2026, extending its use of high-profile sports figures in international marketing.

The planned Rome appearance brings that partnership directly into one of the industry's largest conference environments, where operators, suppliers and affiliates will be present alongside media and other industry stakeholders.

Dispute Raises Wider Question for iGaming Events

The criticism illustrates a reputational issue facing gambling companies and conference organisers when celebrity partnerships move from advertising campaigns into industry events.

Sports personalities can give brands significant reach and attract attention to conference stands, but their personal reputations can also become part of the event's public image.

The petition argues that the issue is particularly relevant for an industry that increasingly promotes diversity, inclusion and greater representation of women in senior positions.

There is currently no indication that McGregor's scheduled appearance has been cancelled or changed.

Neither SiGMA nor 1xBet has publicly announced a change to the November 3 programme in response to the petition.

The controversy therefore remains a request from members and supporters of the iGaming community for organisers to reconsider the invitation rather than a decision by SiGMA to remove McGregor from the event.