At NEXT.io Summit Malta 2026, NookTalks continued its conversations with people working across the fast-changing iGaming and digital entertainment landscape. During the second day of the event, Jeremy Castillo sat down with Wojtek Stellmach, CEO & Co-founder of Bugsy Empire, to talk about emerging markets, media buying, prediction markets, sweepstakes, new products, and the opportunities ahead.
NEXT Summit Valletta 2026 brought together operators, suppliers, affiliates, investors, regulators, and other industry professionals in Malta. The 2026 summit took place on May 27–28 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.
Building a Media Business Around New Markets
Wojtek shared that Bugsy Empire works as a media agency with clients primarily across the US and UAE, with a focus on areas including sweepstakes, prediction markets, and other emerging products.
The company is working at significant scale, with Wojtek mentioning media spending of more than $20 million per month. Alongside its media activities, the company has also been expanding into areas such as agency services and social projects.
For a business operating in fast-moving markets, staying close to new trends is important. According to Wojtek, the team is constantly watching how new products develop and where new opportunities are emerging.
Prediction Markets Are Developing Differently
One of the main topics Jeremy asked Wojtek about was the future of prediction markets and sweepstakes.
Wojtek explained that prediction markets and sweepstakes should be viewed as different businesses because they have different infrastructure, marketing requirements, and regulatory considerations.
He also pointed out that entering these markets is not necessarily straightforward. New operators need significant resources, while regulations continue to change across different jurisdictions.
There is already growing activity around prediction markets, including businesses exploring different technology, licensing, crypto, and blockchain-related solutions. However, Wojtek suggested that the market may not develop in exactly the same way as the established sweepstakes sector.
For companies looking to enter these spaces, understanding the market and its regulatory environment will be an important part of the process.
The Potential of Sweepstakes Beyond the US
The United States remains a major market for sweepstakes, but Jeremy asked whether the model could expand more widely across the world.
Wojtek said Bugsy Empire is already working with products connected to markets including Japan, France, Australia, and Germany. At the same time, he believes international expansion will take time.
One of the challenges is education. Different markets have different understandings of the sweepstakes model, and businesses need to understand how the model works within each local environment.
Rather than expecting immediate global adoption, Wojtek suggested that the market could develop gradually as more companies, consumers, and regulators become familiar with the model.
New Products Are Creating New Opportunities
The conversation also touched on the emergence of new entertainment products and consumer trends.
Wojtek mentioned the growing interest in products connected to collectibles and gaming culture, using Pokémon cards and similar products as an example. With major global sporting events such as the World Cup approaching, he also expects opportunities around sports-related collectibles and player cards.
These developments show how quickly the broader digital entertainment ecosystem is expanding.
For media companies and agencies, this creates opportunities to work with businesses outside traditional iGaming while still applying many of the same skills around customer acquisition, performance marketing, and media buying.
Choosing the Right Industry Events
Jeremy also asked Wojtek about his experience attending industry events and why NEXT.io continues to be part of his calendar.
For Wojtek, the value of conferences comes down to the quality of the people and conversations taking place.
He explained that there are now many conferences across the global iGaming industry, which means companies have to be selective about where they invest their time.
NEXT.io, in his view, provides a strong environment for content, decision-makers, and meaningful business conversations. He also mentioned that the event had been productive for his team, with useful meetings taking place from the beginning of the conference.
Looking Ahead
Wojtek also shared that Bugsy Empire is primarily focused on Europe, the US, and North America, while many Asian conferences tend to take place later in the year.
The team’s upcoming plans included attending events in Miami, reflecting the company’s broader focus on North American opportunities.
His comments throughout the conversation highlighted how quickly the digital gaming and entertainment landscape is changing. Prediction markets, sweepstakes, crypto-related products, collectibles, and new forms of digital entertainment are creating new opportunities, but each comes with its own challenges.
For businesses operating in these spaces, the ability to understand new markets, adapt to regulatory changes, and connect with the right audiences will remain important.
The conversation between Jeremy Castillo and Wojtek Stellmach offered a useful look at how media agencies are approaching this changing environment. From large-scale media buying to emerging markets and new consumer products, the discussion showed that the next phase of growth may come from areas that are still taking shape.
As the industry continues to evolve, conversations like this at events such as NEXT.io Summit Malta provide an opportunity to understand where the market is heading and what businesses are preparing for next.
