International iGaming company MelBet has appointed Sherlyn Chopra, one of India’s famous and glamorous actresses, as its new brand ambassador.

As a brand ambassador, Sherlyn would be involved in creating exclusive content and promoting MelBet in international markets.

Sherlyn Chopra is known for her significant success in the film and television industry. Her work, including her role in the psychological thriller, Red Swastik, made her popular in India. Sherlyn is actively involved in showbiz and continues to expand her horizons by doing popular web-series, music albums, short films, launching glamour and style apps and other creative projects.

“I am incredibly excited to become a part of the MelBet family. Sports are more than just games or competitions as they unequivocally bring people together. I am proud to contribute to its popularisation with such a reliable partner. MelBet is not just about gaming, casinos, or sports. It is about team spirit towards involvement in the games, followed by highs and lows which are inevitable in the pursuit of success and victory. MelBet is an experience that brings us closer as a community and in setting our goals and achieving them. I am looking forward to starting our collaborative journey and the opportunities that we can create and explore for our growing game lovers,” Sherlyn Chopra said.

With this appointment, Sheryln joins other leading names, who represent MelBet in India and globally. MelBet believes that with her fearless approach to pushing boundaries, she embodies the innovative spirit that MelBet values – which led to her appointment. This partnership is expected to strengthen MelBet’s connection with sports enthusiasts, gamers and those passionate about the game, opening up new opportunities for clients and helping to further expand the brand’s reach across South Asia.

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.

Serbia’s Zeleno-Levi Front (ZLF/Green-Left Front), a local green political party, is advocating for a total ban on gambling ads in the country. According to its representatives, banning all ads would be the most surefire way to protect the public from gambling harm.

The ZLF just organised the Games of Chance, Games with the Health of Citizens (Igre na sreću, igre sa zdravljem građana) forum, scrutinising the gaming industry and its negative consequences. During the forum, representatives slammed the government’s recent proposal to limit gambling ads, saying that this wouldn’t be enough.

For context, the government recently proposed a ban on gambling ads featuring prominent celebrities, mirroring similar measures in other regulated markets. For context, Serbian law currently allows professional athletes to advertise betting products, to safer gambling advocates’ dismay.

The ZLF, however, believes that its total ban would be the most effective way to minimise potential harm. During the forum, National Assembly member Biljana Đorđević noted that the ZLF had submitted a ban proposal in March but regretted that the government had not responded to the proposal or discussed the matter.

Đorđević suggested that Minister of Internal and External Trade Tomislav Momirović has been avoiding the discussion. Momirović, for context, has previously suggested reducing the visibility of gambling ads by prohibiting ads on billboards on busier roads and streets.

Echoing arguments and concerns raised in other regulated markets, Đorđević said that having celebrities promote gambling exposed children to potential danger. Since younger audiences are more easily affected by marketing, this could cause them to associate betting as a normal part of sports.

ZLF MP Marina Mijatović repeated these claims, saying that the government has so far done a bad job at protecting minors from negative exposure to gambling. While Mijatović acknowledged that Serbia cannot prohibit gambling, she noted that the ads do not need to be so eye-catching and appealing.