Blokotech signs football legend Marco Materazzi as Bloko Padel Tour ambassador

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Blokotech, a leading innovator in iGaming software solutions, has signed iconic footballer and World Cup winner Marco Materazzi as an ambassador for the Bloko Padel Tour.

The legendary Inter Milan defender and Italian international will join Blokotech at SiGMA World in Rome on Wednesday 4 November, where he will make a special appearance as part of the Bloko Padel Tour experience and help bring together the worlds of sport, entertainment and iGaming.

Marco Materazzi said: “I've always believed the best things happen when passion meets competition. Padel has that same fire I found on the football pitch: intensity, teamwork, the will to win. As a passionate player myself, it’s a sport I have a real affinity with and I'm proud to be part of the Bloko Padel Tour in Rome.”

Taking place throughout SiGMA World, the Bloko Padel Tour will bring a full programme of matches, entertainment and networking to Pavilion 9, culminating in the Grand Finale on Wednesday 4 November. After previous stops in Buenos Aires, Malta, Miami and Mexico City, the Rome finale will mark the biggest moment of the 2026 season. As owner of the tour, Blokotech is bringing the experience directly into the event, with Materazzi joining as one of the headline names.

The partnership comes during a period of continued expansion for Blokotech, which provides modular technology for casino and sportsbook operators alongside an end-to-end B2B platform designed to launch and scale iGaming businesses.

Its technology ecosystem includes more than 14,000 games from over 90 providers, multiple sports betting solutions and AI-powered tools designed to personalise the player experience through behavioural segmentation and automated bonuses.

Blokotech has also continued to expand its product portfolio with BlokoPredict, its white-label prediction markets engine, which enables operators to integrate prediction markets without building their own trading, pricing, settlement and compliance infrastructure.

Co-Founder & CEO of Blokotech, Salvatore Messina, added: “Marco is one of the most recognisable names in Italian football, so we’re incredibly proud to welcome him as an ambassador for the Bloko Padel Tour.

“Padel has become an important part of how we bring people together around the Blokotech brand, and having a World Cup winner like Marco involved takes that to another level. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to Pavilion 9 to experience the action, connect with the industry and be part of the tour at SiGMA World.”

Materazzi spent the majority of his playing days at Inter Milan, winning five Serie A titles and the UEFA Champions League during a trophy-laden spell with the club.

He was also a central figure in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph, scoring the equaliser against France in the final before converting a penalty in the shootout that secured Italy’s fourth World Cup title.

The Bloko Padel Tour will run throughout SiGMA World at Pavilion 9, with the Grand Finale taking place on Wednesday 4 November. Delegates are invited to visit Pavilion 9 to experience the Bloko Padel Tour, enjoy the matches and entertainment, and see Materazzi make a special appearance. The action will continue on Thursday 5 November, with further entertainment at Pavilion 9, including the Bloko Padel Tour Super Cup, where the Bloko Padel Tour winners will take on the winners of the media tournament. Delegates can also meet the Blokotech team and learn more about its latest technology at Hall 5 – Stand 5035.