Taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Global iGaming & Affiliate Expo (GiGA) is one of the gambling industry’s largest European conventions. Annually welcoming 5,000+ iGaming affiliates, operators, and experts, it describes itself as “where business meets the party,” but a preview of what attendees can expect for the 2026 event has created some backlash online.
twerk battles, GiGA girls, a beauty contest, and pole dancing
In a section on the GiGA website titled “All-Day Stage Shows,” a preview for the June 17-18 2026 show listed twerk battles, GiGA girls, a beauty contest, and pole dancing. This did not go unnoticed by many within the gaming industry, who decided to call out the show’s organizers on social media.
Karolina Pelc, founder of real money gaming firm BeyondPlay, confirmed she would “NOT be speaking at this event” after seeing the stage show lineups. She urged GiGA, and its CEO Blagoy Nikushev, to “grow TF up:”
Her post has 114 likes at the time of writing, in addition to 64 comments. Many in the comments have commended Pelc for calling out the event.
However, Nikushev decided to respond to the post personally. In his lengthy response, he began by suggesting Pelc was simply trying to attract attention through a “cheap publicity stunt” to sell her new book. She is the author of ‘Her Play,’ a gambling business-focused non-fiction book. Nikushev also highlighted that she was not invited to speak at GiGA in the fist place.
Nikushev went on to assert GiGA “isn’t about objectifying women.” Instead, he said the show features 50 professional performers of both sexes. “We won’t have any adult content or cheap strippers – only top of the talent in the region and abroad,” he said. “At GiGA we do not use or objectify female performers, we provide them with an international stage to showcase their art and provide for their families.”
Pelc retorted that the response was:
Classic. Predictable Disappointing.”
On the official GiGA website, the “All-Day Stage Shows” section does not currently include the twerk battles, GiGA girls, or any reference to a beauty contest.
