SBC Summit to scrutinise regulatory pressures in mature European markets

The SBC Summit, scheduled for 29 September to 1 October 2026 in Lisbon, will dedicate a conference track to the challenges facing mature Western European gambling markets. The event, which is expected to gather more than 40,000 industry professionals at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena, will host its Western Europe track on Wednesday, 30 September, on the Global & Emerging Markets Stage.

The agenda will delve into regulation, technology, and competition. It will commence with a session titled 'The Impact of Tech on Operator Revenues and Player Retention in Europe'. Panellists for this discussion include Soft2Bet CCO Andrew Cochrane, Tote Group COO Paddy Desmond, Golden Whale CEO Eberhard Dürrschmid, Playtech's CEO of Managed Services Elena Rousseva, and Campeon Gaming CEO Marinos Shiapanis.

National market deep-dives

A key session, 'The Dutch Dilemma: Deposit Caps, Ad Bans and the Black-Market Boom', will examine how regulatory pressures are impacting the competitiveness of the licensed market in the Netherlands. Experts contributing to this panel include Spincore Group CEO Cristiano Blanco, VNLOK Chairman Björn Fuchs, JOI Gaming Chairman & CEO Eric Olders, and CasinoNieuws.nl CEO Frank Op de Woerd.

Developments in Scandinavia will be assessed in a session named 'Scandinavia: High Tax, High Standards, High Stakes'. This panel will analyse how stricter regulations in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway are influencing operator strategy and player behaviour. Speakers include LeoVegas' Managing Director Nordics Fredrik Wastenson, FDJ United's Chief Online Betting & Gaming Officer Pascal Chaffard, Danish Gambling Authority Director Anders Dorph, PAF Director Jesper Eliasson, and BOS.NU CEO Gustaf Hoffstedt.

The UK market will be the focus of a fireside chat, 'The UK Squeeze: Can the Regulated Market Keep Winning?', featuring Andy Wright, MD for UK&I at LeoVegas Group, and Josh Hodgson, COO of H2 Gambling Capital.

Italian gaming reforms will be explored in 'Beyond the Reform: The New Italian Gaming Landscape'. This session will be moderated by MDF Partners Founder Mauro De Fabritiis, with panellists including HBG Online CEO Davide Diodato, Stake Italy Country Manager Fabio Bufalini, Microgame CEO Marco Castaldo, Sisal Managing Director Marco Tiso, and WH Partners Italy Partner & Director Quirino Mancini.

Further analysis and networking

Additional sessions will cover the Portuguese market's evolution and the emergence of prediction markets. The event, organised by SBC, whose CEO and Founder is Rasmus Sojmark, will also facilitate a series of Regulatory Gaming Meetups. These will cover markets including Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, and the Nordics.

Access to the SBC Summit conference agenda is available to holders of conference, business, and VIP passes.