SBC Summit 2026 to Launch Regulatory Gaming Meetups for Direct Industry-Regulator Engagement

SBC Summit 2026, scheduled for Lisbon, Portugal, will feature a new networking initiative called Regulatory Gaming Meetups. This program aims to foster direct engagement between attendees and leading figures from regulatory bodies, market specialists, and industry executives representing more than 20 global gaming jurisdictions. The event will take place from September 29 to October 1, 2026.

Located daily within the dedicated Regulatory Gaming Meetup Lounge (F4-17), these sessions are designed to facilitate in-depth discussions. Participants can explore current market trends, evolving regulatory frameworks, compliance obligations, and potential business avenues with peers and experts operating within specific markets. The format will organize sessions by individual jurisdiction and broader region, allowing delegates to concentrate on areas most pertinent to their commercial interests.

The agenda encompasses a wide geographical scope, with regional discussions delving into policy shifts, market evolution, and expansion opportunities across key global territories. These include Eurasia, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and North America, alongside European regions such as the Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe (CEE), and the Nordics & Baltics. A particular emphasis is placed on Europe's diverse regulatory environment, with dedicated country-specific sessions for markets like Italy, Malta, Finland, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany & DACH, the UK & Ireland, Greece & Cyprus, and the Netherlands & Belgium. Further insights will also be offered on the Emirates, Curaçao, and India.

To ensure practical, market-specific discussions, each meetup will be moderated by experienced regulators, industry associations, and subject-matter experts. Notable confirmed hosts include Charles Mizzi, CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority, leading discussions on Malta's regulations. Ricardo Domingues, President of APAJO, and Luis Carvalho, Partner at Lektou, will co-host the Portugal Regulatory Gaming Breakfast. The North American Regulatory Gaming Cocktail Hour will feature Paul Burns, CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, and Jared Beber, CEO of Bet99. Panagiotis Trisokkas, President of the National Betting Authority Cyprus, will oversee the Greece & Cyprus session.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, emphasized the unique value of this initiative, stating, "What we're creating with the Regulatory Gaming Meet Ups is direct access to the people responsible for shaping, interpreting, and navigating these markets every day." He added that this direct engagement enables delegates to ask more insightful questions, gain practical knowledge unavailable elsewhere, and make better business decisions. These meetups represent one of the initial significant outcomes from SBC's new collaboration with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), aimed at broadening access to regulatory expertise globally.

The Regulatory Gaming Meetups are part of a wider strategic investment by SBC to provide more structured and focused networking opportunities for attendees. This also includes other curated experiences, such as speed networking and guided show floor tours, which saw successful trials at SBC Summit Americas earlier this year. Beyond these interactive sessions, delegates can also delve into regulatory developments through the comprehensive SBC Summit conference program. This includes content on the Global & Emerging Markets Stage and the Regulation & Compliance Stage, which will cover topics such as global regulations, player protection, and compliance technology, including a dedicated Player Protection Symposium.

The SBC Summit, expecting to host 40,000 industry professionals, will run for three days at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & MEO Arena. To participate in the Regulatory Gaming Meetups, attendees will need a Networking, Business, or VIP Pass.