SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026 Prepares to Host Over 2,500 iGaming Professionals Next Week

The SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026 is set to gather more than 2,500 industry experts at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace on July 15-16. This two-day event, organized in partnership with SMH, will serve as a crucial hub for networking, learning, and business development within the Eastern European and Central Asian iGaming sectors. Attendees will include a diverse group of operators, affiliates, suppliers, regulators, legal professionals, investors, and regional leaders.

Comprehensive Conference Agenda

The summit's agenda features insights from over 70 expert speakers, focusing on sustainable growth strategies across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Discussions will range from navigating market entry and scaling in emerging territories to addressing regulatory pressures and forming robust commercial alliances.

Day One will tackle strategic decisions influencing growth in developing markets, exploring topics such as product innovation, AI implementation, the dynamics between black-market competition and regulated growth, and the return on investment for sports sponsorships.

Day Two will shift towards long-term business expansion, covering areas like talent acquisition, understanding the evolving betting consumer, C-level leadership, operator-affiliate synergy, and the transformation of sports organizations into global entertainment brands. Notable speakers include Bill Pascrell III from Princeton Public Affairs Group, Giorgi Gvenetadze of Flutter CEE, and Dmitry Starostenkov from EvenBet Gaming, among others.

Elite Sports Insights and Regulatory Focus

Former Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Spain football star Fernando Morientes will participate as an invited speaker, offering a high-level perspective on leadership, performance, fan engagement, and the increasing role of technology in modern sports. Morientes will also delve into how innovation is redefining the connection between sports and business, from fostering new commercial opportunities to altering interactions between clubs, brands, and fans. His presence will complement the summit's sports-centric content, which explores lessons from major tournaments like the World Cup and how betting brands can cultivate enduring customer loyalty.

A dedicated Regulatory Forum will take place on the summit’s second day. This forum will convene regulators, legal specialists, and policy experts to address the region's most pressing regulatory challenges. Sessions will explore collaborative efforts against illegal iGaming, cross-border cooperation, RegTech advancements, market integrity, and the policy priorities anticipated for 2027. Key regulatory figures such as Brian Krolicki from the Nevada Gaming Commission and Panagiotis Trisokkas, President of the National Betting Authority Cyprus, are slated to speak.

Extensive Networking Opportunities

Beyond the conference, the event expects to attract 800 operators and 300 affiliates, alongside an exhibition showcasing leading regional brands. Delegates can also engage in multiple evening networking events. These include a Poker Tournament on July 15, the SBC Summit Tbilisi Opening Party at the Rolling Stone Rooftop Bar later that evening, an exclusive C-Level & Operator VIP Dinner on July 16, and the SBC Summit Tbilisi Closing Party at Noble Savage on the night of July 16.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, emphasized the event's importance, stating, “Thousands of decision-makers will convene to discuss opportunities shaping one of the industry’s most dynamic regions.” Lasha Machavariani, Founder of SMH Global, added that