SBC Summit announced on Wednesday its return to Lisbon from September 29 to October 1, featuring a six-stage conference agenda and offering a 360-degree view of today’s global igaming industry.
According to a news release, the 2026 agenda is designed to reflect how the industry operates from every perspective. Each stage focuses on a different force shaping the market, with discussions dedicated to Global & Emerging Markets, Technology & Innovation, the Payment Expert Summit, the Affiliate Leaders’ Summit, and Regulation & Compliance.
The agenda is structured to provide clarity, helping delegates understand how key sectors overlap, evolve, and shape best practices across the global igaming landscape.
“Success in today’s market depends on getting multiple moving parts right at the same time, from entering new markets to building better products and navigating regulation,” SBC Vice President of Conference Production Aidan Brain said in a statement. “The agenda is designed to reflect that reality, with each stage focused on helping delegates make better decisions in the areas that directly impact growth.”
Conference Stages
The Global & Emerging Markets stage will help delegates identify where the next wave of opportunity lies and how to capitalize on it. Over three days, it will challenge assumptions around mature markets while offering a more nuanced view of emerging regions. Sessions will explore how evolving regulation and shifting player behavior are creating new opportunities for businesses entering or expanding into these markets.
- Day One: Emerging Markets – Africa, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, and the Middle East
- Day Two: Western Europe – The UK, Italy, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia
- Day Three: Latin America – Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and wider regional trends
The Technology & Innovation stage will examine how technology is shaping modern gaming businesses, from the platforms driving the next wave of player interaction to the systems driving the performance behind the scenes. Sessions will explore how operators can improve player experience, build more resilient infrastructure, and use technology to gain a competitive edge.
Each day, the stage will focus on a different aspect of tech innovation, covering Sports Betting Innovation, iGaming Product & Design, and Marketing & CX, highlighting the key areas where technology can be applied to build better products and attract more customers.
The Payment Expert Summit stage will examine how payments have evolved from a back-end function to a key factor in where customers choose to play. Delegates will gain insight into building payment stacks that are fast, secure, and capable of meeting increasingly stringent regulatory demands. Each day will focus on a core component of a business’ payment stack, with tracks dedicated to Fintech, AML & Compliance, and Crypto & Blockchain.
The Regulation & Compliance stage will explore how shifting policy across the world is restructuring the industry. With a focus on Global Regulations, Player Protection, and Compliance Tech, the agenda will examine how to navigate increasing regulatory scrutiny while continuing to build sustainable, compliant businesses across global and emerging markets.
The Affiliate Leaders Summit stage, part of the standalone Affiliate Leaders Summit co-hosted alongside SBC Summit, will examine how affiliate brands can move beyond their traditional role as traffic drivers to become fully fledged media businesses. Across three days, sessions will explore tightening regulations, shifting acquisition models, and how brands are building effective multi-channel strategies across social platforms. The agenda moves from Omnichannel Marketing Tech to the Future of Affiliate Strategy and AdTech & Analytics Innovation, ensuring affiliates and other event attendees are equipped with the strategic outlook needed to compete across every stage of modern growth. Access to the Affiliate Leaders Summit requires a separate ticket.
Alongside the five themed conference stages, the Super Stage at the MEO Arena will return, hosting headline sessions with influential industry voices, alongside high-profile speakers from beyond the sector. Last year’s lineup featured Gary Vaynerchuk, Randi Zuckerberg, and Oleksandr Usyk.
The 2026 edition will feature additional educational formats for delegates seeking more focused, hands-on learning. SBC’s Tech Academies will cover key disciplines including AI, Web3, marketing, and gamification, alongside a series of workshops and new formats set to be announced. Access to these sessions is available through dedicated ticket add-ons.
