SBC Establishes Regulatory Advisory Board to Strengthen Industry Dialogue
United Kingdom.- 6 November 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com SBC has announced the establishment of a Regulatory Advisory Board, bringing together gambling regulation specialists, former regulators and senior executives from major international gaming companies.
The initiative aims to strengthen dialogue between regulatory authorities, licensed operators, lotteries, policymakers and industry associations.
The new board will be chaired by Andrew Gellatly, former Executive Director of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC).
A Platform for International Cooperation
The board’s principal objective is to support knowledge-sharing and collaboration among representatives of regulated gambling markets.
Its responsibilities will include:
- Identifying emerging regulatory challenges.
- Providing strategic guidance on SBC’s regulatory initiatives.
- Supporting high-level industry discussions.
- Facilitating dialogue between regulators and businesses.
- Promoting the sustainable development of regulated gambling markets.
The initiative responds to increasingly complex national regulations and challenges shared across different jurisdictions.
Entain, Playtech and Allwyn Join the Board
The advisory body includes representatives from several leading international gambling companies.
Its members are:
- Andrew Gellatly: Former Executive Director of AGCC and Board Chairman.
- David Foster: Group Director of International Regulatory Affairs at Entain.
- Yannis Xirotiris: Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at Kaizen Gaming.
- Jon Polanec: Vice President of Global Risk and Market Integrity at Super.
- Francesco Rodano: Head of Responsible Gaming at Allwyn.
- Charmaine Hogan: Global Head of Government Relations at Playtech.
- Jessica Feil: Senior Vice President and General Counsel at OpenBet.
- Morten Ronde: Regulatory specialist at Nordic Legal and former Danish regulator.
- Eleonore Para: Public affairs consultant and former gambling regulator.
The board also includes Rasmus Sojmark, SBC’s Founder and CEO, and Andrew McCarron, the organisation’s Managing Director.
Eve Hartley, SBC’s Head of Legal, will serve as Secretary.
Taxation, Licensing and Illegal Gambling
The board will address some of the most important challenges facing the international gambling industry.
Priority topics include taxation, licensing requirements, player protection, market integrity and the fight against illegal gambling.
Discussions will also focus on the sustainability of regulated markets and effective supervision.
The objective is to encourage informed dialogue between those responsible for developing public policy and the businesses operating under regulatory frameworks.
Rasmus Sojmark Highlights Regulatory Dialogue
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, emphasised that regulation is one of the most important factors shaping the industry’s future.
He highlighted increasingly complex discussions across Europe, North America and other markets involving taxation, consumer protection and sustainability.
Sojmark explained that SBC intends to build on its experience bringing industry stakeholders together to create opportunities for constructive engagement between regulators and operators.
Andrew Gellatly to Chair the Initiative
Andrew Gellatly highlighted that different jurisdictions face similar challenges, particularly regarding player protection and market integrity.
The former AGCC Executive Director believes the board will help identify emerging issues and encourage more constructive collaboration.
His regulatory experience will contribute to an initiative designed to incorporate perspectives from both public authorities and private businesses.
Amsterdam to Host First Regulatory Forum
One of the board’s initial priorities will be supporting the SBC Leaders Regulatory Forum, scheduled for 19 April 2027 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The event is expected to bring together approximately 350 senior decision-makers from Europe’s regulated gambling industry.
Discussions will focus on regulatory challenges and knowledge-sharing between authorities and industry executives.
Toronto to Host North American Edition
SBC is also developing a North American edition of the forum in Toronto, Canada.
The event is expected to attract approximately 250 senior regulatory and industry representatives from the United States and Canada.
The initiative builds on SBC’s existing partnerships with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).
These relationships aim to strengthen regulatory education and international cooperation.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
The establishment of the Regulatory Advisory Board represents an expansion of SBC’s activities into regulatory engagement and institutional cooperation.
The participation of specialists associated with Entain, Playtech, Allwyn, OpenBet and Kaizen Gaming will bring different perspectives to discussions about the industry’s challenges.
With an advisory board comprising international regulatory specialists and two forums planned for 2027 in Amsterdam and Toronto, SBC aims to strengthen engagement between regulators and operators while supporting responsible, competitive and sustainable gambling markets.
Edited by: @fonta
