Exclusive: Eduardo Lobato, Enterprise Client Partner Lead at Sportradar
Switzerland.- September 23 2026 www.zonadeazar.com As the global gaming industry prepares to converge on Lisbon, the conversation is no longer just about growth — it is about what comes next. Ahead of SBC Summit, Zona de Azar spoke exclusively with Eduardo Lobato, Enterprise Client Partner Lead at Sportradar, for an in-depth look at the forces reshaping the sports betting industry. With around 40,000 attendees expected and an opening keynote bringing Sportradar CEO Carsten Koerl together with Michael Jordan and DraftKings’ Jason Robins, Lisbon will provide a powerful stage for a conversation that increasingly connects sports, technology, data and entertainment.
From Artificial Intelligence and Managed Trading Services to operational efficiency, regulation and the evolution of Latin America, Lobato shares Sportradar’s perspective on an industry entering a new phase of maturity — one in which turning technology and data into sustainable growth is becoming a defining competitive challenge.
1. SBC Summit Lisbon is one of the largest events in the industry’s, with around 40,000 attendees, and the opening keynote will feature Carsten Koerl alongside Michael Jordan and Jason Robins. How do you view the magnitude of the event and the importance of this panel?
The expectation for Lisbon is huge. SBC Summit has established itself not just as a trade show, but as one of the main forums to discuss and anticipate the direction of our industry. Having Carsten Koerl share the stage with icons like Michael Jordan and Jason Robins translates, very clearly, the moment we are living in: the ever-increasing convergence of sports, media, technology, and entertainment.
For Sportradar, this panel reinforces a core message. Data and technology are no longer just supporting tools; they now play a strategic role in connecting leagues, operators, and fans. This integration enables us to create increasingly relevant, personalized, and real-time experiences, many of which would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
2. With regulation advancing in markets like Brazil, the search for operational efficiency has become a priority. How does Sportradar’s Managed Trading Services (MTS) help operators in this moment of maturity?
This is a crucial point. The industry went through a phase of strong expansion, where the focus was primarily on growth and user acquisition. Now, with the advancement of regulation and the greater maturity of the markets, operators need to increasingly focus on efficiency, predictability, and business sustainability.
It is exactly in this context that Managed Trading Services (MTS) gains relevance. With this solution, operators can transfer the complexity involved in trading and risk management to Sportradar, relying on our expertise, technology, and large-scale processing capacity. We use Artificial Intelligence and advanced models to support pricing, risk management, and operations optimization.
In practice, this reduces operational complexity and allows resources to be directed toward strategic areas, such as marketing, user retention, and customer experience. In regulated and increasingly competitive markets, having an efficient and scalable operation is fundamental to building a sustainable business in the long term.
3. Speaking specifically about the company’s presence in Portugal, what are Sportradar’s main expectations and practical objectives for these days at SBC Summit Lisbon?
Our main expectation is to strengthen relationships and, most importantly, to listen to the market. SBC Summit has an important differentiator by bringing together, in a single environment, different players from the ecosystem, including operators, suppliers, regulators, and technology partners.
For us, it is an opportunity to strengthen relationships with clients and partners and to closely understand the new demands and challenges that are emerging. We also want to show, in a practical way, how the innovations we have developed can help operators navigate this new landscape.
More than just presenting a product portfolio, we want to be close to our partners, understand their real day-to-day pain points, and discuss how data, Artificial Intelligence, and integrated content can generate greater efficiency, optimize investments, and contribute to building sustainable businesses in the long run.
4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will continue to be one of the central themes at the event. Beyond optimizing trading, how is Sportradar applying AI in the development of new products and in transforming the user experience?
AI is no longer a technology restricted to tests or isolated projects; it has become a transversal part of our operational infrastructure. It is present in different stages of our business, from protecting sports integrity through the Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS), to developing solutions aimed at personalizing the user’s experience.
In the case of the UFDS, for example, we use advanced technology to analyze large volumes of data and identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate suspicious behavior. At the same time, we apply AI to understand the context of matches in real-time and transform massive volumes of data into relevant insights for operators.
This allows us to identify behavioral patterns and deliver more relevant content, markets, and recommendations at the right time, keeping pace with the dynamics and emotions of each match. The breakthrough lies precisely in transforming data into more personalized, fluid, and contextualized experiences, both for those following the sport and those interacting with the platforms.
5. For operators from all over Latin America attending the event in Portugal, what is Sportradar’s main message during this moment of market transition in the region?
Latin America is going through a moment of transformation and consolidation, becoming one of the most relevant regions for industry’s growth. This movement is primarily driven by the advancement of regulation, with Brazil playing a major role as a catalyst in this process.
The Brazilian market has become one of the main references in the region and is expected to account for almost 40% of Latin America’s sports betting GGR in 2026. This scenario also raises the level of maturity and competitiveness across the entire regional market.
Sportradar has a consolidated presence in Latin America, with offices in Uruguay and São Paulo, and we closely monitor the specificities of each market. Our message to operators is that we are prepared to act as a long-term strategic partner, offering not just data, but also actionable insights, operational efficiency through MTS, and marketing and engagement solutions.
The goal is to help operators grow in a sustainable, secure, and responsible manner, respecting the characteristics and different maturity stages of each market in the region.
Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com
