SBC Summit 2026 to Examine Western Europe’s Gaming Challenges

Portugal.- 10 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com SBC Summit 2026 will feature a dedicated track examining the main regulatory, technological and competitive challenges affecting Western European gaming markets.

The programme will take place on 30 September on the Global & Emerging Markets stage, bringing operators, regulators and industry executives together to assess how some of Europe’s most mature regulated jurisdictions are evolving.

Discussions will cover the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Italy, Scandinavia and Portugal, alongside the growth of prediction markets and technology’s impact on revenue and player retention.

Mature Markets Under Increasing Pressure

The track will examine how established markets are responding to an environment characterised by:

  • Higher taxation.
  • Tighter regulation.
  • Black-market growth.
  • Rising compliance costs.
  • Advertising restrictions.
  • New player controls.
  • Increasing acquisition and retention challenges.

SBC aims to compare approaches across jurisdictions and identify strategies capable of supporting sustainable growth.

Statements

SBC Founder and CEO Rasmus Sojmark noted that Western Europe is home to some of the world’s most established regulated gambling markets, but warned that maturity does not necessarily mean stability.

He said higher taxes and regulatory changes are creating a particularly complex period for businesses.

The track will therefore focus on identifying what operators can do, which strategies are working and where regulation may be creating unintended consequences.

Technology, Revenue and Retention

The programme will open with a panel examining technology’s impact on operator revenue and player retention.

Speakers will include:

  • Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet.
  • Paddy Desmond, Chief Operating Officer at Tote Group.
  • Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO of Golden Whale.
  • Elena Rousseva, CEO of Managed Services at Playtech.
  • Marinos Shiapanis, CEO of Campeon Gaming.

The discussion will assess which innovations genuinely increase player value and retention and which risk adding complexity without sufficient return on investment.

The Netherlands Case

Another session will examine the Dutch market against a background of deposit limits, advertising restrictions and growing offshore competition.

Participants include:

  • Cristiano Blanco, Executive Director at Spincore Group.
  • Björn Fuchs, President of VNLOK.
  • Eric Olders, President and CEO of JOI Gaming / JVH Gaming.
  • Frank Op de Woerd, CEO of CasinoNieuws.nl.

The panel will explore how regulatory pressure and rising operating costs are affecting licensed brands’ ability to compete.

Scandinavia and Regulatory Pressure

Sweden, Denmark and Norway will also receive dedicated attention.

The session will examine how taxation, bonus restrictions, payment controls and compliance costs are changing both player acquisition and retention.

Participants will include:

  • Fredrik Wastenson, Managing Director Nordics at LeoVegas.
  • Pascal Chaffard, Director of Online Betting and Gaming at FDJ United.
  • Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority.
  • Jesper Eliasson, Director at PAF.
  • Gustaf Hoffstedt, CEO of BOS.NU.

UK Market Under Pressure

The British market will be examined through a discussion asking whether the regulated sector can continue to compete effectively under increasingly demanding conditions.

Andy Wright, Managing Director for UK and Ireland at LeoVegas Group, and Josh Hodgson, Chief Operating Officer at H2 Gambling Capital, will address:

  • Financial risk assessments.
  • Higher taxation.
  • Affordability measures.
  • Tighter advertising rules.
  • Consumer protection.
  • Sustainable growth.

Italy Beyond Regulatory Reform

Italy will feature a session focused on the next stage of the market following recent regulatory reforms.

Panellists will include:

  • Davide Diodato, CEO of Novomatic’s HBG Online.
  • Fabio Bufalini, Country Director Italy at Stake.
  • Marco Castaldo, CEO of Microgame.
  • Marco Tiso, Managing Director at Sisal.
  • Quirino Mancini, Partner and Director at WH Partners Italy.

MDF Partners Founder Mauro De Fabritiis will moderate.

The discussion will also examine upcoming land-based tenders and their potential impact on competition, market entry and operator strategies.

Prediction Markets Enter European Debate

Prediction markets will also feature within the programme.

A dedicated session will consider what European operators and regulators can learn from the rapid expansion of these products in the United States.

Their inclusion reflects prediction markets’ increasing influence on international gaming regulatory and commercial debate.

Portugal: Growth and Opportunity

Portugal’s market will be examined through the themes of growth, pressure and emerging opportunity.

The discussion will look at where further expansion can be unlocked while online revenues grow alongside player-protection and regulatory compliance requirements.

Regulatory Gaming Meetups

Alongside conference sessions, SBC Summit will host dedicated regulatory meetups covering individual markets.

The Regulatory Gaming Meetups will include:

  • Italy.
  • Netherlands and Belgium.
  • United Kingdom and Ireland.
  • France.
  • Spain.
  • Portugal.
  • Nordic markets.

These meetings will bring operators, regulators, legal specialists and market experts together to discuss jurisdiction-specific challenges.

Regulatory Networking

The meetups are intended to provide a more focused setting than larger conference panels.

Attendees will be able to engage directly with professionals involved in regulatory development and build relationships with stakeholders shaping the future of each market.

Industry Context

Western Europe remains one of the world’s most developed regulated gaming regions.

However, the maturity of its markets is creating new challenges involving taxation, commercial restrictions and offshore competition.

Balancing consumer protection, competitiveness, channelisation and economic sustainability has become one of the central issues facing European operators and regulators.

SBC Summit 2026

SBC Summit will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena.

The event is expected to bring together more than 40,000 industry professionals for three days of conferences, exhibition and networking.

Conference content will be accessible to holders of Conference, Business and VIP passes.

Next Steps or Impact

The Western Europe track will offer direct comparisons between some of the continent’s most mature regulated markets.

Discussions covering technology, regulation, taxation, black-market competition and player behaviour will demonstrate how different jurisdictions are responding to similar pressures.

For operators, suppliers and regulators, the programme will provide an opportunity to identify strategies capable of protecting revenue and retention while supporting the long-term sustainability of regulated markets.

Editó: @fonta

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