SBC to Bring Global Prediction Markets Ecosystem Together in Lisbon
Portugal.- 9 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com SBC will stage the Global Prediction Market Forum in Lisbon on 1 October amid intensifying international debate around the regulation and commercial future of prediction markets.
The full-day event will bring together operators, legal and regulatory specialists, technology companies and prediction-market executives.
Dedicated Forum in Lisbon
The forum will take place at the Myriad Hotel in Lisbon alongside SBC Summit 2026.
Although running in parallel with SBC’s major international conference, it will operate as a standalone event dedicated specifically to prediction markets.
SBC aims to provide a focused meeting point for a vertical evolving from a predominantly US niche into an expanding global opportunity.
Global Regulatory Debate
One of the central themes will be the increasingly divergent regulatory treatment of prediction markets.
Jurisdictions are currently taking different approaches, including:
- Blocking certain products.
- Applying existing regulatory structures.
- Exploring dedicated licensing regimes.
- Assessing whether products should be treated as gambling or financial instruments.
This lack of consensus has made prediction markets one of the industry’s most significant regulatory debates.
United States and Europe
The “Regulating Futures: Bridging the Gap Between the US and Europe” session will examine how regulatory frameworks are evolving on both sides of the Atlantic.
Speakers will include:
- Andrew Lyman, Gambling Commissioner and Executive Director of the Government of Gibraltar.
- Charles Mizzi, CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority.
- Terence Cassar, Partner at GTG Legal.
- Zach Doctor, Co-Founder and CEO of WagerWire.
- Ron Segev, Founding Partner at Segev LLP, as moderator.
The panel will assess current uncertainty and how operators can prepare for future regulatory change.
Are Prediction Markets Gambling?
A fundamental question will be how prediction markets should be legally classified.
The “The Legal Conundrum: Are Prediction Markets Gambling?” session will directly address whether event contracts constitute gambling products or financial transactions.
Participants include:
- Matt Kane, Chief Legal Officer at Betr.
- Arthur Stadler, Founding Partner at Stadler Partner Attorneys.
- Steve Humenik, Chief Legal Officer at Crypto.com.
- Quirino Mancini, Partner at WH Partners Italy, as moderator.
The discussion will examine existing legal structures and how regulators may approach the issue in future.
Technology and Time to Market
The forum will also address the technical challenges involved in launching prediction-market products.
The “Time to Market – The Technological Hurdles to Launching a Prediction Market Product” session will explore infrastructure, integration options and the technology required to operate efficiently and compliantly.
Speakers include:
- Andrew Gonzalez, CEO of ParlayX.
- Henrich Tauber, Director of Business Development at Limitless.
- Amit Mahensaria, CEO of Pred.app.
- Guy Dotan, Co-Founder of WireMarkets.
- Jeff Haas, Strategic Advisor at Binara.ai, as moderator.
From Niche to Global Market
Prediction markets have expanded rapidly and are increasingly prominent in discussions spanning gaming, finance and entertainment.
SBC will examine the developments that transformed the vertical from a specialist product into one of the most widely discussed areas of the global industry.
The programme will also assess how prediction markets may be adapted for European audiences.
Boom or Bust?
The sector’s long-term commercial prospects will be examined during “An Industry on the Cusp of Boom or Bust: What’s the Future of Futures?”.
Speakers will include:
- John Aristotle Phillips, CEO of PredictIt.
- Joey Levo, CEO of Betr.
- Noah Traisman, CEO of Winible.
The panel will consider whether prediction markets can coexist with traditional sportsbooks and whether there is room for multiple major platforms.
Prediction Markets and Sportsbooks
Another major theme will be the relationship between prediction markets and conventional sports betting.
The programme will assess:
- Differences between the two models.
- Potential areas of competition.
- Opportunities for coexistence.
- Advantages of peer-to-peer structures.
- Advantages of fixed-odds formats.
Lessons from sectors including poker and Daily Fantasy Sports will also be considered.
Media Partnerships
Strategic media partnerships will feature elsewhere on the agenda.
SBC will examine how media integrations could introduce prediction markets to wider mainstream audiences.
Connecting these products with news, sports and entertainment content could become an important route for future expansion.
Statements
SBC CEO and Founder Rasmus Sojmark said prediction markets have quickly become one of the industry’s major discussion topics.
He noted that rapid growth creates substantial opportunities but also raises important regulatory, commercial and technology questions.
Sojmark said the forum is intended to bring new entrants and established specialists together to examine how businesses can enter the sector effectively, safely and compliantly.
Forum Access
The Global Prediction Market Forum requires a separate ticket from SBC Summit.
Admission is priced at €399, approximately US$463.
Each attendee will also receive a complimentary copy of SBC Insights’ Prediction Market Report 2026.
Industry Context
Prediction markets are undergoing a period of rapid global expansion.
While the United States remains the main centre of activity, European jurisdictions are beginning to consider how these products may fit within their existing regulatory frameworks.
Whether they are ultimately classified as betting products, financial contracts or a separate category will have significant implications for their international growth.
Next Steps or Impact
The Global Prediction Market Forum will take place on 1 October 2026 in Lisbon and provide a cross-industry view of regulation, technology and commercial opportunity.
Participation from regulators, lawyers, operators and specialist companies will bring competing models and perspectives together at a critical stage in the sector’s development.
The event could provide greater clarity on how prediction markets may evolve from their current US-led expansion into a genuinely global industry.
Editó: @fonta
