The SBC Summit, with its program focused on Western Europe, will analyze regulation, technology, and market competition.

The panel dedicated to Western Europe at the SBC Summit will help operators address the growing pressures facing the region's established gambling markets, including stricter regulations, black market activity, and the increasing challenge of retaining players.

The event, which will take place on Wednesday, September 30th, on the Global & Emerging Markets stage , will bring together operators, regulators, and industry leaders to discuss how technology, policy reform, and changing player behavior are reshaping some of Europe's most established gaming markets.

Throughout the program, discussions will address developments in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Scandinavia, and Portugal, along with the growing influence of forecasting markets and the role of technology in protecting long-term revenue and business value.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and founder of SBC, stated: “Western Europe is home to some of the most consolidated regulated gambling markets in the world, but maturity does not necessarily mean stability. Increased taxes and regulatory changes are forcing companies to navigate a truly complex period.”

“This module aims to help operators understand what they can effectively do next. By comparing how mature markets are responding to similar pressures, participants can see which strategies are working, where regulation may be generating unintended consequences, and what those lessons mean for sustainable growth across the region.”

The opening session, titled “The Impact of Technology on Operator Revenues and Player Retention in Europe ,” will examine how technology can help operators unlock growth in an increasingly competitive European landscape. Featuring Andrew Cochrane (Commercial Director at Soft2Bet), Paddy Desmond (Operating Director at Tote Group), Eberhard Dürrschmid (CEO of Golden Whale), Elena Rousseva (CEO of Managed Services at Playtech), and Marinos Shiapanis (CEO of Campeon Gaming), the panel will assess which innovations are increasing player value and retention, and which risk adding complexity without generating a return on investment.

The session “The Dutch Dilemma: Deposit Limits, Advertising Bans and the Black Market Boom” will address competition in the parallel market, examining how regulatory pressure is affecting the competitiveness of the Dutch market. Featuring Cristiano Blanco (CEO of the Spincore Group), Björn Fuchs (President of VNLOK), Eric Olders (President and CEO of JOI Gaming / JVH Gaming), and Frank Op de Woerd (CEO of CasinoNieuws.nl), the session will explore the impact of deposit limits, advertising restrictions, and increased operating costs, as well as strategies that licensed brands can adopt to compete with offshore operators.

Similar issues will be explored in Scandinavia: High Taxes, High Standards, High Stakes , which will assess how tightening regulation is changing both operator strategy and player behavior in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Fredrik Wastenson (General Manager for the Nordic Countries, LeoVegas), Pascal Chaffard (Director of Online Betting and Gaming, FDJ United), Anders Dorph (Director of the Danish Gaming Authority), Jesper Eliasson (Director of the PAF), and Gustaf Hoffstedt (CEO of BOS.NU ) will participate in the panel to examine how taxes, bonus restrictions, payment controls, and compliance costs are affecting player acquisition and retention.

The UK will also be analyzed in detail during the informal chat “ Pressure in the UK: Will the Regulated Market Keep Winning?” . Led by Andy Wright (Managing Director of LeoVegas Group for the UK and Ireland) and Josh Hodgson (Operating Director of H2 Gambling Capital), the discussion will examine how Financial Risk Assessments, increased taxes, accessibility measures and stricter advertising rules are influencing operators’ strategy, and where the balance lies between consumer protection and sustainable growth.

In another session, “Beyond Reform: The New Landscape of Gambling in Italy” will examine the next phase of the gaming sector in the country. Experts Davide Diodato (CEO of HBG Online (Novomatic)), Fabio Bufalini (Country Manager of Stake Italy), Marco Castaldo (CEO of Microgame), Marco Tiso (General Manager of Sisal), Quirino Mancini (Partner and Director of WH Partners Italy) and moderator Mauro De Fabritiis (Founder of MDF Partners) will explore how Italy’s recent regulatory reforms and upcoming tenders for land-based casinos may reshape competition, market entry and operator strategy.

The program will also analyze the emergence of new gaming opportunities in the region. “Prediction Markets: The Future Isn’t Near, It’s Already Here” will explore what European operators and regulators can learn from the rapid growth of prediction markets in the US, while “The Evolution of Gaming in Portugal: Growth, Pressure and New Opportunities” will assess where future growth can be unlocked in Europe, as online revenues increase alongside stricter player protection and compliance requirements.

In addition to the conference program, participants can continue the discussion through the SBC Summit's Gaming Regulation Encounters , with sessions dedicated to markets such as Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, the United Kingdom and Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Nordic countries. Bringing together operators, regulators, legal experts, and market specialists, the encounters offer participants the opportunity to explore the regulatory challenges shaping each jurisdiction and build relationships with the people who influence its future.

The SBC Summit, which will take place from September 29 to October 1, 2026 at the Lisbon International Fair and the MEO Arena, will bring together more than 40.000 industry professionals for three days of conference content, exhibitions and networking.

Access to the SBC Summit conference program is reserved for participants with conference , business , and VIP passes.

Operators, affiliates, and some operators may be eligible for a free pass. Sign up here.