SBC launches the Global Forecast Markets Forum to address the industry's most complex issues.
Prediction markets have gone from a niche curiosity to one of the most controversial issues in the global gambling industry. Are they a financial product, a betting product, or something regulators have yet to understand? The SBC's new Global Prediction Markets Forum will address this issue head-on through a full-day conference program in Lisbon.
The independent event, taking place on Thursday, October 1st, at the Myriad Hotel in Lisbon, will be held in parallel with the SBC Summit 2026 , providing a dedicated meeting point for stakeholders in the future of forecasting markets.
Bringing together traders, forecasting market experts, legal and regulatory specialists, and technology leaders, the educational program will address the industry's biggest challenges as it transitions from a predominantly American niche to a growing global opportunity.
The sessions will examine the evolution of regulatory and legal frameworks, how prediction markets can be adapted to the European audience, the technical considerations for launching and integrating these markets, and the long-term future of the sector.
“Prediction markets have quickly become one of the most talked-about topics in the industry, but, as with any industry that moves at this pace, opportunities come with a lot of questions,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and founder of SBC.
“For operators considering entering this sector, the question is how to do so effectively, safely, and in compliance with the law. That is the aim of this forum: to bring newcomers and experts together in the same space, address the issues, and build a clearer understanding of the direction the sector is taking.”
With jurisdictions divided on whether to block, regulate, or license prediction markets, the session “ Futures Regulation: Bringing the US and Europe Together” will examine how the regulatory landscape is developing on both sides of the Atlantic. Experts Andrew Lyman (Gaming 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), and moderator Ron Segev (Founding Partner of Segev LLP) will assess the current regulatory uncertainty in key global markets and explore how operators can prepare for future regulatory changes.
At the heart of this regulatory debate is the question of how prediction markets should be legally defined. The session “ The Legal Dilemma: Are Prediction Markets Gambling? ” will address this question directly, bringing together experts Matt Kane (Legal Director at Betr), Arthur Stadler (Founding Partner at Stadler Partner Attorneys), Steve Humenik (Legal Director at Crypto.com), and panel moderator Quirino Mancini (Partner at WH Partners Italy). The panel will discuss whether event contracts constitute gambling or financial trading, examine existing legal frameworks, and consider how regulators may rule in the future.
The discussion will then turn to the technical considerations of launching prediction markets during the session “ Time to Market – Technological Obstacles to Launching a Prediction Market Product ”. Speakers Andrew Gonzalez (CEO of ParlayX), Henrich Tauber (Head of Business Development at Limitless), Amit Mahensaria (CEO of Pred.app), Guy Dotan (Co-founder of WireMarkets), and panel moderator Jeff Haas (Strategic Consultant at Binara.ai) will assess the technology needed to maintain compliance, the integration options available, and which technology can offer a faster and more efficient time to market.
The future of prediction markets will be the central theme of the session “ An industry on the brink of collapse: what is the future of futures? ”. Experts John Aristotle Phillips (CEO of PredictIt), Joey Levo (CEO of Betr) and Noah Traisman (CEO of Winible) will explore whether prediction markets can coexist with traditional sports betting sites, what can be learned from other formats such as poker and daily fantasy games, and whether there is room for multiple large players.
Other sessions throughout the day will address topics such as the role of strategic media partnerships in popularizing prediction markets, the differences between prediction markets and sports betting sites, the merits of peer-to-peer and fixed odds models, and the developments that have transformed prediction markets from a niche product into one of the most talked-about subjects in the world of betting.
Access to the Global Prediction Markets Forum requires a separate ticket , priced at €399. Each ticket holder will also receive a free copy of the “Prediction Market Report 2026” from SBC Insights.
