SBC Summit will provide delegates with strategies to identify and effectively capitalise on opportunities in some of the gaming industry’s fastest-growing regions — including Africa, Eastern Europe, Eurasia and the Far East — through its dedicated Emerging Markets track.
The track’s sessions will take place on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa. It will bring together operators, regulators and regional experts to discuss market entry strategies, player behaviour, regulatory developments and commercial factors shaping growth across these promising regions.
The track will open the Global & Emerging Markets Stage — one of six dedicated conference stages at SBC Summit, alongside Regulation & Compliance, Technology, Payment Expert Summit, Product Innovation Showcase and the Super Stage, which will take place at the MEO Arena in Lisbon.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: “In today’s gaming landscape, spotting growth opportunities is only part of the challenge. The real question is where to focus your time, investment and resources.
“That’s what makes this track so valuable. It goes beyond naming which markets to enter by bringing together the people actually operating in them, people who understand what it takes to navigate local regulation, build a sustainable business and succeed long term. That’s priceless guidance for anyone looking to enter.”
The track programme will begin with two sessions dedicated to Africa, focusing on the continent’s key growth drivers and the regulatory developments shaping the evolution of the gaming business in the region.
The opening panel — “The Africa Advantage: High Growth, Fast Regulation, Huge Potential” — will examine the main factors driving the development of gaming markets across Africa. The discussion will feature Christopher Coyne (CEO, 888Africa), Jason Gibson (Chief Commercial Officer, SportPesa), Aggrey Sayi (CEO, Maybets), William Scott (Chairman of the Board, Meridian Bet) and Ronnie Whelan (CEO, Kingmakers).
Experts will discuss player behaviour across different countries, the most promising markets in terms of growth potential, and the role of regulation in shifting activity from the unregulated sector towards the licensed industry.
The following session — “Africa’s New Rulebook: How Regulators Are Shaping a 45-Market Boom” — will focus on the transformation of Africa’s regulatory landscape.
Panelists will analyse how African jurisdictions are approaching licensing, taxation, anti-money laundering measures, data protection and player safety, while also exploring which regulatory models can provide the foundation for further growth of the regulated market.
Following the Africa-focused sessions, the programme will shift its attention to Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus — regions characterised by different development trajectories and unique market conditions.
The panel “CEE in Transition: From Established Giants to Emerging Opportunities” will examine how rising tax burdens, tighter regulation and increased competition are reshaping established markets across the region. Participants will also discuss emerging growth opportunities and new prospects for operators in Central and Eastern Europe.
The discussion will feature Ionut-Valeriu Andrei (CEO, Loteria Română), Mikolaj Cymerman (Chief Commercial Officer, Entain CEE), Giorgi Gvenetadze (Chief Operating Officer, Flutter CEE) and Gega Topuridze (Deputy CEO, betlive).
Experts will analyse the strategies operators are adopting to adapt to changing market conditions across the region.
The next stage of the programme will focus on Eurasia with the session “From Kazakhstan to Georgia: Who’s Opening Up and Who’s Shutting Down in Eurasia?”
The discussion will explore how countries across Central Asia and the Caucasus are developing their own approaches to gaming regulation. Key topics will include the evolution of compliance frameworks, the expansion of licensing opportunities and the identification of markets offering the most sustainable potential for long-term growth.
The final session of the track, “The Far East: Opportunity Rising, Tolerance Shrinking”, will examine the evolution of regulatory frameworks and enforcement practices across the markets of the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan and Macau. The discussion will feature Dominique Laconico (President and CEO, MegaBet+ & Scorebet), Keith McDonnell (Director, KMI Group) and Japneet Singh (Japs) Sethi (Chief Growth Officer, South Asia, iGaming NDA).
The panel will explore the impact of regulatory reforms on access to licensed markets, the tightening of restrictions in certain jurisdictions, and the measures being taken by regulators and licensed operators to address offshore activity.
Beyond the main conference programme, delegates will be able to continue regional discussions through SBC Summit’s Regulatory Gaming Meetups. The programme will include dedicated sessions focused on Africa, Asia, the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the Emirates and Eurasia. The format will allow delegates to engage directly with regulators, legal experts and key market stakeholders, discuss market entry strategies and compliance challenges, and build relationships with industry leaders shaping the future of each jurisdiction.
Access to the Regulatory Gaming Meetups will be available to holders of VIP, Business and Networking Passes.
SBC Summit will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa exhibition centre and the MEO Arena. The event will bring together 40,000 gaming industry professionals for three days of conference sessions, exhibition activities and extensive networking opportunities.
Access to SBC Summit’s conference is included with Conference, Business, and VIP Passes.
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