SBC Summit’s Western Europe track will bring operators, regulators and market specialists together to assess the forces reshaping Europe’s mature gambling markets, from tax increases and tighter player-protection controls to retention pressures and the growth of unlicensed competition.
Taking place on Wednesday, 30 September, at the Global & Emerging Markets Stage, the programme will examine developments in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Scandinavia and Portugal, alongside the rise of prediction markets and technology’s evolving role in protecting revenue and sustaining player value.
“Western Europe contains some of the industry’s most established regulated markets, but being mature is not the same as being stable,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC. “Operators are facing a more complicated landscape, shaped by higher taxes, evolving compliance requirements and intensifying competition for players.”
“The Western Europe track will give delegates the opportunity to compare the realities facing different markets and assess practical responses. It will explore what is working, where regulation may be creating unintended effects and how the sector can pursue sustainable growth while maintaining high consumer-protection standards.”
The track will open with “The Impact of Tech on Operator Revenues and Player Retention in Europe”, featuring Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet; Paddy Desmond, Group Chief Operating Officer at Tote; Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale; Elena Rousseva, CEO of Managed Services at Playtech; and Marinos Shiapanis, CEO at Campeon Gaming.
The panelists will consider where technology is delivering stronger retention and player value, and where investment risks increasing complexity without producing a measurable return.
Netherlands
Regulation, affordability measures and channelisation will be central to several market-specific sessions. “The Dutch Dilemma: Deposit Caps, Ad Bans and the Black-Market Boom” will bring together Cristiano Blanco, CEO of Spincore Group; Björn Fuchs, Chairman of VNLOK; Eric Olders, Chairman and CEO of JOI Gaming / JVH Gaming; and Frank Op de Woerd, CEO of CasinoNieuws.nl, to discuss the effects of deposit limits, advertising restrictions and rising costs on the Dutch licensed market.
Scandinavia
In “Scandinavia: High Tax, High Standards, High Stakes”, Fredrik Wastenson of LeoVegas, Pascal Chaffard of FDJ United, Anders Dorph of the Danish Gambling Authority, Jesper Eliasson of PAF and Gustaf Hoffstedt of BOS will assess how tax rates, bonus rules, payment controls and compliance obligations are affecting strategy across Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
United Kingdom
The UK market will be addressed in “The UK Squeeze: Can the Regulated Market Keep Winning?”, where Andy Wright, Managing Director for UK and Ireland at LeoVegas Group, and Josh Hodgson, COO at H2 Gambling Capital, will consider how financial risk assessments, taxation, affordability checks and advertising restrictions are redefining the balance between protection and commercial sustainability.
Italy
Italy’s changing regulatory framework will be the focus of “Beyond the Reform: The New Italian Gaming Landscape”. Davide Diodato of HBG Online (NOVOMATIC), Fabio Bufalini of Stake Italy, Marco Castaldo of Microgame, Marco Tiso of Sisal and Quirino Mancini of WH Partners Italy, joined by moderator Mauro De Fabritiis of MDF Partners, will discuss how reforms and forthcoming land-based tenders could influence market access, competitive conditions and operator planning.
Portugal
Meanwhile, “Portugal’s Gambling Evolution: Growth, Pressure and New Opportunities” will examine the potential for further market development as online revenue grows amid increasing compliance and player-protection demands.
Prediction Markets
The agenda will also explore emerging opportunities. “Prediction Markets: The Future’s Not Near, It’s Here” will consider lessons European stakeholders can draw from the rapid expansion of prediction markets in the United States.
The sessions will connect delegates with regulators, operators, lawyers and market experts to discuss jurisdiction-specific challenges and build relationships across the regulatory ecosystem.
SBC Summit will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at Feira Internacional de Lisboa and the MEO Arena, bringing together more than 40,000 industry professionals for three days of conference content, exhibition and networking.
