SBC Summit Malta to explore the trends driving the future of casino

As new technology and shifting player expectations continue to reshape the world of iGaming, SBC Summit Malta will feature sessions dedicated to helping stakeholders confidently navigate the sector’s next phase.

Taking place from 29 to 30 April, the event’s conference programme will offer 6,000 industry stakeholders a focused look at how operators can translate emerging trends and new technologies into practical, competitive casino strategies.

The programme follows a two-part structure. Product Visionaries, on Wednesday, 29 April, will unpack the strategic thinking behind the latest casino developments. Product In Practice, on Thursday, 30 April, will shift to hands-on workshops, allowing delegates to turn those ideas into actionable frameworks.

Sessions will cover key topics such as the rise of crypto casinos, the future of slot and casino content, and how casino operators can rank highly across AI search.

“Casino innovation isn’t just about launching new features, it’s about delivering experiences players actually want to return to,” said Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC. “From content and UX to AI and payments, operators need to be far more deliberate in how they build their products. These sessions are about helping them make smarter decisions, faster.”

The session, ‘Casino vs Sports: Can Gamification Truly Cross Over?’, will examine how gamification is being used across both casino and sports betting, and whether the two verticals can learn from each other.

Experts Alex Tomic (Founder, Alea), Brian Christner (Chief Online Gaming, Grand Casino Baden), Alexis Wicén (CEO, Unibo), Mykhailo Kachanov (CBDO, Slot Catalogue), and Shahar Attias (Founder, Hybrid Interaction) will break down the standout mechanics in each vertical and assess which are most transferable. The panel will also examine whether gamification is genuinely driving player loyalty and engagement, or simply riding the wave of industry hype.

The focus will then shift to how slot design is evolving into a more immersive and socially driven experience on the panel, ‘Casino Product Innovation & Content: The Future of Slots’.

Experts Janick Bonnici (Principal Gaming Content Manager, Betsson Group), Steve Cutler (CEO and Co-founder, KALAMBA), Petr Vonarshenko (Senior Business Development Manager, ELA Games), and Arjan Korstjens (Principal, Casino Marketing Academy) will explore how branded crossovers and release strategies are reshaping player expectations. Discussions will also touch on whether slots can evolve from standalone games into shared entertainment experiences that keep players coming back.

Day two will move from insight to application, with a series of workshops designed to help attendees build and refine their own casino strategies.

‘What Will Casinos Look Like in 2036?’ will open the floor to a forward-looking Ask-Me-Anything discussion on the future of casino.

Led by Arjan Korstjens (Principal, Casino Marketing Academy) and Dan Phillips (CEO, NEL Advisory), the session will explore how player behaviour, product innovation, and operator strategy may shift over the next decade. From AI-driven game development to new mechanics that could disrupt the sector, this audience-led workshop will offer an unfiltered view of where the casino sector could be heading, and how operators can prepare now.

As AI reshapes how players discover brands, the workshop ‘The Future of Casino Search is Vertical’ will provide practical guidance on how operators can increase their visibility and influence within AI-driven search.

Led by Ionut Constantinescu (CEO of Marlin Media), the session will break down how discovery is shifting from rankings to recommendations, and what that means for operators looking to capture attention in a more automated, AI-led environment.

Alongside its casino focus, SBC Summit Malta’s agenda will feature dedicated tracks on marketing, regulation, and product, as well as two workshop rooms.

Workshop rooms will cover topics such as policy & PR, European markets, affiliation, and leadership.

Get your tickets to SBC Summit Malta

Group Pass 3+ (VIP Pass): Available for groups of three or more, this pass grants full access to conference sessions, the expo floor, and networking events at a discounted rate of €400 per person. Single VIP passes are available for €600.