SBC Summit unveils Global Regulations track
Table of contents
- SBC Summit’s Global Regulations track takes place on 29 September 2026, part of the Regulation & Compliance Stage at the Lisbon event.
- Panel sessions cover Poland, Finland and Canada, alongside Romania, Estonia and World Cup betting scrutiny.
- A new Regulatory Meet-ups initiative partners with IAGR and IMGL, spanning markets from Asia to Portugal.
SBC Summit will host a dedicated Global Regulations track on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, bringing together operators, regulators, policymakers, legal experts and compliance leaders to examine regulatory developments across established and emerging markets.
The track forms part of the Regulation & Compliance Stage, one of six dedicated conference stages at the three-day event, which runs from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at Lisbon’s Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said:
“Every market operates under its own unique set of rules, challenges and opportunities. That’s what makes this industry so fascinating and dynamic, but it also makes navigating the global regulatory landscape increasingly complex.”
He added:
“With delegates joining us from every major gaming jurisdiction, SBC Summit provides a unique platform for meaningful regulatory dialogue. Attendees won’t just hear from experts who understand these markets; they’ll engage with the policymakers, regulators and industry leaders actively shaping their future.”
Reform pressure builds
The session “Can Poland’s Economic Surge Unlock Gambling Reform?” will examine whether economic growth and mounting industry pressure can lead to meaningful regulatory change in Poland.
The panel brings together Justyna Grusza-Głębicka, Director of the Institute for Gambling Regulation Foundation in Poland, and Adam Lamentowicz, Chief Commercial Officer at Superbet.
They are joined by Ed Birkin, Managing Director at H2 Gambling Capital, Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, and Marek Plota, Attorney-at-Law at RM Legal Firm. The group will debate whether concerns over illegal gambling and market restrictions could finally push policymakers toward reform in 2026.
Markets in transition
Attention then shifts to a market already preparing for reform with “Finland’s Waiting: The Start of a New European Market.” The panel features Jaakko Soininen, Managing Director of Finnplay, Antii Koivula, Chief Compliance Officer at Hippos ATG, and Sverker Skogberg, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at PAF.
They are joined by Ivana Pejiic, Head of Compliance at Betsson Europe, and Jari Vahanen, Co-Founder and Partner at Finnish Gambling Consultants. The panel will discuss the early challenges of Finland’s transition to a new licensing regime and how regulators are responding. Interest is already strong, with more than 50 operators applying for a Finnish gambling licence ahead of launch.
Further sessions that day address Romania’s ongoing gambling reform debate and Estonia’s efforts to maintain long-term competitiveness within a mature regulated market. Another panel explores how the 2026 World Cup has heightened regulatory scrutiny of betting markets and sports integrity.
Canada and new meet-ups
Focus then turns to Canada’s fragmented regulatory landscape with “Canada: Province by Province Progress,” exploring how regulatory reviews in Alberta and Ontario could shape the next phase of the country’s gaming sector. Panellists include Jared Beber, Chief Executive Officer of Bet99, and Ohad Narkis, Chief Executive Officer of PlayOJO.
They are joined by Paul Burns, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Gaming Association, and Martin Lycka, Vice President of Institutional Affairs at Oddin. The session lands as Alberta’s iGaming launch approaches, with 28 operators already registered ahead of the province’s planned opening.
For 2026, SBC has also introduced Regulatory Meet-ups, a new networking initiative organised in partnership with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). The meet-ups cover regions including Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eurasia and the Balkans, alongside market-specific sessions on the UK, UAE, Finland, Curaçao, Italy, Greece and Portugal.
Access to the Global Regulations track and other conference sessions is included with Conference, Business and VIP Passes. The Regulatory Meet-ups require a Business or VIP Pass specifically.
The track forms part of a redesigned six-stage conference programme spanning technology, global and emerging markets, the Payment Expert Summit, product innovation, and the Super Stage at MEO Arena. SBC Summit is expected to draw 40,000 industry professionals to Lisbon across the three-day event.
As markets such as Finland and Alberta edge toward launch and others, including Poland and Romania, weigh reform, the Global Regulations track gives operators and compliance teams direct access to the policymakers steering these transitions. For an industry navigating an increasingly fragmented rulebook, these conversations may carry as much weight as the deals struck on the show floor.
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