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Conferences in Europe

New-look SBC Summit Malta Shows Strong International Appeal

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Save the date: The show will return to the island next year, from 28–30 April.

Last week, SBC Summit Malta transformed the InterContinental Hotel into a powerhouse of industry networking, bringing together 6,000 professionals from Malta and across Europe.

This year marked the debut of the event under its new identity, following the rebrand from CasinoBeats Summit. With its expanded focus covering casino, sports betting, regulation, affiliation, payments, and emerging tech, the summit officially opened on Wednesday, 11 June, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Malta’s Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri.

Clinton Cutajar, CTO of digital marketing agency MediaTroopers, praised the rebrand: “The rebranding was a successful one. Everyone I meet mentions it is a great show, with great panels and a great conference.”

In addition to content and attendance, the organisation of the event itself earned high marks. Cristina Turbatu, CTO at Malta-based operator Casumo, noted, “It’s very well organised, it’s very well structured, and for me, it just feels high-end in terms of quality, so I really enjoy it.”

Cutajar added praise for the technology behind the experience: “The SBC Connect app helped a lot to schedule appointments in advance. There was no need to search around or try to coordinate elsewhere. Everything and everyone could be found in one central place.”

Dr. Eyal Loz, CPO of game studio RubyPlay, also commented on the balance between scale and accessibility: “It’s big enough to meet a lot of interesting people and have some really good meetings, and small enough to navigate easily. The organisation, the location, the panels; I’m very happy with it. It has been brilliant.”

This year’s summit also demonstrated depth in commercial firepower with an impressive 37% of attendees holding key decision-making roles. Moreover, there was strong representation from both the operator and affiliate sides, with operators bringing over 2,100 representatives, accounting for 35% of the overall audience, and 750 affiliates focused on player acquisition in the room. Both segments recorded considerable audience growth compared to last year.

Nils Andén, CEO of operator Kindred Group, commented: “I have definitely met the people that I expected to meet here, and also some people that I was surprised to see. SBC delivered on the promise to get the right people.” Rosi Bremec, COO at Game Lounge, added: “I’ve only been in the industry for three years, and I’m always looking for good people and new ideas. Events like this help me meet those people and also expand my knowledge of the industry.”

Reflecting on the milestone edition, SBC CEO & Founder Rasmus Sojmark shared: “While the numbers for this event were strong and we delivered on our promises, the most important takeaway was the undeniable excitement I witnessed while walking the show floor, entering the conference rooms, and attending the dinners and parties. 

“The audience this year was electric, and the warm feedback we have received is the greatest compliment we could ask for as organisers. A massive thank you to each and every individual who made this event, in its new shape and form, a success this year.”

Malta-based leaders were especially vocal about the event’s value for the local ecosystem. Charles Mizzi, CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), underlined the event’s broader significance: “These events help to confirm the importance of the gaming industry to the local economy.”

“I was quite impressed with the setup and the number of participants. If we remain behind our desks and do not participate in events such as this, we wouldn’t have the feel of the industry,” the MGA CEO added.

Andén remarked, “I’m based here in Malta, so this is a good opportunity for me to catch up with people from all across the industry; not only the ones that are based here, but those who travel here too. It’s also good that SBC makes a concerted effort to actually get people who represent the companies that work here in Malta. That is an important kind of differentiation point.”

Jovana Popovic Canaki, CEO of iGP, a Platinum Headline sponsor of the event, said: “One of our offices is here in Malta, and for us it’s home. We walk to the venue. We want to support local events, so the sponsorship was a no-brainer and a great honour.”

Bremec further highlighted the benefit of local hosting: “Everybody is here. The product people are here, the HR people are here. Everybody loves attending these events, so we encourage that.”

Notably, while the event featured strong local representation, with 47% of the audience based in Malta, it also demonstrated its international appeal, with 53% of attendees flying in from abroad. “This shows that the event is not just for locals, but a key opportunity to connect with European, and to some extent, international stakeholders who travel to Malta specifically to attend the event,” Sojmark said.

Beyond the vibrant expo floor, the conference segment was a highlight in its own right. Hosted across three main conference rooms and two dedicated workshop spaces, the agenda featured 17 hands-on workshops and a speaker lineup of 250 experts.

Andén commented, “I really liked the particularly dedicated track on some of the regulation challenges that affect not only me as an operator, but also affect suppliers and everyone else in the industry.” Popovic Canaki added, “Sometimes we speak too loudly and don’t let our ears work. This was a fantastic opportunity to sit down and listen to what the rest of the industry has to say.”

Andre Machado, CCO of Clever Advertising, praised the programming: “The way you are building the conference and the topics are also a mixture of what the audience is looking for. There’s real sensibility in how the programme aligns with broader industry trends.”

Turbatu reinforced the value of the educational content: “Those who didn’t attend would be missing out on high-quality workshops, which I don’t think many other conferences focus on.”

Adding a cultural edge to the event, SBC hosted the Malta debut of its signature EDM experience: the INFINITY party. Held at the island’s iconic Aria Complex and headlined by international star Galantis, the evening delivered a high-energy celebration that brought the entire industry together in style. The Malta edition joins past INFINITY showcases at SBC Summit, SBC Summit Rio, and SBC Summit Americas, which featured major acts such as Afrojack and Steve Aoki.

Apart from INFINITY Malta, SBC treated attendees to multiple evening networking events. The week began with an opening party at Infinity by Hugo’s, a beloved spot for those who had previously attended SBC’s Malta events. The organiser also hosted two invite-only dinners on Wednesday, one for C-level operators at Caviar & Bull and another for affiliates at Sole by Tarragon. On Thursday, the spotlight shifted to SBC Awards Europe, a ceremony that celebrated the achievements of the industry’s brightest companies and individuals. The week concluded with a relaxed closing party at Open Waters.

The overwhelmingly positive response from attendees highlighted not only the strength of the new format but also the growing trust in SBC’s ability to deliver high-quality, high-impact industry events. As Dr. Eyal Loz of RubyPlay summed it up: “I’ve attended almost all the SBC events over the last year, and I’m going to keep on coming back for sure. It’s nice to see the evolution of SBC. The pace at which SBC is improving, becoming more relevant, more engaging, and more dynamic truly blows my mind.”

 

Save the date: The show returns to the island next year, 28–30 April. For exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected]

The post New-look SBC Summit Malta Shows Strong International Appeal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Affiliate Industry

Affiliate Leaders Summit Grows 40% as Global Operators and Affiliates Flock to Lisbon

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1 week ago

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July 23, 2025

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Following a successful run, the Affiliate Leaders Summit will make its return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) this September, now expanded to a three-day format and featuring the debut of the Affiliate Leaders Awards.

Taking place from 16–18 September, the Affiliate Leaders Summit runs alongside SBC Summit as a focused, standalone platform for affiliates, affiliate managers, and enabling suppliers. It also delivers a more targeted networking and learning experience, with a dedicated content stage and curated audience of 8,000 operator representatives and 3,500 affiliates.

Affiliate Leaders Summit delegates will also enjoy full access to wider SBC Summit features, including evening socials, the main expo floor, and Super Stage keynotes from leading voices such as Gary Vaynerchuk.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Last year’s launch of the Affiliate Leaders Summit was a big milestone for us. The response was incredible, but we knew we could do even more. That’s why this year, we’re giving it the time it deserves; three full days to ensure attendees can take in everything this event has to offer.

“We’re also introducing the Affiliate Leaders Awards, which I’m personally very excited about. Affiliates play a vital role in this industry, and it’s time we had a platform that truly celebrates their work alongside the operator programmes and suppliers who help make it all happen.”

A 40% expansion of the 2025 show floor also underscores the event’s rising influence, following 2024’s debut that earned standout NPS ratings—79 from affiliates and 68 from operators. This year’s exhibitor list is stacked with leaders of the field, including Catena Media, Clever Advertising, Evoke, Flashscore, Kaizen Gaming, Medier, Megapari, Novibet, and Shake, offering attendees direct access to key players across the affiliate and operator landscape.

On the conference side of things, the Affiliate Leaders Stage at this year’s summit delivers a powerful three-day journey through the evolution of affiliate marketing,  starting with the martech tools redefining performance and partnerships, moving into audience-focused strategies that tap into community-driven SEO and smarter collaboration, and culminating in a forward-looking exploration of AI, diversification beyond Google, and the future role of affiliate managers.

With debates, CEO insights, hands-on workshops, and panels tackling everything from automation and CRM to content authenticity and deal transparency, this stage arms attendees with the ideas, tools, and strategies needed to thrive in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

The conference sessions will bring together some of the biggest names in affiliate marketing, including Jonathan Edelshaim (CEO, Natural Intelligence), Elaine Gardiner-Ruddock (Managing Director, TAG Media), Peter Gunni (CEO, Traffic Lab), Filip Komljenovic (Head of Sales, Sofascore), Deb Lee (Director of AI & Data Operations, CILA, Entain), Andre Machado (CCO, Clever Advertising), Leanne Muleba (Chief Operations Officer, Matching Visions), and Johan Styren (CEO & Co-founder, Dilanti Media).

Those joining the Affiliate Leaders Summit will benefit not only from the tailored content on the dedicated stage and Super Stage but also from the addition of the Global Markets and Emerging Markets stages. With affiliates and operators among the most curious about cross-border growth, these new stages provide an ideal opportunity to explore regional strategies and understand new audiences.

Affiliate and operator attendees can expect the VIP treatment at the Affiliate Leaders Summit, with complimentary access to the event’s premium evening networking lineup. That includes the high-energy Opening Party with Joel Corry and Imanbek, and the return of INFINITY Lisbon, featuring electrifying performances from Alok and Timmy Trumpet.

Sojmark added: “The Affiliate Leaders Summit is designed to make networking and easier by giving you a dedicated space to connect. But the hospitality doesn’t stop there. You’re part of the full SBC Summit experience. With access to all six stages, complimentary food and drinks at the Food Festival, and the freedom to explore every area of the event, you’re welcome to engage as widely as you like. The Affiliate Leaders Summit simply helps you focus your efforts where they matter most.”

Affiliate or operator? Get your free pass now.

 

Not an operator or affiliate? Here’s how to get a pass:

VIP Event Pass – Enjoy full access to the event, including: all conference sessions, evening networking parties, pre-loaded food festival wristband with €30, and post-event access to all content.

Group VIP Event Pass – Get VIP Event Passes for just €400 each (a saving of €200 per ticket!) when you buy three or more passes (Perfect for bringing the team along!)

Expo+ Pass: Gain access to the full exhibition floor and all conference sessions across the three days. This does not include access to our exclusive VIP evening networking events.

Expo Only Pass: Free to attend, this pass gives you access to the exhibition floor –  perfect for networking and exploring the show without attending the conference sessions.

The post Affiliate Leaders Summit Grows 40% as Global Operators and Affiliates Flock to Lisbon appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Conferences in Europe

2025 Gaming in Germany Conference to address black market data, business developments & more!

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2 weeks ago

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July 16, 2025

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The 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference, set to take place Tuesday, November 11, 2025, will once again be THE place to get the latest information on Germany’s online gambling market.

Speakers & topics

The Gaming in Germany Conference is an annual event for everyone who is professionally involved in Germany’s regulated online gambling industry.

The conference will cover topics such as the latest regulatory developments (including the upcoming review of the 2021 State Gambling Treaty), IP blocking, black market growth, player protection, marketing, compliance, and much more.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Jörg Hofmann, Senior Partner, Melchers Law
  • Senior GGL representative
  • Senior ZEAL representative
  • Mathias Dahms, President, DSWV
  • Dirk Quermann, President, DOCV
  • Christian Heins, Director iGaming, Tipico
  • Birgitte Sand, CEO, Birgitte Sand & Associates
  • Josh Hodgson, COO, H2 Gambling Capital

Willem van Oort, Founder of Gaming in Germany, commented: “Like in many other European markets, calls for stricter regulations have put black-market growth in the spotlight. In Germany in particular, there exists significant controversy about the true market share of offshore operators. We intend to share specific and concrete data at this year’s conference. We are very happy that the German regulator will be present, as well as all the major industry voices. If you are in any way interested in the future of the German iGaming market, this event is not to be missed.”

Business operations & breakout sessions

In addition to high-level regulatory and policy-related information, the 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference also offers profoundly practical information on topics such as KYC, AML, data protection, payment solutions, and much more. Breakout sessions will be hosted by trained experts and are highly interactive.

Get practical information to give your day-to-day operations a boost!

Call for speakers

If you are interested in delivering a presentation or participating in a product or service-themed breakout session, please contact Gaming in Germany founder Willem van Oort for more information regarding opportunities and possibilities.

We are specifically looking for expertise on business topics such as media & marketing, affiliation, compliance, and operations.

Practical information

The 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference takes place Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hilton Ku’damm in Berlin – just 100 meters from the magnificent Kurfürstendamm!

Registration for the event is now open: https://bit.ly/GiGC2025

See you in Berlin!

The post 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference to address black market data, business developments & more! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Conferences in Europe

SBC Summit 2025: Scaling Connections and Industry Dialogue in Lisbon

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2 weeks ago

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July 15, 2025

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From 16–18 September 2025, the global sports betting and iGaming community will converge at the Feira Internacional De Lisboa for SBC Summit 2025 – an industry-defining exhibition and conference designed to bring scale, structure, strategic dialogue and actionable business opportunities to the evolving gaming landscape.

This year’s edition is set to welcome 30,000 delegates and will unfold across an expanded 135,000 square metre venue space. With 700+ exhibitors, 550+ speakers, and a structured layout spanning 5 vertical-specific zones, the event reflects both the complexity and global reach of today’s gaming ecosystem.

An Evolving Format to Match Industry Needs

The layout of SBC Summit 2025 has been carefully designed to reflect the multifaceted nature of the gaming industry. Each of the five dedicated zones will focus on a key vertical, with its own exhibition floor, conference stage, and networking areas. This format aims to enhance relevance for attendees by enabling more focused exploration, conversation, and business development.

In addition to these zones, the event will host two specialist summits:

  • Affiliate Leaders Summit
  • Payment Expert Summit

These dedicated summits allow for deeper interaction among professionals operating in specific areas of the gaming value chain.

A Multi-Stage Conference Agenda

The conference programme will span seven stages, hosting over 550 speakers. Among many highlights will be headline speaker appearances from global superstars – such as marketing & tech pioneer Gary Vaynerchuck, with others to be announced shortly. Sessions are set to address core topics such as:

  • Application and implementation of Web3.0, AI, Blockchain and other booming technologies
  • Player protection and responsible gaming
  • Evolving regulation and compliance in Global & Emerging markets
  • Payment solutions and financial innovation
  • Advances in iGaming and casino tech
  • Affiliate strategies and performance marketing

Session formats will vary – including keynotes, workshops, and roundtable discussions– designed to encourage both knowledge sharing and interactive dialogue.

Beyond the Sessions: Networking and Media Infrastructure

To support both formal and informal engagement, the venue will also feature a dedicated media headquarters and a food festival area – offering relaxed settings for interviews, content creation, and spontaneous networking.

SBC Summit 2025 continues to position itself as a significant touchpoint for industry professionals seeking not only visibility, but also long-term growth opportunities and strategic partnerships.

Evenings of Connection: Networking Events & Infinity Lisbon Closing Party

SBC Summit 2025 isn’t just about the sessions and exhibition floor – it’s about the connections that spark after hours. This year’s lineup of networking events invites delegates to experience Lisbon’s vibrant nightlife through a curated series of parties, dinners, and celebrations hosted at the city’s most iconic venues.

The week kicks off with the SBC Summit Opening Party on Tuesday, 16 September, at Urban Beach – one of Lisbon’s hottest night spots – featuring headline sets by international DJs Joel Corry and Imanbek. It’s the perfect setting to unwind, network, and set the tone for the days ahead.

On Wednesday, 17 September, a trio of exclusive events will unfold across Lisbon:

  • The C-Level & Operator VIP Dinner & Networking Party at SUD Lisboa, offering luxury dining and breathtaking views of the 25 de Abril Bridge from its rooftop terrace
  • The Payment Expert Summit VIP Dinner & Party at Kais Restaurante Bar, designed for professionals in the Emerging Tech and Payments sphere
  • And the Affiliate Leaders Awards 2025 at MEO Arena, celebrating affiliate excellence with a glamorous awards ceremony and gala dinner

The Summit culminates in a spectacular finale: the Infinity Lisbon Closing Party 2025, held on Thursday, 18 September at the iconic MEO Arena. With superstar DJs Alok and Timmy Trumpet headlining, this event promises to be a high-energy, unforgettable close to an impactful week of business and celebration.

From casual mingling to VIP experiences, SBC Summit 2025 ensures that meaningful connections happen at every level – both on and off the show floor.

 

For full details, visit the official event site: sbcevents.com/sbc-summit

The post SBC Summit 2025: Scaling Connections and Industry Dialogue in Lisbon appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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