SBC Summit 2025 will sharpen its focus on one of the world’s most tightly regulated and commercially significant regions with the launch of the Global Markets – Western Europe track.
Taking place on Wednesday, 17 September at Lisbon’s Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL), the track will deliver strategic insights into how major operators are navigating escalating compliance demands, shifting player expectations, and intensifying global competition.
As part of the summit’s broader Global Markets programme, the Western Europe track will equip delegates with actionable strategies for thriving in regulation-heavy markets like Italy, the Nordics, the Netherlands, and Portugal. From revised licensing frameworks to new consumer protection mandates, the sessions will unpack the real-world challenges and opportunities facing operators on the ground. Whether expanding regionally or maintaining position in legacy markets, attendees will gain critical tools to drive innovation, compliance, and player retention in a changing European landscape.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Western Europe has long set the standard for gambling regulation, but the landscape continues to evolve. Today’s leading operators must build strong relationships with regulators, drive responsible innovation, and retain customers in an increasingly complex global environment. This track provides the practical insight and expert guidance delegates need to succeed in Western Europe.”
The track will open with the European Leaders Panel: Old World, New Way Forward – How the Most Established Brands Are Rethinking Regulation and Retention, bringing together some of the industry’s most prominent voices to discuss how operators can navigate tightening regulations, foster player loyalty, and remain competitive. Pascal Chaffard (CFO & Strategy Officer, FDJ), Axel Hefer (CEO, Tipico), Vlad Kaltenieks (CEO, BoyleSports), Mattias Wedar (CEO, LeoVegas), and moderator Martin Collins (Chief Business Development Officer, Soft2bet) will share their strategies for maintaining compliance while continuing to innovate, engage players, and thrive in Western Europe’s highly regulated markets.
Conversation will then turn to Italy’s post-licensing landscape in Italy’s New Online Gambling Regime: A Game-Changer for the Industry. The session will explore how stricter regulations, higher licensing fees, and enhanced player protection measures are reshaping the market. Industry leaders Fabio A. Bufalini (Country Director Italy, Stake), Marco Castaldo (CEO, Microgame), Will Shuckburgh (CEO, eCogra), Nicola Tani (Chief Editor, Agipro), Stefano Tino (Managing Director Italy, Betsson), and Marco Tiso (Managing Director, Sisal), will examine whether this transition has the potential to strengthen market sustainability or create unforeseen roadblocks, as they offer delegates practical strategies for navigating Italy’s new framework.
The session Portugal: Smooth Sailing or Danger Ahead? will bring together Tiago Bessa (Partner, Vieira de Almeida), Tomas Goncalves (Managing Director, Apostas Sociais (Santa Casa)), Americo Loureiro (Director, Solverde), Rui Magalhães (CEO, Estoril Sol Digital), Bernardo Neves (Secretary General, APAJO), and Tiago Pereira (Head of Portugal, LeBull.pt) to examine the current state of Portugal’s sports betting and iGaming market. With iCasino activity growing while sports betting declines, the panel will consider whether this could signal tighter regulation.
Other sessions featured in the track include Over the Finnish Line: Regulation in the Nordics, which will analyse Finland’s upcoming move to open its market to private operators, and Dutch Courage: Collaboration in the Changing Face of Regulations, which will look at Dutch proposals to raise the age threshold for online slots and introduce stricter deposit limits.
The Global Markets – Western Europe track forms part of SBC Summit 2025’s Global Markets series. Other markets explored across 16–18 September include Global Markets – Latin America and Brazil, and Global Markets – North America, each offering delegates region-specific insights to support international growth and strategic market entry.
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