Player Protection Symposium to examine safer gambling, regulation and technology at SBC Summit 2026

SBC Summit 2026 is set to host the Player Protection Symposium, a space dedicated to examining the tools, policies, and partnerships needed to strengthen player protection efforts. 

The upcoming SBC Summit is scheduled to take place from September 29 to October 1 at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & MEO Arena, where organizers expect 40,000 industry professionals for three days of networking, exhibition, and education.

As part of the event, the Player Protection Symposium will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 30, bringing together regulators, operators, responsible gambling specialists, and technology providers to assess how gambling businesses can identify signs of harm earlier and improve intervention practices.

The program will examine player protection through discussions on regulatory objectives and the black market, operator responsibilities in safeguarding players, and the use of technology to identify and support at-risk customers. The agenda is framed around a shift from compliance-led approaches toward more preventative and player-centered practices.

“Gambling harm prevention is a challenge shared by every regulated market,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC. “While different jurisdictions may take different approaches, the goal remains the same: protecting consumers and creating safer gambling environments.”

“SBC Summit provides a platform to bring those perspectives together, share lessons from around the world, and help delegates understand what effective player protection looks like in practice. Ultimately, sustainable growth is only possible when player protection sits at the heart of the market.“

The session Regulations are getting stronger: What it means for the black market will address whether tougher rules support legal gambling markets or push consumers toward unregulated alternatives. The panel will feature Pierre Tournier, Senior Director at EGBA; Ivan Kurochkin, Partner at 4H Agency; Carmelo Mazza, CEO of Betaland; Katie Reynolds-Jones, CEO of Gamstop; and Eric Sjöden, Head of Mission, European and International Affairs at ANJ.

The role of technology will be examined in Innovation in Tech: How Can Technology Keep Players Safe from Harm?, which will focus on how AI and data analytics are being used to detect risk earlier and support more effective player interventions. Speakers will include Scott Burrows, Head of Technical Compliance at Superbet; Rupert Ecker, CEO of Grand Casino Kursaal Bern AG; Paula Murphy, Head of Commercial at Mindway AI; and Larrie York, CEO of CallsU.

Also in the program is The Ethical Tension in Gaming Advertisements, a session focused on the challenge of promoting gambling responsibly while preserving its entertainment appeal. Floris Assies, Founder of Better World Casino; Nicolas Fleiderman, General Manager of Holland Casino Online; Jesper Kärrbrink, Group CEO of Immense Group; Peter Marcus, CEO of Savvy Hill Marketing; and Rian Overy, Responsible Gaming Officer at Allwyn, will discuss industry advertising strategies and the boundary between engagement and consumer protection.

A separate panel, Whose Shoulders Does Responsible Gaming Fall On?, will consider how responsibility should be divided among operators, regulators, and players. Matt Burgiss, Head of External Affairs at Gamstop; Christopher Dalli, CEO of L&L Europe; Savvas Iliopoulos, Responsible Gaming Expert at Allwyn; Adam Warrington, Vice President, Responsible Gambling at Underdog; and Peter Wilson, Founder of Peter Wilson Legal, will also discuss how industry professionals can assess at-risk players and determine appropriate protective action.

Regulatory issues connected to the symposium will also be addressed through Regulatory Meet-ups, a new 2026 networking initiative organized in partnership with the International Association of Gaming Regulators and the International Masters of Gaming Law.

The meetings will cover developments in Asia, Africa, LATAM, Eurasia, and the Balkans, with separate market-focused discussions on the UK, UAE, Finland, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. Attendees will be able to engage with legal experts, regulators, and industry stakeholders on market-specific challenges and opportunities.

Ticket categories listed for SBC Summit include a Conference Pass at €599, covering access to the exhibition floor and conference stages; a Business Pass at €799, covering the show floor, conference sessions, and SBC Summit’s structured networking program; and a VIP Pass at €999, covering the show floor, conference, networking elements, food from the summit’s food festival, and access to evening networking events.