The main exhibition halls of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) have officially opened for Day 1 of SBC Summit Canada 2026.
Following yesterday’s successful pre-registration and opening networking drinks, today initiates the core educational block of the conference. The exhibition floor is buzzing with international operators, affiliates, and providers, paving the way for an entire day packed with high-energy panel tracks, executive networking, and commercial matchmaking.
While the agenda of Day 1 SBC Summit Canada 2026 features a comprehensive lineup of discussions spanning multi-vertical operations, three highly anticipated sessions stand out as the absolute panels to watch for stakeholders navigating the evolving Canadian landscape today.
5:30 PM – 6:15 PM | Alberta: The New Sheriff in Town
Track: Leaders in Sports Betting — Conference Room 1
With Alberta rapidly moving toward the official launch of its highly anticipated open, competitive iGaming framework this July, this panel arrives at a critical tipping point. While recent legislative changes have established the baseline framework, massive operational variables remain unresolved.
Leaders will cross-examine crucial details surrounding local advertising limitations, inducement and bonus restrictions, specific tax structures, and data localization policies that will impact cross-border networks. Crucially, the discussion will focus on how current grey-market brands can successfully reposition themselves to transition into the regulated space.
- Moderator: Mondiu Jaiyesimi (Partner, AML Regulatory Compliance and Forensics, MNP)
- Speakers:
- Jennifer Aguiar (Chief Compliance Officer, DraftKings Inc.)
- Ron Segev (Founding Partner, Segev LLP)
- Harrison Barrett (VP, Business Development, Soft2Bet)
- Tom Burdakin (VP of Marketing, FanDuel)
- Andrew Moreno (Assistant Vice President of Business Development and Government Affairs, bet365)
8:15 PM – 9:00 PM | World Cup, Endless Possibilities
Track: Leaders in Sports Betting — Conference Room 1
The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup provides Canadian gaming operators with an unprecedented, high-velocity acquisition window. With official matches hosted live in Toronto and Vancouver, the tournament will trigger a massive surge in active user registration and cross-platform brand engagement. However, the real operational challenge lies in mitigating post-tournament churn.
This panel will analyze data-driven retention strategies designed to smoothly transition casual tournament fans into consistent, long-term bettors by linking World Cup audiences to domestic sports frameworks like the CPL, CFL, NHL, and fast-growing esports leagues.
- Moderator: Tom Nightingale (Editor, Canadian Gaming Business)
- Speakers:
- Jeff Laniado (Director of Sales, Optimove)
- Greg Sindall (Sr Director Digital Sports Product – iSports Product, OLG)
- Tim Whitehead (Director, Sportsbook Operations, DraftKings)
- Andrew Cochrane (Chief Commercial Officer, Soft2Bet)
- Yohan Mathew (Director of Marketing, BetMGM)
9:00 PM – 9:45 PM | IMGL Masterclass: Grey Market Gambling in Canada
Track: Cybersecurity in Gaming — Conference Room 3
Despite aggressive re-regulation pushes by individual provincial authorities, grey-market online and retail gaming systems remain a dominant financial reality across Canada. This elite International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) session will strip away corporate rhetoric to evaluate the actual legal parameters of the market.
Experts will dissect whether the “grey market” concept is a legitimate legal boundary or a convenient political construct, assessing ongoing enforcement priorities and building actionable frameworks that provincial governments can implement to drive true channelization into onshore, licensed channels.
- Moderator: Ron Segev (Founding Partner, Segev LLP)
- Speakers:
- Michael Lipton (Senior Partner, Dickinson Wright LLP)
- Peter Czegledy (Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP)
- Jack Tadman (Lawyer, GME Law)
