SBC Summit 2026 officially gets underway today, Tuesday, September 29, with day 1 transforming the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena into the global epicenter of the betting and gaming industry.
Bringing together a record-breaking 40,000 attendees, 800 exhibitors and sponsors, and over 600 speakers across 135,000 $m^2$ of event space, today’s opening program launches an action-packed three-day schedule of high-profile panels, technological innovation, and premier networking.
Michael Jordan Headlines Monumental Super Stage Opening
The undisputed centerpiece of today’s agenda is the marquee Leadership in Sports Business keynote panel on the Super Stage at the MEO Arena.
- Event Title: Leadership in Sports Business Keynote Panel
- Time: Doors open from 10:45 to 11:45, with the full session running from 10:45 to 13:50.
- Location: Super Stage, MEO Arena.
- Featured Speakers:
- Michael Jordan – Basketball icon, investor, and philanthropist
- Carsten Koerl – Founder and CEO of Sportradar
- Jason Robins – Co-Founder and CEO of DraftKings
- Host: Formally hosted by broadcaster and journalist Kirsty Gallacher.
The highly anticipated three-way fireside chat explores the profound evolution of sports, technology, media, data, and fan engagement through the perspectives of three monumental figures who have shaped the modern sports ecosystem.
Following this session, the Super Stage hosts the landmark Super CEO Panel: The Industry Speaks from 13:00 to 13:50. Moderated by Altenar COO and Co-Founder Dinos Stranomitis, the panel brings together industry titans to debate pressing questions regarding artificial intelligence, public health crossovers, and regulatory constraints on innovation. The speaker lineup features:
- Jesper Svensson – CEO, Betsson Group
- Kresimir Spajic – CEO, Allwyn Digital
- Albert Simsensohn – Deputy CEO, Super Technologies
- Dieter John – Group CEO, FEG
- Tom Bowry – Chief Strategy Officer, Flutter International
Additionally, today’s schedule features the Welcome Plenary Session: Accelerating AI Adoption, scheduled from 13:15 to 13:45. This session explores what separates operators delivering real AI value from those stuck in pilot mode, covering production-grade AI, emerging agentic and multimodal systems, and practical enterprise deployment. The panel features:
- Kanda Kumar – Director of Artificial Intelligence, Evoke
- Stephen Denver – GTM, OpenAI
- Damla Akpinar – Senior Solutions Architect, Games, Betting & Gaming, AWS
- Lindsay Ratcliffe – Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer, CreateFuture
A Packed Day of Innovation, Networking, and Tech Academies
Beyond the Super Stage, today’s comprehensive schedule offers specialized programming tailored to every vertical:
- Exhibition & Zones: Operating from 10:00 to 18:00 across the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & MEO Arena, delegates are exploring specialized zones including the iGaming & Casino Zone, Payment Expert Summit, Player Protection Zone, and the Startup Hub.
- Hands-On Tech Academies: Running this afternoon from 13:30 to 17:30 in the Sala Tejo at the MEO Arena, delegates are diving into immersive sessions such as the AI Academy by CreateFuture & Betconstruct and the Player Experience Academy by Soft2Bet.
- Regulatory Meetups: Throughout the day, the Regulatory Gaming Meetup Lounge hosts targeted regional discussions spanning Italian, Benelux, Balkans, CEE, and Eurasian markets. This includes the LATAM & Brazil Regulatory Gaming Cocktail Hour from 16:30 to 18:00, sponsored by Lotus iGaming Group, providing an exclusive networking space to discuss tax increases in Andean nations, advertising reform in Chile, and regulated gaming enforcement with key regional leaders including Karen Marcela Sierra-Hughes (GLI), Javier Milian (Loteria Nacional de Beneficencia del Salvador), Ida Lopez (ALEA), Ventura Vega (Junta de Control de Juegos, Panamá), Ezequiel Dominguez (LOTBA), and Juan Carlos (Puerto Rico Gaming Commission).
Concluding with the SBC Summit Opening Party
As exhibition doors close at 18:00, attendees will transition to evening networking and entertainment. Day One concludes tonight with the exclusive SBC Summit Opening Party sponsored by 1xBet at Pavilhão Carlos Lopes from 20:00 to 02:00. Headlined by chart-topping band The Script, performing anthems like “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” and “Hall of Fame”, the 3,000-capacity celebration provides a high-energy close to the opening day in Lisbon.
