SBC Summit 2025 Concludes as the Largest and Most International Edition Yet

SBC Summit 2025 Concludes as the Largest and Most International Edition Yet

Summary

The SBC Summit 2025 in Lisbon closed as the biggest edition yet, drawing more than 30,000 delegates from 150 countries and delivering 20% year-on-year growth. The event featured over 700 exhibitors and sponsors, 550+ speakers and an expanded footprint of 135,000m² across FIL and the MEO Arena.

The summit increased its international reach with 16 new countries represented and particularly strong audience growth across Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. Senior-level attendance was notable, with more than 5,900 C-level executives present. New Global and Emerging Markets stages, regionally focused networking zones and Tech Academies added fresh value for delegates.

The programme combined industry keynotes and panels with high-profile public faces — Gary Vaynerchuk, Randi Zuckerberg, Oleksandr Usyk and Rubens Barrichello — plus entertainment highlights such as the Legends Charity Game, which raised €600,000 for charity. SBC Summit 2026 will return to Lisbon from 29 September to 1 October 2026.

Key Points

1. Record attendance: 30,000+ delegates from 150 countries; 20% growth year-on-year.
2. Large exhibitor and speaker presence: 700+ exhibitors/sponsors and 550+ speakers across 135,000m².
3. Expanded international footprint: 16 new countries represented; strong growth in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
4. Senior-level engagement: over 5,900 C-level attendees and 600 CEOs at the Leaders Summit.
5. Operator and affiliate growth: operator attendance +31%, affiliate attendance +38%.
6. New content and networking formats: Global & Emerging Markets stages, region-focused zones and Tech Academies on AI, blockchain, gamification and marketing.
7. High-profile keynotes and sport stars boosted visibility and attendee experience.
8. Legends Charity Game combined sport and philanthropy, raising €600,000 and drawing a large crowd.
9. 235 new sponsors/exhibitors broadened the expo offering and product showcases.
10. SBC positions itself as a primary global meeting point for business deals, partnerships and knowledge sharing.

Content Summary

This edition reinforced SBC Summit’s role as the central gathering for the gaming industry by stacking scale, international reach and senior-level access in one event. Delegates cited strong ROI and business opportunities as prime reasons to attend, while operators and affiliates used dedicated tracks and award events to connect and celebrate excellence.

New stages and learning formats (Tech Academies) signalled a sharper focus on practical skills and emerging technologies — notably AI and automation — while the Global and Emerging Markets areas helped attendees target growth regions. The mix of business, learning and entertainment (including celebrity speakers and the charity football match) created a full-spectrum industry event that combined networking, deal-making and brand exposure.

Organisers have already started planning SBC Summit 2026, with dates set for 29 September to 1 October 2026 in Lisbon.

Context and Relevance

For professionals in iGaming, sports betting, payments and adjacent fintechs, SBC Summit is a barometer for industry sentiment, partnerships and product direction. The increased representation from emerging markets and the emphasis on tech academies reflect broader trends: global expansion of operators, affiliate-driven growth, and the urgent need to adopt AI, data and automation in commercial strategies.

Regulators, suppliers and media presence make the summit useful for tracking regulatory conversations and market entry strategies. The large C-suite turnout indicates that strategic decisions and major partnerships are often shaped at this event, making it essential intelligence for competitors and collaborators alike.

Author style

Punchy: This is not just an events write-up — it shows where deals are happening, who the decision-makers are and which markets are heating up. If you work in iGaming or adjacent sectors, the stats and takeaways here are directly relevant to where you should be spending time and budget.

Why should I read this?

Because it sums up the industry’s biggest get-together in one skim: who showed up, what’s growing fastest, and which new features (Tech Academies, market stages, awards) actually moved the needle. Short version — if you’re in the sector and busy, this tells you the bits worth following up on.

Source

Source: https://igamingexpert.com/regions/europe/sbc-summit-2025-concludes/