SBC Summit Malta 2025 concludes with 6,000 attendees and sets April 2026 return

SBC Summit Malta concluded its 2025 edition last week at the InterContinental Hotel, bringing together more than 6,000 gambling industry professionals from across Europe. Organizers confirmed the summit will return to Malta from April 28–30, 2026.

This year’s event introduced the summit under its new identity, following the rebranding from CasinoBeats Summit. The expanded format included coverage of casino, sports betting, regulation, affiliation, payments, and emerging technologies.

The event opened on June 11 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Silvio Schembri, Malta’s Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects.

Industry reception and rebranding

Several participants noted the event's revised scope and presentation. Clinton Cutajar, CTO of MediaTroopers, said the rebranding was well received by attendees. Cristina Turbatu, CTO at Casumo, described the summit as well-organized and high in quality. Cutajar also noted that the SBC Connect app helped centralize meeting coordination.

RubyPlay CPO Dr. Eyal Loz observed that the summit's scale was conducive to efficient networking while remaining manageable in size.

Attendee profile and participation metrics

Organizers reported that 37% of attendees held decision-making roles. Operators were represented by over 2,100 individuals, accounting for 35% of total attendance. Affiliates focused on player acquisition made up 750 attendees. Both groups showed year-on-year increases.

Kindred Group CEO Nils Andén said he was able to meet both expected and unexpected contacts at the event. Game Lounge COO Rosi Bremec said events like this help her discover new talent and ideas.

Conference agenda and workshops

The summit’s educational program was held across three main conference rooms and two workshop areas. A total of 17 workshops were delivered alongside sessions from 250 speakers. Andén pointed to the value of discussions on regulatory challenges, while iGP CEO Jovana Popovic Canaki said the summit offered a platform to hear various perspectives within the sector.

Clever Advertising CCO Andre Machado commented on the alignment of session topics with ongoing industry developments. Turbatu said those who missed the workshops missed content not commonly offered at other conferences.

Malta and international engagement

Of the total audience, 47% were Malta-based, while 53% traveled from outside the country. MGA CEO Charles Mizzi said the summit contributed to economic engagement with the local gaming sector.

Andén, who is based in Malta, said the summit connected both domestic and international stakeholders. Popovic Canaki said the location’s proximity to her Malta office made the sponsorship decision straightforward. Bremec added that holding the event locally allowed for broader team participation.

Evening functions and networking events

SBC organized multiple networking functions throughout the week. The INFINITY party, held at the Aria Complex and headlined by Galantis, served as a major social event.

The summit opened with a party at Infinity by Hugo’s, followed by two invite-only dinners on Wednesday: one for C-level operators at Caviar & Bull and another for affiliates at Sole by Tarragon. The SBC Awards Europe took place on Thursday. The week closed with a final networking event at Open Waters.

SBC CEO and Founder Rasmus Sojmark said the level of participation and the engagement on the show floor exceeded expectations. He noted that both local and international attendance demonstrated sustained industry interest in the Malta edition of the summit.