Payments and tech to take center stage at SBC Summit 2025

SBC Summit 2025 is placing payments and technology firmly in the spotlight this September in Lisbon, recognising their critical role in driving the iGaming industry forward.

With more than 30,000 delegates expected at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL), the event is set to showcase cutting-edge solutions, spark discussions on the future of digital transactions, and foster collaboration across the global gaming ecosystem.

The Payment Expert Summit

Payments are the lifeblood of any successful iGaming business, and SBC Summit 2025 will give them the attention they deserve through the dedicated Payment Expert Summit. The exhibition will unite operators, fintech companies, compliance specialists, and investors to explore innovations that enable seamless transactions and maximise conversions.

Major brands such as Ayden, Rapyd, Payfuture, Inpay, and payabl. will be on the show floor, alongside other key payment providers. Attendees will also benefit from a series of forward-looking panels addressing the sector’s most pressing questions.

Topics include:

• Payments 2030, exploring how AI, blockchain, biometrics, and instant payments will reshape the next five years.
• Open Banking and Decentralisation, assessing whether the industry is ready for frictionless, borderless financial ecosystems.
• Payment Innovation in Emerging Markets, highlighting how infrastructure growth is transforming user experience across high-potential regions.
• Crypto Capitals, unpacking the challenges and opportunities of a pivotal year for alternative currencies.

To complement the knowledge sharing, dedicated networking hubs such as the Yaspa Payments Networking Lounge, the Kushki Payments Bar & Lounge, and the Pay4Fun Networking Lounge will provide settings for forging partnerships and extending conversations beyond the stage.

SBC Summit 2025 is expected to draw thousands of global stakeholders to Lisbon

A new technology stage

Debuting this year, the Technology Stage will spotlight how breakthrough innovation is reshaping the iGaming industry. Over three days, experts will tackle the most urgent questions surrounding digital transformation:

• Day One – Payments: AI and blockchain in transactions, decentralised finance, and seamless user experiences.
• Day Two – Technology: The role of AI in personalised betting tools, the potential for subscription models, and how UX and UI design can fuel retention.
• Day Three – Compliance: Advanced KYC tools, AI-driven fraud detection, and crypto’s impact on regulatory frameworks.

Gary Vaynerchuk headlines new marketing academy

Another major debut at SBC Summit 2025 is the Marketing Academy, led by marketing visionary Gary Vaynerchuk. As part of the broader Tech Academy programme, this initiative will deliver hands-on, interactive learning across four tracks – AI, Marketing, Web 3.0 & Blockchain, and a soon-to-be-revealed academy.

Vaynerchuk will launch the Marketing Academy with an exclusive AMA session on September 17 at Lisbon’s MEO Arena, offering delegates direct insight into the strategies shaping global digital marketing today.

Spotlight on startups: SBC First Pitch

Innovation also takes the stage with SBC First Pitch, the premier startup competition in betting and gaming. Five emerging companies will present their ideas before an expert panel of investors and industry leaders, competing for a prize package valued at over €90,000.

Presented by Soft2Bet Invest, the contest offers startups a springboard into the sector, with judges including Lloyd Danzig (Sharp Alpha), Andrew Reader (Velo Capital Partners), and Dee Maher (La Royale Group).