Eurasia and Middle East put in spotlight at SBC Summit 2025

Untapped demand, shifting regulations, and fast-growing player bases are drawing iGaming’s attention to Eurasia and the Middle East, themes set to be explored at the Emerging Markets Stage at SBC Summit 2025 in Lisbon.

The Emerging Markets: Eurasia & the Middle East track, scheduled for September 17, will feature five sessions on market entry, regulation, and long-term growth strategies. Focus markets include Georgia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and the UAE, alongside the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Balkans, and the wider Middle East.

“Eurasia and the Middle East are a core focus for SBC Summit 2025. The opportunities here are real, but so are the challenges. Long-term success means understanding the local landscape and building genuine relationships on the ground,” said Rasmus Sojmark, Founder & CEO of SBC. 

“With this track, we want delegates to hear directly from the people who know these markets best, and to walk away with strategies they can put to work straight away,” he said.

The programme opens with the Eurasia Leaders Panel: Expansion or Contraction – Which Way Will the Bridge Between Continents Swing?, with Irakli Asanishvili (Flutter International), Adam Lamentowicz (Superbet Group), Max Potomkin (Parimatch), and Simon Westbury (1XBET) debating whether political and regulatory pressures could slow expansion in Georgia and Uzbekistan.

Another session, Georgia & Armenia Lead the Way, will examine how operators are adapting to tax and regulatory changes while leveraging digital infrastructure and talent. Speakers include Nika Gigashvili (SMH Global), Giorgi Gvenetadze (Flutter CEE), Vahagn Tangamyan (Totogaming) and Gega Topuridze (Betlive).

The track will also highlight the growth of crypto-based gaming in Cryptocasinos & Emerging Markets – The Boom Continues, with Tiago Almeida (Oddsgate), Andrew Gellatly (Alderney Gambling Control Commission), Stefan Kovach (RARER THINGS), Melissa E. Lamb (Payhound) and Tom Waterhouse (Waterhouse VC) discussing compliance and responsible practices.

Cross-border growth in the Balkans and brand-building across multiple jurisdictions will be explored in Crossing Borders: Cross-Selling in Balkan Markets, featuring Dan Alexandru Ghiță (Rombet), Ivan Gojic (Entain CEE), Rossi McKee (CT Gaming), Alexander Popov (National Revenue Agency Bulgaria), Marinos Shiapanis (Campeon Gaming), and Artem Skrypnyk (Favbet Tech).

The day will close with Inside the UAE’s Ambitious Vision, where Garret Greene (SBC), Christina Hu (Momentum), Kevin Mullally (GCGRA), David Patent (Wynn Al Marjan Island), and Lauralyn Sandoval (Aristocrat) will discuss how the UAE could shape a regulated and responsible market that may influence neighbouring jurisdictions.

The Eurasia and Middle East programme forms part of SBC Summit’s Emerging Markets Stage, which also features sessions on Africa (Sept. 16) and Asia (Sept. 18).

Secure your tickets here.