SBC Summit Americas kicks off today in Fort Lauderdale, uniting industry leaders from across the Americas

SBC Summit Americas officially begins today in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, welcoming thousands of gaming industry professionals from across the Americas for two days of conferences, exhibitions, and networking opportunities focused on some of the sector's most pressing challenges and promising opportunities.

Taking place on June 10 and 11 at the Broward County Convention Center, the summit has positioned itself as the only major event designed to unite stakeholders from North, Central, and South America under one roof. Organizers expect attendance to surpass 10,000 delegates, including operators, affiliates, suppliers, regulators, investors, and service providers representing markets throughout the hemisphere.

The event emerged following the merger of SBC Summit North America and SBC Summit Latinoamérica, creating a single platform that reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of the gaming industry across the Americas. The format allows participants to examine regulatory developments, technological innovations, and commercial strategies across multiple jurisdictions without the need to attend separate regional conferences.

With Brazil's regulated market entering a new phase, established jurisdictions such as Colombia and Peru continuing to evolve, and North American markets facing their own regulatory and competitive pressures, this year's summit arrives at a pivotal moment for the industry.

Regulatory developments take center stage

As has been the case across much of the industry's recent event calendar, regulation is expected to dominate many of the conversations taking place in Fort Lauderdale.

Conference sessions will explore the evolving frameworks shaping gaming markets throughout Latin America, including Brazil. Industry leaders and regulators are expected to discuss lessons learned from the country's first year under regulation, alongside broader conversations about compliance requirements and sustainable market growth.

Other panels will examine developments in Colombia, Mexico, and additional emerging markets across the region, while North American discussions will focus on state-level regulatory trends, responsible gambling initiatives, and new gaming formats entering the market.

The summit will also dedicate significant attention to sectors generating increasing debate within the industry, including prediction markets and sweepstakes models. Dedicated sessions will allow stakeholders to examine both the regulatory complexities associated with these rapidly evolving segments.

Seven conference stages

SBC Summit Americas will feature a conference program spanning seven dedicated stages, covering areas including leadership, sports betting and casino operations, payments and technology, affiliation and marketing, player protection, regulatory compliance, and prediction markets.

More than 250 speakers are scheduled to participate throughout the two-day event, representing some of the industry's leading operators, suppliers, technology providers, and regulatory bodies.

Among the featured speakers are Stephanie De Flora, Chief Marketing Officer at bet365; Ian Botts, Chief Technology Officer at Fanatics Betting & Gaming; Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto, Senior Vice President and General Manager of DraftKings Predictions; and former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy.

Sessions will address topics ranging from the future of player acquisition and retention strategies to advances in payment technologies and artificial intelligence applications within gaming operations.

Organizers have emphasized that this year's agenda was designed not only to address today's challenges but also to prepare businesses for future developments that could reshape the sector.

Areas expected to receive particular attention include emerging payment methods, the role of AI in personalization and risk management, technological innovation in responsible gambling, and strategies for navigating increasingly fragmented regulatory environments.

The exhibition floor showcases industry innovation

Beyond the conference sessions, the exhibition floor remains one of the summit's main attractions.

Leading exhibitors are expected to participate, offering attendees opportunities to explore new products, technologies, and services designed to support operators and affiliates across the Americas.

Major operators, including BetMGM, Hard Rock Digital, as well as suppliers such as Kambi, OpenBet, Optimove, Soft2Bet, and Digitain, are among the companies showcasing their latest offerings.

The exhibition provides suppliers with direct access to decision-makers from across multiple jurisdictions, while operators can evaluate solutions ranging from gaming content and platform technologies to payment systems, compliance services, cybersecurity tools, and customer engagement technologies.

For companies looking to expand into new markets, the event also serves as a valuable opportunity to understand how solutions are being adapted to address local player preferences, regulatory requirements, and operational challenges.

Networking takes on a new approach

One of the major additions to this year's summit is SBC Connections, a networking initiative aimed at helping attendees establish more meaningful business relationships.

According to organizers, the program was developed in response to feedback suggesting that large industry events often provide numerous networking opportunities but can make it difficult for delegates to identify the most relevant contacts.

"The industry doesn't necessarily need more networking opportunities; it needs better ones," said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and founder of SBC, ahead of the event.

"SBC Connections was created to help attendees spend less time searching for the right people and more time having the conversations that can genuinely move their business forward."

The initiative includes pre-arranged meetings facilitated through the SBC Connect app, speed-networking sessions focused on specific business segments, speaker-led discussion groups, roundtable conversations, and guided exhibition tours.

The program aims to improve efficiency for delegates navigating a busy conference schedule while increasing opportunities for strategic partnerships and commercial discussions.

Industry recognition and networking beyond the show floor

The summit experience extends beyond conference halls and exhibition booths.

Delegates will have access to a variety of networking events throughout the week, including informal meetups, evening receptions, and larger social gatherings designed to facilitate relationship-building in more relaxed environments.

The schedule includes the INFINITY Florida Party at DAER Nightclub & Dayclub on June 11, one of the event's flagship networking experiences.

The week will conclude with the SBC Awards Americas, recognizing achievements across the gaming industry through 34 award categories honoring operators, suppliers, affiliates, and industry leaders.

Day 1 Agenda at a Glance (June 10)

10:15 AM - 10:35 AM
iGaming Daily (Podcast & Interview Stage)
Daily industry news roundup and preview of Day 1 at SBC Summit Americas.

10:45 AM - 11:20 AM
The Big Picture: Steering the Future of Gaming (Stage 1 - Leaders)
Discussion on regulation, prediction markets, market maturity, and growth opportunities across North America.

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM
Building a Public Health Response to Gambling Harm (Stage 1 - Leaders)
Exploring prevention, treatment, and responsible gambling frameworks.

12:00 PM - 12:40 PM Sessions

• Land-Based Leaders: Navigating Shifting Demand in a Changing Gaming Landscape (Stage 1)
• Lines, Limits, and Loopholes: Protecting the Future of Sports Wagering (Stage 2)
• Tech & Payments Titans: How Innovation is Powering the Next Digital Frontier (Stage 3)
• Affiliate Leaders Panel: The New Face of Affiliates: Branding, Voice, and Value (Stage 4)
• Don't kill the little guy. The implications of Brazil's GGR Rise (Stage 5)
• AAG Presents Allyship to Advocacy: How The Gaming Industry Can Be More Inclusive (Breakout Stage)
• What Gets Funded and What Gets Bought — Inside the Minds of Investors and Operators (Masterclass, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)

12:15 PM - 12:40 PM
Industry Action on Player Protection (Podcast & Interview Stage)

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
WagerWire Announcement (Podcast & Interview Stage)

1:40 PM - 2:20 PM Sessions

• The Current State of Prediction Markets in the US (Stage 1)
• Clearing the Air on Sweepstakes: Navigating Regulation and Opportunity (Stage 2)
• Blocking Prediction Market Platforms: Should We Classify This as Gambling Tech? (Stage 3)
• Beyond the Link: Redefining Affiliate Growth Through Emerging Channels (Stage 4)
• IVAmos bien! The implications of Colombia's emergency tax (Stage 5)
• Smarter Engagement, Safer Play: Rethinking Responsible Gaming (Breakout Stage)

1:40 PM - 2:10 PM
Creating An Inclusive Industry (Podcast & Interview Stage)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Picture It. Negotiate It. Achieve It. (Masterclass)

2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Sessions

• AI is Evolving (Stage 1)
• Understanding the Sweepstakes Phenomenon (Stage 2)
• From Click-to-WhatsApp to GGR: How LATAM Operators Are Turning Conversations into Revenue (Stage 3)
• Bridging the AI Velocity Deficit and the Future of Automated Intervention (Stage 4)
• The Córdoba Model: Technological Intelligence in Service of Digital Protection (Stage 5)
• Clearer Messages, Safer Players (Breakout Stage, 2:20 PM - 3:00 PM)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Prediction Markets: Looking Beyond the Hype (Podcast & Interview Stage)

2:40 PM - 3:20 PM Sessions

• Strategic Shift: Transforming iGaming's Identity for the Global Stage (Stage 1)
• Lotto Couriers Under Review: Where Do States Draw the Line? (Stage 2)
• PIX: Instant Payments (Stage 3)
• Content That Travels: Affiliates Thinking Beyond Borders (Stage 4)
• Influencers, Advertising, and Illegal Gambling (Stage 5)

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Prediction Markets – Cross-Border Legal Challenges and the Role of Gaming Regulation (Masterclass)

3:50 PM - 4:30 PM Sessions

• World Cup 2026: Turning the Global Stage into Long-Term Growth (Stage 1)
• Fan Engagement – Fantasy Sports is Critical (Stage 2)
• Building a Unified Casino Experience in an Omnichannel World (Stage 3)
• 10x the Output, the Same Team: Agentic CRM in Practice (Stage 4, until 4:15 PM)
• Is Chile on the cusp? (Stage 5)

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Betting on Influence: An Analysis of Sports Betting Influencers (Masterclass)

4:15 PM - 4:55 PM
AI, Martech & the Player Journey: Redefining Engagement (Stage 4)

4:30 PM - 4:50 PM
Winning Is Everything: A Fireside Chat with Stephanie de Flora, CMO, bet365 (Stage 1)

4:30 PM - 5:10 PM
Designing the Future of Play: Creativity Meets Casino (Stage 2)

4:50 PM - 5:30 PM Sessions

• From Regulation to Representation: Giving Tribes a Voice in the Future of U.S. Gaming (Stage 1)
• Unlocking Growth in Mexican iGaming: Strategies for Revenue and Player Acquisition (Stage 5)

4:55 PM - 5:35 PM
Connected & Converting: Smarter Engagement in Affiliate Marketing (Stage 4)