SBC Summit Secures Long-Term Future in Lisbon Until 2030

The global iGaming industry has found a permanent home for the remainder of the decade. As recently announced by the organizers of the SBC Summit, a comprehensive agreement has been signed with Portuguese authorities, confirming Lisbon as the host city through 2030. This decision marks a significant milestone for the sector, extending well beyond the previously confirmed dates for 2027. The partnership was officially sealed with Turismo de Portugal, the Municipality of Lisbon, and Lisboa FCE to ensure the long-term development of the flagship event.

The move to Lisbon in 2024 has proven to be a strategic masterstroke. The combination of the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and the MEO Arena offers the necessary space to meet the ever-increasing demands for exhibition areas, conference rooms, and networking events. For the organizers, it is clear that the stability of the location is key to further increasing the quality of the summit and providing partners with investment security. Lisbon has quickly emerged as the perfect partner for this ambitious project.

Numbers and facts

The scale of the SBC Summit 2026 is impressive. Participants from a total of 178 countries made their way to the Portuguese capital. This enormous international response was also reflected in local economic figures, with an estimated 85,000 room nights generated across the capital. While final attendance figures are still being confirmed, the trend is clearly upward. The mix of technological innovation and high-profile guests particularly garnered significant attention.

A highlight of this year's edition was the Leadership in Sports Business keynote. Here, legends converged: basketball icon Michael Jordan discussed industry trends alongside Carsten Koerl, Founder and CEO of Sportradar, and Jason Robins, co-founder and CEO of DraftKings. Such high-caliber lineups underscore the summit's ambition to be not just an industry gathering but a global economic forum. The program was complemented by appearances from UFC champion Charles Oliveira and world-renowned DJ Tiësto, who closed the event with the INFINITY Lisbon concert.

Background

Why is this long-term commitment so vital? Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, stated:

"The agreement gives SBC and our attendees and partners the stability to plan and invest for the future. Knowing exactly where we’ll be and for how long means we can keep pouring everything into making the Summit bigger, better and more valuable for everyone who comes through the doors." - Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC

This level of certainty is rare in a fast-paced industry like iGaming. In return, Lisbon benefits massively from its positioning as a technology hub. According to António Ramalho, President of the Executive Board at FIL, hosting events of this scale is crucial for keeping the Parque das Nações district at the forefront of the global events industry. In addition to the main event, 2026 saw the introduction of new formats such as the Affiliate Leaders Summit and the African Gaming Forum.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, trade fairs like the SBC Summit are indirectly of great importance. This is where the technologies and standards of tomorrow are discussed, which later find their way into the regulated German market. In Germany, strict rules have been in place since the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). German players must adhere to a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros, monitored via the central LUGAS system. Additionally, stakes on virtual slot machines are limited to 1 euro per round, with a mandatory five-second wait time between spins. At international conferences in Lisbon, experts debate how providers can implement these regulatory hurdles technically while maintaining player enjoyment and ensuring player protection.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Providers on the whitelist of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) use these platforms to learn about compliance solutions. While international licenses from Malta (MGA) or Curacao often have less restrictive rules, GGL-licensed casinos in Germany must meet the highest requirements for youth and player protection. At the SBC Summit 2026, for example, new AI-based systems for early detection of problematic gambling behavior were presented. These technologies help German operators meet GGL requirements without jeopardizing their business efficiency. The exchange with global industry leaders ensures that the German market remains technically up to date despite its strict regulations.