SBC Summit 2026: Gaming Industry Focuses on Africa and Far East

The gambling industry is keenly watching new growth markets. The SBC Summit 2026 in Lisbon dedicates a special focus to these regions. On the 'Emerging Markets' stage, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, operators, regulators, and experts will discuss strategies for market entry and navigating these dynamic regions. The event takes place from September 29 to October 1, 2026, at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and the MEO Arena. This highlights the importance of opening up new territories for the global gaming business. It's about identifying opportunities while understanding local conditions.

Numbers and facts

The SBC Summit 2026 will bring together over 40,000 industry professionals. All of them want to exchange ideas on the latest developments and network. The 'Emerging Markets' include key regions such as Africa, Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Far East. SBC founder Rasmus Sojmark emphasizes the importance of this focus:

"In today's gaming landscape, spotting growth opportunities is only part of the challenge. The real question is where to focus your time, investment and resources. That's what makes this track so valuable. It goes beyond naming which markets to enter by bringing together the people actually operating in them, people who understand what it takes to navigate local regulation, build a sustainable business and succeed long term. That's priceless guidance for anyone looking to enter." - Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC

Africa, in particular, is a focal point, with two consecutive sessions dedicated to both the commercial drivers and regulatory frameworks. Christopher Coyne, CEO of 888Africa, Jason Gibson, Chief Commercial Officer of SportPesa, and Aggrey Sayi, CEO of Maybets, will analyze how player preferences vary and which countries are growing fastest in a panel discussion. Regulation in Africa is shifting towards the licensed sector. This panel is titled "Africa's New Rulebook: How Regulators Are Shaping a 45-Market Boom." It covers licensing, taxation, anti-money laundering, data protection, and player safety in 45 African markets. Discussions will also include the role of mobile payments and blockchain technologies in African sports betting, as over 70% of the population uses smartphones.

Background

Gambling is a global business. While established markets like Western Europe often have high revenues but also strict and constantly changing regulations, "Emerging Markets" often offer enormous growth potential. However, these new markets come with their own challenges. These include complex or immature regulatory frameworks, different player behaviors, and local cultural specificities. The SBC Summit 2026 provides a platform to shed light on these aspects. SBC Events had already recorded strong growth in international visitor numbers in 2024, including 126% more from Latin America and 80% more from Asia. This led to the introduction of the two new stages for "Global Markets" and "Emerging Markets."

Another highlight is the session "CEE in Transition: From Established Giants to Emerging Opportunities," which addresses the markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. This session focuses on increasing taxes, stricter regulation, and greater competition. Discussions include how operators like Loteria Română (CEO Ionut-Valeriu Andrei) and Entain CEE (CCO Mikolaj Cymerman) are adapting to these changes. This will be followed by "From Kazakhstan to Georgia: Who's Opening Up and Who's Shutting Down in Eurasia?" focusing on regulatory approaches in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The Far East will be discussed in the concluding session "The Far East: Opportunity Rising, Tolerance Shrinking." The evolution of regulation and enforcement in countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, and Macau will be highlighted. Dominique Laconico, President of MegaBet+, and Keith McDonnell, Director of KMI Group, will present where reforms are creating credible paths into regulated markets and where restrictions are intensifying.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, this focus on international growth markets has no direct impact on their national gaming options. Germany, with the State Treaty on Gambling 2021, has created a very specific and strict regulatory environment. Players in Germany should exclusively play with online gambling providers that hold a valid German license from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL). The GGL whitelist is the authoritative source for this. These licenses ensure that strict player protection rules are adhered to. This includes betting limits of 1 Euro per spin on slot machines and a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 Euro via the LUGAS system. Markets such as Africa or the Far East often have entirely different regulatory approaches that are not comparable to the high German standards. Operators there focus on establishing licenses and infrastructure based on local laws. German players thus enjoy a significantly higher standard of protection, which has not yet been achieved in many of the markets discussed at the SBC Summit.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Operators of GGL-licensed casinos in Germany are bound by the strict requirements of the State Treaty on Gambling. The discussions at the SBC Summit on "Emerging Markets" are primarily an opportunity for them to observe global trends and technical innovations that might become relevant for the German market in the future. However, these markets offer few direct business opportunities for GGL-licensed casinos due to the very different legal frameworks and their clear focus on German licenses. Rather, knowledge of growing international markets could serve to develop a better understanding of the global dynamics of the industry and to make long-term strategic decisions about positioning in the worldwide gambling business. It also underscores the value of stable and licensed operations, as ensured by the GGL in Germany, in contrast to the often volatile and developing regulations in emerging markets.