The SBC Summit ended in Lisbon, with an impressive turnout of almost 25 000 attendees. It has earned its position as the leading industry event.

The Summit, dubbed “The Greatest Show in Gaming” by industry executives, was a huge success. With record attendance and unprecedented industry participation, it lived up to the title.

Shimon Akad (COO at Playtech) stressed the importance of first impressions. “When we first arrived, everyone’s reaction was ‘wow. This event has become the industry standard.”

Tim de Borle is a fellow COO at Casumo. He also spoke about the venue’s growth and his impressions of the new location. The bar has been raised. It’s inspiring to see.

Tammi Barlow Marang, Bally’s Corporation’s VP for Global Responsible Gaming, acknowledged that she was initially concerned about the size of the event. “I wasn’t sure what to expect after hearing there would be over 25,000 attendees.” I was unsure of what to expect when I heard there would be 25,000 attendees. But everything is clean, educational, and entertaining.

Richard Dennys, CEO of Game Lounge, highlighted the incredible buzz that surrounded the event before it even began. “Prior the event you get this critical Mass where everyone asks, ‘Are You Going to Lisbon?’ and everyone is going. Our business has shifted its focus to Lisbon this week.

Rasmus Sojmark CEO & Founder SBC commented: “We knew that this event would be successful; we did everything to make it happen! I am so grateful for the positive feedback we received from the exhibitors, speakers, sponsors, attendees, the media and even the Portuguese officials, who made us feel welcome. “It’s been a truly unforgettable experience to watch it all unfold.”

Pedro Machado said, after visiting the event: “The SBC Summit 2024 is a major international event devoted to iGaming betting and esports. It has made a substantial financial contribution to the nation’s economy.” We hope the SBC Summit, scheduled to return to Lisbon in September 2025, will continue to be a major event that should not be missed.

The attendees echoed the theme that despite its dramatic expansion, including a 70% increase in attendance and a massive increase in the expo floor area to an astounding 110,000 square metres at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & MEO Arena – the SBC Summit maintained the exceptional quality for which it is known.

Marija Hammon, Marketing Director at Relax Gaming, praised the organizer’s meticulous attention to details. “Everything was exceptional. It is clear that nothing has been overlooked. She continued: “I have been absolutely blown-away.” The moment I picked up my badge at the Airport, to the incredible QR codes that had budgets loaded on them. The sheer size of the event is incredible. “The whole industry is buzzing.”

De Borle laughed: “You may need a GPS for navigation, but you can get that on the app. That’s great.” Akadremarked, despite the increase in attendance, that the event felt “more organised.” You’ve simplified it, not increased its complexity. Gonzalo Perez of Apuesta total, the CEO, also commented on the layout. “I like how it is organised into specific themes, such as sportsbook, affiliates, and casino. It makes networking easier even though it is a huge space.”

In addition to the praise from the industry, the quality and diversity of the attendees also highlighted the success of the event. The show expanded its reach to critical regions like Africa, Latin America and North America as well as Asia.

Perez, a Peruvian, stated: “This was one of the most varied exhibitions I have ever attended.” Barlow Marang, a US visitor, expressed similar sentiments. The audience in Lisbon is excellent. I’ve met many people who are doing the same thing as me, and that’s great. You continue to make everyone feel welcome.”

This year’s event saw the addition of summits that were tailored to the affiliate, payment, and esports industries. These summits gave industry professionals a unique opportunity to have in-depth discussions and explore emerging trends. They also helped foster collaboration in these rapidly changing areas.

Dennys said of the Affiliate Leaders summit: “This was the first proper exhibit stand we have ever had, maybe ever.” He also expressed his satisfaction with the number and quality of contacts the company made: “We had an unbelievable number of leads – way, way higher than what we expected to have.”

Simon Dorsen, CCO of OKTO, also appreciated this more focused approach. The fact that show floors and activities were segregated by themes or topics, such as payments, helped channel the right people in the right area.

Zlatko hrkac, Sofascore’s co-founder and CEO, highlighted the benefits of exhibiting at Affiliate Leaders summit, where the company has consistently been present for the last three years. This time, the company brought over twenty members to Lisbon. It’s a huge event. Having a dedicated area where affiliates and operators can meet is definitely a great idea. A stand is a great way to attract new business or create new partnerships. It’s like your temporary office.”

Duncan Garvie, BetBlocker’s Founder and Trustee, praised the Player Protection Zone. He also praised SBC for its role in promoting initiatives that aim to minimise harm to players. The Player Protection Zone, a fantastic initiative, is helping to bring attention to the harm minimisation and social good efforts that are being made in the industry. It’s wonderful to see conference organizers getting involved in ensuring these initiatives receive the attention they deserve.

The impressive conference line-up at the SBC Summit, which featured eight stages and was headlined by Super Stage in MEO Arena, was a major draw. Many people were left with a lasting impression by the sessions. Hammon was delighted to see Tony Hawk in action. Barlow-Marang, on the other hand, was fascinated by Sir Tim Berners Lee, creator of the World Wide Web. Richard Dennys, a fan of Peter Schmeichel’s insights, was also excited.

SBC Summit Barcelona has been transformed into the highly anticipated SBC Summit Lisbon. The move was prompted by the overwhelming demand from industry for exhibition space. This resulted in a record breaking 600 exhibitors.

Dorsen said about the move: “You’re very experienced and your team’s knowledge has really come through, even though this is a brand new venue.”

Sojmark continued: “Our main goal for this event was creating a space for the entire industry to come together and have meaningful experiences, whether that meant learning new things, making powerful connections, showcasing their brand, or going away with valuable leads.

We wanted to make sure that everyone left with something they truly valued. We’ve proven that SBC Summit is truly the greatest show in gaming.”

The SBC Summit is scheduled to return to Lisbon, Portugal in 2025. It will be held at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa from 16-18 September with a projected attendance 30,000 delegates.