SBC Summit Lisbon 2025 Day 3: The final day of the SBC Summit 2025 in Lisbon witnessed debate and discussions on regulations, and future-centric startup energy. Attended by 30,000 visitors from 150 countries, the summit showed as to why it is gaming industry’s premier global gatherings.
- Innovation vs. Regulation: Who’s Winning?
- Caution Meets Optimism in Betting M&A
- Asia & Brazil: Complexity and Creativity
- Mobile Dominates, Fraud Surges
- Gamification, Slots & the “Non-Alcoholic” Betting Model
- First Pitch Brings the Future to the Stage
- SBC Summit: A Global Giant
- Looking Ahead: From Day 3 to INFINITY
- Until Next Time: SBC Summit Lisbon 2027
From unregulated verticals and M&A outlooks to mobile-first markets and a thriving startup scene, the day’s sessions sparked thoughtful conversations and bold claims from leaders across continents.
Innovation vs. Regulation: Who’s Winning?
The morning kicked off with a candid discussion on the impact of unregulated markets.
“In the United States, more people are talking about banning stuff than building stuff,” said Paul Burns, CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, setting the tone for a no-holds-barred panel.
Paris Smith, CEO of Defy the Odds, doubled down: “Regulators are being told by the wrong people with the wrong agenda what is important.”
Meanwhile, the cost of official data emerged as a recurring frustration. “Everyone deserves to access official data at a fair price,” argued Dinos Stranomitis, COO of Altenar.
But as Alea CEO Alexandre Tomic pointed out, different verticals attract different demographics- a reminder that one-size-fits-all policies may not suit this industry.
Caution Meets Optimism in Betting M&A
Global economic headwinds haven’t slowed down M&A discussions, though perspectives varied.
Tom Field (Flutter) remains bullish: “Gaming has proven to be a resilient sector over many, many years.”
Adam Rosenberg (Blackstone) sees tailwinds from interest rate cuts in the U.S., while Klen Kaljulaid (Yolo Investments) took a blunter stance: “We’ve never been in more turmoil than right now,” he said, citing the endless black vs. white market debate.
The rise of prediction markets like Kalshi, especially in the U.S., was noted as a space investors are watching closely.
Asia & Brazil: Complexity and Creativity
From Thailand’s paused casino bill to India’s disputed RMG laws, regulatory uncertainty dominated the international panels.
Lau Kok Keng (Rajah & Tan Singapore) pointed to Thailand’s “convoluted political past” as a major stumbling block for progress.
In India, legal expert Ranjana Adhikari called the RMG crackdown “confused and damaging,” while others suggested it might lead to more clarity and investor confidence in the long run.
In Brazil, the challenges are less legal and more behavioral.
“Brazilians are very creative… KYC systems have to outthink fraudsters,” said Laura Beatriz (BetBoom).
Barbara Teles (Stake) added that local adaptation and global best practices are both vital.
Mobile Dominates, Fraud Surges
Optimove unveiled fresh data showing 80% of Asian users prefer mobile, and 84% favor live betting over pre-match.
To meet them where they are, partnerships with platforms like Viber and Telegram are becoming standard.
But innovation comes with risk.
Amazon Web Services’ Mike Reaves dropped a bombshell: “Fraud losses in betting are estimated between $400 billion and several trillion dollars.”
Andrea Carvalho (Entain) noted that AML roles must evolve strategically, calling for collaboration across the ecosystem.
Gamification, Slots & the “Non-Alcoholic” Betting Model
Gamification took center stage in the afternoon. Lottofy CEO Fernando Ortega said lifetime value is his key metric, while Tombola’s Marion Ryan focused on session length due to liquidity needs in bingo.
On the “free-to-play” debate, Low6’s Josh Turk said: “We’re providing the ‘zero percent’ or ‘nonalcoholic product’.”
But Aposta Ganha CEO Herbert Gaban wasn’t convinced, emphasizing that real-money users want real stakes.
The slots panel tackled everything from skill-based games to transparency, with leading voices from RubyPlay, BGaming, Evoplay, and Swiss Casinos advocating for responsible innovation.
Also Read: SBC Summit Lisbon 2025: Market Regulation, AI And Sportsbook Rule Day 2
First Pitch Brings the Future to the Stage
The First Pitch competition returned with five global startups vying for €90,000 in support. The winner?
AIStats, an AI-powered football data platform founded by Alexey Vorobey, who shared a message for entrepreneurs:“Never give up. Pursue your idea.”
The other finalists were as follows:
- BetPass (Brazil-focused tech for affiliates)
- ChatBet AI (LatAm chatbot integration)
- LiveDuel (prediction-based betting platform)
- Nandemo Draft (social casino in Japan)
SBC Summit: A Global Giant
At the afternoon press conference, SBC Senior Marketing Director Dennis Algreen confirmed the event has grown 20% year-over-year, hosting 30,000+ attendees and 5,969 C-level executives.
Growth from Africa (up 78%) was a standout, and Lisbon’s role as a host city was praised, with 72,000 hotel nights booked.
“Nobody does content and networking like SBC,” said Managing Director Andrew McCarron, who emphasized the summit’s dual mission of education and community-building.
Looking Ahead: From Day 3 to INFINITY
The day closed with anticipation for the SBC Awards and the INFINITY Lisbon Party, featuring headliners Alok and Timmy Trumpet, capping off a week of thought leadership, product showcases, and non-stop networking.
As the event winds down, one sentiment echoed throughout the summit: “Adapt, collaborate, and innovate- or fall behind.”
Until Next Time: SBC Summit Lisbon 2027
With momentum building and new markets emerging, the road to 2027 promises to be as exciting as ever.
