The second day of SBC Summit 2026 started with UFC star Charles Oliveira on the Super Stage. The main conference agenda began at 11 am. Day two was themed around Western Europe, so the stages hosted debates on the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. The African Gaming Forum also opened alongside the main summit.
Super Stage
Charles Oliveira said becoming a father changed how he fights. He added, “I had a lot of victories and some losses as well. But what I learnt from defeat is that I have to go back to the drawing board and back to training, refocus and go again”
“My proudest moment, when I became champion. I want people to remember me for the man I am, as a humble man, who always had respect.”
“Follow your dreams and don’t just sit there and relax, get up and go to work – always move forward and trust in God.”
Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea, who helped Argentina reach the 1990 World Cup final, also spoke. Journalist Fabrizio Romano joined Lasha Machavariani of SMH Global to discuss football fandom and media.
Brazil’s ban stays in the spotlight
Talk of Brazil carried over from day one. On Friday, September 25, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced an immediate suspension of online gambling, less than two years after the market was regulated in January 2025. Licensed sites and apps are set to be blocked from October 6.
Peter Marcus, CEO of Savvy Hill Marketing and a former Entain executive, said the industry must learn that going too far with ads leads to bans. He still called advertising a fair trade for paying tax and holding a licence. Finland’s operator Paf said it is keeping its options open to avoid a similar fate and it expects some backlash once heavy advertising begins under next year’s rules.
The fight against illegal operators
Andy Wright of BetMGM UK and Ireland said the company expects an impact of about $500m from next year’s UK tax changes. He said reacting fits better than “absorbing”. Richard Clarke of Paddy Power Betfair said he showed the Gambling Minister research on what it feels like to be a black-market customer and asked for real action.
Anders Dorph of Denmark’s regulator, Spillemyndigheden, said it is pressing Big Tech and talking to other regulators about payment blocking. Fredrik Wastenson of LeoVegas Nordic raised concern about falling channelisation in Sweden. Bjorn Fuchs of the Dutch trade body VNLOK explained its decision to sue Meta, saying it only got automated replies. Lawyer Justin Franssen doubted that new measures would change how players see unlicensed sites.
Investors, AI and Prediction Markets
On the investor panel, Tom Waterhouse of Waterhouse VC called prediction markets the hot industry of the moment. He said the test is whether these firms can keep their customers.
Klen Kaljulaid of Yolo Investments said the firm turned down Polymarket several times. William Chambers of Smarkets said the link between financial trading and gambling-type products will stay, whatever the US Supreme Court or regulators decide.
Paris Smith, former CEO of Pinnacle, said AI is now part of every valuation and that it may let founders raise less money. Waterhouse looks for firms with something AI cannot copy, such as betting syndicates with their own data.
Yolo’s Mike Robinson warned that a new tool could appear in six months and make an investment.
Player protection and product talks
Kirsi Lagus of Veikkaus told lotteries to build around customer journeys. Savvas Iliopoulos of Allwyn Hellas said AI helps but a human expert must make the final call. Jesper Karrbrink of Immense Group said problem gambling rates have fallen even as ads and access have grown. Paul Burns of the Canadian Gaming Association said the industry should fund research but cannot rush academic work.
Business news
Alea said sweepstakes now make up over 20% of its business, with 1.5 million unique players and 37.5 million sessions. Novibet’s Giannos Grivas hinted at a big sportsbook expansion in the coming months. Sisal’s Marco Tiso said Italian retail betting is regulated less closely than online. Gigadat shared its move from payments into social gaming.
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