Eurasia and the Middle East in Focus At SBC Summit 2026 Emerging Markets Stage

SBC Summit 2025 will take advantage of this momentum with a new Emerging Markets: Eurasia & the Middle East track on Wednesday, 17 September at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL), including 5 powerhouse sessions on market entry, guideline, and long-term growth strategies.

The track will provide extensive analysis of essential jurisdictions, consisting of Georgia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and the UAE; markets undergoing substantial change due to political shifts, evolving guidelines, and growing local demand.

Sessions will offer practical assistance on entering and running in these areas, with a focus on understanding regulative structures and adjusting to local market conditions.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: "Eurasia and the Middle East are a core focus for SBC Summit 2025. The chances here are genuine, however so are the difficulties. Long-term success means comprehending the local landscape and building genuine relationships on the ground.

"With this track, we want delegates to hear straight from individuals who understand these markets best, and to walk away with strategies they can use immediately."

The track will open with the Eurasia Leaders Panel: Expansion or Contraction - Which Way Will the Bridge Between Continents Swing?, providing delegates the chance to hear straight from the leaders shaping the market across the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Balkans. Irakli Asanishvili (Head of Central & Eastern Europe, Flutter International), Adam Lamentowicz (CEO, Superbet Group), Max Potomkin (Deputy CEO, Parimatch), and Simon Westbury (Strategic Advisor, 1xBet) will analyze whether political and regulative pressures might stall momentum in markets like Georgia and Uzbekistan or if the area's passionate fanbase and tech-savvy operators will continue to sustain growth.

Following this, Georgia & Armenia Lead the Way will check out how these markets are adjusting to recent tax and regulatory modifications. Nika Gigashvili (Managing Director/ Partner, SMH Global), Giorgi Gvenetadze (CCO, Flutter CEE), Vahagn Tangamyan (Head of Legal Department, Totogaming), and Gega Topuridze (CBDO, Betlive) will discuss how operators can adjust to new frameworks while capitalising on the area's plentiful talent pool and digital infrastructure.

The session Cryptocasinos & Emerging Markets - The Boom Continues will analyze the increase of crypto-based video gaming models in Eurasia and the Middle East. The panel will unite Tiago Almeida (CEO, Oddsgate), Andrew Gellatly (Executive Director, Alderney Gambling Control Commission), Stefan Kovach (Founder & CEO, RARER THINGS), Melissa E. Lamb (Director of Sales - Luxury, Payhound), and Tom Waterhouse (Chief Investment Officer, Waterhouse VC) to take a look at how operators can maximise increasing crypto-adoption while preserving compliance and accountable frameworks.

Crossing Borders: Cross-Selling in Balkan Markets will bring together local experts to explore how services can flourish in culturally connected markets while navigating varied regulatory frameworks. Dan Alexandru Ghiță (President, Rombet), Ivan Gojic (Chief Sportsbook Officer, Entain CEE), Rossi McKee (Vice President, CT Gaming), Alexander Popov (Director of Supervision, Gambling & Gambling Activities Directorate, National Revenue Agency (Bulgaria)), Marinos Shiapanis (Co-Founder & CEO, Campeon Gaming), and Artem Skrypnyk (CEO, Favbet Tech) will share their insights on constructing a consistent brand name throughout several jurisdictions without compromising compliance.

Inside the UAE's Ambitious Vision: Building a First-rate, Regulated, and Responsible Gaming Market from the Ground Up will take a look at the UAE's relocation towards embracing a regulated gaming structure. Garret Greene (SVP Global Relationships, SBC), Christina Hu (Chief Strategy Officer, Momentum), Kevin Mullally (CEO, GCGRA), David Patent (EVP, Wynn Al Marjan Island), Lauralyn Sandoval (Vice President Gaming Strategy and Business Development, Aristocrat), will explore what a regulated betting structure in the region could look like and how the UAE's technique could affect neighbouring jurisdictions and improve global perceptions of gaming in the Middle East.

The Emerging Markets: Eurasia & The Middle East track forms part of SBC Summit's Emerging Markets stage, together with sessions evaluating iGaming and sports betting development in Africa (Tuesday, 16 September) and Asia (Thursday, 18 September).

Secure your ticket to SBC Summit 2025 today.

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