SBC Summit Americas kicks off today: igaming leaders from across the continent gather under one roof

SBC Summit Americas 2026 gets underway today, with an agenda focusing on regulation, player protection, payments, affiliate marketing and prediction markets.

US.- Today (June 10) the second edition of SBC Summit Americas, the industry’s flagship event that brings together markets from across the continent, will begin at 8 a.m. EDT (14:00 CET) at the Broward County Convention Center.

With six stages, two dedicated side summits — the Affiliate Leaders Summit and the Payment Expert Summit– and over 4,000 operators and 1,000 affiliates expected to attend, this year’s event is set to be a milestone for the gaming industry.

Spanning 22,000 sqm and featuring over 400 exhibitors, SBC Summit Americas 2026 is the perfect venue for connecting with genuine decision-makers from all major markets across the Americas. The event provides direct access to the people who are shaping the future of the industry on the continent, as well as excellent networking opportunities.

Among the companies that are present at the event are: 1spin4win, Alea, Altenar, BETBY, BetConstruct AI, Digitain, Kambi Group, Konami Gaming, LSports, Soft2Bet, Sportradar, TaDa Gaming and Zenith, among others.   

As always, visitors to SBC Summit Americas 2026 are able to visit Focus Gaming News at stand MZ1 to find out about the latest industry news. This year’s exhibition attendance coincides with the media outlet’s 10th anniversary and the rollout of an ambitious strategic roadmap combining brand renewal with new editorial content and the launch of the myFocus platform.

The organisers of SBC Summit Americas 2026 said: “SBC Summit Americas isn’t just another industry gathering. It’s the one moment in the year where the entire hemisphere comes together to share insight, shape strategy and build the relationships that move the market forward.”

The key topics of the 2026 agenda: Leadership, regulation, and market expansion

This year’s conference agenda has been designed to capture the full breadth of the sector. It will be divided across six stages, each exploring a key theme that is shaping the igaming and sports betting landscape in the Americas. Besides this, each stage will dedicate one day to each region, to reflect the event’s dual regional focus.

The leadership stage acts as the backbone of this year’s SBC Summit Americas edition, bringing together sessions that set the political and strategic tone of the event. It brings together executive leadership, regulation, integrity, prediction markets, responsible gaming and the general vision of where the industry is moving in North America and LatAm, allowing attendees to move from the macro view of the market to the specific dilemmas faced by regulators and operators.

Panels to watch: 

Land-Based Leaders: Navigating Shifting Demand in a Changing Gaming Landscape: In this panel, leaders will share how they’re rethinking pricing, loyalty, entertainment, and tech to adapt to changing travel trends, new markets, and evolving player habits—keeping brick-and-mortar gaming competitive and primed for growth.

The Current State of Prediction Markets in the US: What is the current state of prediction markets across the states, and how are operators, investors, and regulators navigating this rapidly changing environment?

AI is Evolving: The evolving landscape of AI and its application in sports, betting, software development and everything in between!

IAGR Leaders Discuss Top Regulatory Priorities: Senior representatives from the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) examine the major forces shaping global gaming regulation. This panel explores the fight against illegal markets, the rise of prediction markets, emerging technologies, and growing calls for regulatory harmonisation.

Regulator Rumble: The Future of LatAm: This panel analyses the approaches of leading regulators to licensing, compliance and responsible gaming. What can operators learn from markets such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, where regulatory clarity fosters stability and growth? How can companies align with evolving frameworks to ensure they remain compliant, competitive and perpetually in a state of sustainable expansion?

Stage two (North America Sports Betting & Casino – North America Regulation & Compliance) brings together sessions that are particularly relevant to the regulated business in the US and Canada, especially in relation to sports betting, casinos, sweepstakes and responses to regulatory pressure.

Panels to watch: 

Understanding the Sweepstakes Phenomenon: A Chat between Alexandre Tomic and Jonathan Brovda: Jonathan Brovda and Alexandre Tomic look at why this model is growing so fast and where newcomers often make mistakes. By analysing past industry trends, they discuss whether this is a temporary shift or a permanent change, and how the competitive landscape will evolve as the market continues to mature.

Crackdown on Unregulated Gaming: Where States Draw the Line: With more cease-and-desist orders being issued, the industry is facing increased pressure to define what falls within legal boundaries. How are states coordinating their enforcement strategies, and what does this mean for licensed operators trying to stay compliant?

Stage three (North America Payments & Tech – Latin America Payments & Tech) comprises sessions about payments, fintech, user experience and technology applied to operations.

Panels to watch: 

From Click-to-WhatsApp to GGR: How LatAm Operators Are Turning Conversations into Revenue: This session will explore how operators in LatAm are leveraging WhatsApp as a new performance channel, turning user conversations into measurable bets and revenue.

PIX: Instant Payments: Pix is Brazil’s instant payment system and, while not the most sophisticated, is ahead of its time within the region.

The Future of Payment Personalisation: Should Players Choose How They Pay? As payment choice becomes a key differentiator in North American gaming, operators are increasingly tailoring the payment experience, recommending preferred methods, offering instant payouts, setting personalised limits, and integrating automated affordability checks.

Stage four (Affiliate Leaders Summit) focuses on the capture of traffic towards a more mature vision of affiliate marketing. The sessions are interconnected because they address the same paradigm shift: affiliates are no longer just click generators, but brands, media outlets and community creators that work with localisation, valuable content, CRM, video and lifetime value-oriented strategies.

Panels to watch:

Beyond the Link: Redefining Affiliate Growth Through Emerging Channels: Affiliates have evolved from link providers to content creators, brand builders, and community leaders. Success now depends on mastering platforms like TikTok, Threads, YouTube Shorts, podcasts, and live streaming to deliver authentic, engaging, mobile-first experiences. Video-led strategies, short-form storytelling, and hyper-targeted niche content are driving player acquisition and retention. This shift goes beyond generating clicks—it’s about building trust, deepening engagement, and future-proofing affiliate brands amid rising competition in the fast-changing igaming landscape.

Connected & Converting: Smarter Engagement in Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate success in igaming now depends on building high-value, long-term player relationships. With audiences more selective than ever, leading affiliates use advanced MarTech—personalised content, AI-powered targeting, next-gen CRM, and predictive analytics to optimise every stage of the player journey. Data-driven insights, automation, and engagement-focused campaigns boost retention, improve ROI, and deliver measurable results for operators and partners. In a competitive market, these strategies drive trust, loyalty, and sustainable growth while maximising the value of each player connection.

The Channels You Don’t Understand Are the Ones Taking Your Players: Content and engagement strategies are evolving in igaming affiliate marketing. The imperative of a mobile-first approach, the rising dominance of video content (including short-form and live streams), and the strategic advantage of focusing on niche, long-tail audience segments are highlighted. Affiliates are moving beyond traditional text to create high-quality, immersive experiences that build trust and resonate deeply with specific player demographics.

Stage five (Latin America Regulation & Compliance – Latin America Sports Betting & Casino) brings together the debate closest to LatAm operators, with a focus on regulation, market expansion, taxes, lotteries, integrity and country-specific business models.

Panels to watch:

Don’t kill the little guy. The implications of Brazil’s GGR Rise: Brazil’s igaming market is evolving under a GGR tax and a R$30 million licence fee, but political pressure is mounting. In an election year, the Federal Senate has pushed for tighter rules and higher taxes, reflecting strong public opposition—particularly from influential evangelical groups. Operators warn rising costs could force smaller firms out, strengthening unregulated platforms that already capture over 50 per cent of the market. Can policymakers balance pressure with sustainability? Will stricter rules improve oversight or drive activity underground? Who ultimately benefits from this evolving framework?

Is Chile on the cusp? The online gambling bill was approved by Chile’s Chamber of Deputies in December 2023. However, as we arrive in 2026, it remains stalled in the Senate with all wondering when the market will open up. With Gabriel Boric on his way out come November, are we set to see the market open up? And if this delay continues, are we only strengthening the black market’s hold on bettors?

Unlocking Growth in Mexican igaming: Strategies for Revenue and Player Acquisition: The Mexican igaming sector is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse in Latin America, demonstrating impressive revenue surges and a burgeoning player base. This session will deep-dive into the factors propelling this growth, offering actionable insights for operators, investors, and stakeholders looking to capitalise on this dynamic market. What are the unique characteristics of the Mexican player? What differentiates it from other markets from a regulatory perspective?

The LatAm Betting Boom: Technology and the User Experience: The explosive growth of the online sports betting industry in Latin America is not solely a story of new regulations, but a profound transformation driven by technology and a unique, mobile-centric user base. With a population tuned in to sports like no other and most of their betting taking place on their phones, the user experience is vital. But with the market still fresh, how can operators leverage technology like artificial intelligence and machine learning to understand and cater to users’ unique preferences? Where are operators looking to expand their offering? And how can suppliers cater to their needs?

The Future of Sports Betting in Latin America: Latin America is entering a rapid, structural expansion phase in sports wagering: rising mobile adoption and esports interest, and growing investor interest are turning the region from an informal market into a strategic growth corridor for global operators. But how are new legislation, local partnerships, technological innovation, and consumer engagement redefining sports wagering?

The breakout stage features the Player Protection Symposium and the Prediction Markets Forum. The symposium brings together regulators, operators and technology providers to discuss how the industry can strengthen player safeguards, ensure compliance and promote sustainable growth in North and Latin America.

Meanwhile, the forum brings together operators, legal experts, and industry analysts to examine the rise of prediction markets, how sportsbooks are entering the sector, and the regulatory and integrity challenges shaping its future.

Panels to watch:

Smarter Engagement, Safer Play: Rethinking Responsible Gaming: As player protection expectations rise, gaming companies are moving beyond static messaging and compliance checkboxes toward personalised tools, behavioural data, and creative outreach.

Prediction Markets: A Question of Compliance and Integrity: A succession of complex rulings and regulations, from the Commodity Exchange Act to Dodd-Frank, govern the realm of event contracts. With a series of states and land-based gaming groups launching lawsuits against the pioneers of prediction markets, it’s more important than ever to understand how to stay on the right side of the CTFC and navigate questions of integrity.

Prediction Markets: What’s the Future of Futures?  In the gambling industry, flashes in the pan are more likely than not – but event contracts, as evidenced by the resignation of multiple leading sportsbooks from the AGA, are clearly here to stay and will upend the betting world as we know it. Where will the Supreme Court land on the matter? Will land-based companies succeed in protecting their bottom line from these changes? And will the online operators making the leap see real transformation in terms of revenue? ㅤ 

Interactive industry masterclasses

This year, the organisers of SBC Summit Americas have added to the programme a series of masterclasses built around active participation. According to the organisers, each masterclass is led by industry experts, with participants actively working through real-world challenges alongside their peers.

The masterclass “Prediction Markets: Cross-Border Legal Challenges and Role of Gaming Regulation” will help attendees understand how prediction markets are classified across legal, financial, and gaming frameworks.

The masterclass “Cross-Border & Outbound Sweepstakes Opportunities” guides attendees through how to structure compliant cross-border campaigns, navigating the legal and operational realities of new jurisdictions and building effective localisation strategies.

The masterclass “Betting on Influence: An Analysis of Sports Betting Influencers” will teach sportsbook operators how to use influencer marketing in a responsible and effective way.

Attendees can also take part in two masterclasses focused on securing investment for startup companies. “What Gets Funded and What Gets Bought: Inside the Minds of Investors and Operators” will explore both the operator and investor perspectives, helping attendees understand what drives funding decisions and how businesses should position themselves. Meanwhile, “Fundraising 101: Win Your First Round” will use real-world examples to provide startups with a practical roadmap for securing early-stage investment.

SBC Summit Americas will take place until June 11. As part of the event, there will also be the 2026 SBC Awards Americas, networking parties, and plenty of moments to turn conversations into real business opportunities.