Innovations in Player Protection: Insights from SBC Summit 2026

Effective player protection Symposium

As expectations around player safety continue to evolve, operators face increasing pressure to detect signs of gambling-related harm earlier and implement more effective interventions. Against this backdrop, the Player Protection Symposium at SBC Summit will examine the tools, policies, innovations, and partnerships needed to strengthen player protection efforts.

Taking place on Wednesday, September 30, the symposium will bring together regulators, operators, responsible gambling specialists, and technology providers to examine the growing role of innovations in technology in identifying and supporting at-risk players.

Through a series of expert-led discussions, the symposium will focus on three key areas of player protection: balancing regulatory objectives with efforts to combat the black market, the role operators play in safeguarding players, and the growing role of technology in identifying and supporting at-risk players.

“Gambling harm prevention is a challenge shared by every regulated market,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC.

“While different jurisdictions may take different approaches, the goal remains the same: protecting consumers and creating safer gambling environments. SBC Summit provides a platform to bring those perspectives together, share lessons from around the world, and help delegates understand what effective player protection looks like in practice. Ultimately, sustainable growth is only possible when player protection sits at the heart of the market.”

Conversation Sessions

Opening session

The opening session, Innovation in Tech: How Can Technology Keep Players Safe from Harm?, will break down how operators are using the latest technology to enhance player protection. Speakers Scott Burrows (Head of Technical Compliance, Superbet), Rupert Ecker (CEO, Grand Casino Kursaal Bern AG), Paula Murphy (Head of Commercial, Mindway AI), and Larrie York (CEO, CallsU) will examine how advances in AI and data analytics are enabling operators to detect risk sooner and deliver more effective player interventions.

The conversation will then shift to the role of safer gambling responsibility in the panel Whose Shoulders Does Responsible Gaming Fall On?. The session will bring together Matt Burgiss (Head of External Affairs, Gamstop), Christopher Dalli (CEO, L&L Europe), Savvas Iliopoulos (Responsible Gaming Expert, Allwyn), Adam Warrington (Vice President, Responsible Gambling, Underdog), and Peter Wilson (Founder, Peter Wilson Legal) to debate where responsibility should ultimately lie between operators, regulators, and players. The panel will also tackle how industry professionals can assess at-risk players and what actions they should take to protect them.

The theme of responsibility will continue with the session The Ethical Tension in Gaming Advertisements, which explores the growing challenge of advertising gambling responsibly without diminishing its entertainment appeal. Panellists Floris Assies (Founder, Better World Casinos), Nicolas Fleiderman (General Manager, Holland Casino Online), Jesper Kärrbrink (Group CEO, Immense Group), Peter Marcus (CEO, Savvy Hill Marketing), and Rian Overy (Responsible Gaming Officer, Allwyn) will examine the advertising strategies used across the industry and debate where the line should be drawn between driving engagement and protecting consumers.

The conversation will then turn to one of the industry’s most persistent regulatory challenges, with the session Regulations are getting stronger: What it means for the black market. Experts Pierre Tournier (Senior Director, EGBA), Ivan Kurochkin (Partner, 4H Agency), Carmelo Mazza (CEO, Betaland), Katie Reynolds-Jones (CEO, Gamstop), and Eric Sjöden (Head of Mission – European and International Affairs, ANJ) will explore whether stricter regulations help strengthen the legal market or risk driving consumers toward unregulated alternatives, and what that means for the future of sustainable gaming regulation.

Attendees looking to dive deeper into the regulatory issues discussed at the Player Protection Symposium can also take part in the Regulatory Meet-ups, a new networking initiative for 2026 organized in partnership with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).

These meet-ups will cover regulatory developments across a broad range of jurisdictions, including Asia, Africa, LATAM, Eurasia, and the Balkans, alongside market-specific discussions focused on the UK, UAE, Finland, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with legal experts, regulators, and industry stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities affecting their markets.

Taking place from September 29 to October 1, 2026, SBC Summit will welcome 40,000 industry professionals to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa & MEO Arena for three days of networking, exhibition, and education.

Get your tickets for SBC Summit now!

Conference Pass (€599) – This includes access to the exhibition floor and conference stages, allowing you to network and make the most of the conference’s educational agenda.

Business Pass (€799) – Access the show floor, conference sessions, and SBC Summit’s brand new structured networking programme, allowing you to make more structured and meaningful connections.

VIP Pass (€999) – Enjoy full access to the SBC Summit show floor, conference, and all networking elements. You’ll also receive complimentary food from the summit’s food festival and access to all evening networking events.