Brazil’s online betting ban dominated SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 as SBC extends Lisbon host deal to 2030

SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 ended on October 1 with one topic swallowing most of the conversation: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s provisional measure, signed on September 25, banning fixed-odds betting and online casinos in Brazil. For PSPs, acquirers, and operators exposed to Brazil, that is not just conference chatter; it is a direct reminder that market access can change faster than a sponsorship deck.

1. SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 ran from September 29 to October 1 at Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and MEO Arena, marking the event’s third year in Lisbon. Organisers also added a standalone Affiliate Leaders Summit, plus two new forums focused on prediction markets and African gaming.
2. The main regulatory issue on the floor and in the panels was the provisional measure signed by President Lula on September 25, which bans online betting and casino games in Brazil. In practice, that made Brazil the centre of attention for most of the event’s regulatory discussions.
3. Executives from several igaming companies used the Super Stage to criticise the measure. Tom Bowry, chief strategy officer of Flutter International, said the company was “very disappointed” after investing in the market; Kresimir Spajic, CEO of Allwyn Digital, said the ban took the company by surprise; and Jesper Svensson, CEO of Betsson, called it a matter of trust with a lasting impact.
4. According to SBC, attendees came from 178 countries, generating an estimated 85,000 room nights across Lisbon, with final attendance figures still being confirmed. For the services layer around the sector, that is the kind of crowd that turns regulatory shocks into immediate commercial conversations.
5. SBC also signed an agreement with Turismo de Portugal, the Municipality of Lisbon and Lisboa FCE to keep the summit in Lisbon until 2030. The next edition is set for September 21-23, 2027.