Western Europe track at SBC Summit will examine regulation, technology, and competition in mature gambling markets

The Western Europe track at SBC Summit is aimed squarely at operators trying to keep revenue moving in markets where regulation is tightening, illegal competition is growing, and player retention is getting harder. For PSPs and other payments providers serving gambling, that means the agenda is less about theory and more about the commercial impact of deposit caps, ad bans, tax pressure, and compliance friction.

1. On Wednesday, September 30, the Global & Emerging Markets Stage will bring together operators, regulators, and industry leaders to discuss how technology, regulatory reform, and changes in player behavior are reshaping some of Europe’s most established gambling markets.
2. The track will cover the latest developments in the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, Scandinavia, and Portugal, along with the growing influence of prediction markets and the role of technology in protecting revenue and long-term commercial value.
3. Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and founder of SBC, said Western Europe hosts some of the world’s most established regulated gambling markets, but maturity does not automatically mean stability. He pointed to rising taxes and regulatory changes as the forces making the operating environment more complex for companies now.
4. The opening session, “The Impact of Tech on Operator Revenues and Player Retention in Europe,” will look at how technology can help operators grow in an increasingly competitive European market. The panel includes Andrew Cochrane of Soft2Bet, Paddy Desmond of Tote, Eberhard Dürrschmid of Golden Whale, Elena Rousseva of Playtech, and Marinos Shiapanis of Campeon Gaming.
5. The next discussion, “The Dutch Dilemma: Deposit Caps, Ad Bans and the Black-Market Boom,” will focus on how regulatory pressure is affecting the competitiveness of the Dutch market. The session will examine deposit caps, advertising restrictions, and rising operating costs, with Cristiano Blanco of Spincore Group, Björn Fuchs of VNLOK, Eric Olders of JOI Gaming / JVH Gaming, and Frank Op de Woerd of CasinoNieuws.nl on the panel.

For high-risk payment teams, the practical takeaway is obvious: when a mature market tightens deposits, ads, and tax treatment at the same time, operator economics shift fast, and payment flows often sit right in the middle of that change.