SBC Digital Italia kicks off today to address the local market's key challenges

Organized by the SBC and Gioco News, SBC Digital Italia, scheduled for 28 and 29 July, features an agenda that will examine the key challenges of one of Europe’s largest regulated gambling markets, with more than 1,250 delegates to hear a selection of experts from the gambling industry, politics, law enforcement, professional sports and more. 

The topics include the proposal of changes to regulation, the creation of a long-term future for horse racing, and the recovery of the retail sector after Covid-related closures. 

It will also provide information about the industry’s opportunities, such as the growing popularity of online gaming, the emergence of esports betting and the resurgence of poker, among others.

Day One’s agenda includes a CEO panel that will see Lottomatica’s Guglielmo Angelozzi, SNAITECH’s Fabio Shiavolin, Sisal’s Francesco Durante and Novomatic Italia’s Markus Buechele in a debate on how to create a more sustainable future for the industry, and the aftermath scenario of the pandemic, which calls for changes in the country’s vast retail gambling sector. 

Another must-see session is the ‘Match-Fixing Phenomenon at the Time of Covid’, which will detail the latest developments in the battle against the manipulation of competitions; marketing strategies and technology. 

GLMS President Ludovico Calvi will moderate an expert panel that features Claudio Marinelli (Project Manager, Criminal Intelligence Officer, Interpol), Ugo Taucer (Attorney General, CONI), Luca Turchi (Director, Games Control Office of the Games Directorate, Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli), Stefano Delfini (Director, Criminal Analysis Service, Criminal Police Central Directorate, Ministry of the Interior), and Roberto Ribaudo (Director Interpol Italia Division, International Police Cooperation Service). 

Also on Day One is the ‘New Trends in Gaming Retail’ session, which will explore the most effective omnichannel strategies and the potential for the redesign and automation of stores. Speakers include Marco Castaldo (CEO, Microgame), Karl Plank (COO, Novomatic Italia), Diego Mendez (CTO, Nazionale Elettronica), Paolo Personeni (Managing Director – MTS, Sportradar), and Domenico Mazzola (Commercial Director, Altenar). 

On Day Two, the focus will be on the online market, with a dissertation on how the online gaming sector can build on the growth in player numbers and revenue that it has perceived over the last year. An in-depth analysis of the potential of esports betting, and an assessment of the future of Italian poker industry will also be a feature of July 29’s agenda. 

The SBC Digital Italia program for 29 July includes the ‘Great Race of Online Gaming’ panel, which will feature experts from both operators and games suppliers, who will share their ideas for the future of igaming in Italy. Marco Tiso (Online Managing Director, Sisal), Alessandro Allara (Managing Director – Digital, Lottomatica), Alessandro Graziosi (Digital Director, SNAITECH), Andrea Boratto (CEO, WorldMatch), Andrea Guzzon (General Manager Italy, Scientific Games), and Arcangelo Lonoce (Head of Business Development – Europe, Habanero Systems) are among the speakers.  

Sessions about payments, poker, the latest betting and gaming industry marketing strategies, and the growth of esports betting follow, before Day Two’s conference agenda closes with the ‘Role of the Regulator in the Socio-Political Context’.

Specialists from around the world will share ideas about effective communication between regulators and operators, and debate the objectives that regulators should focus their efforts on. Speakers include Marcello Minenna (Director General, Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli),  Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin (President, Autorité Nationale des Jeux), René Jansen (Chairman, Kansspelautoriteit), and Liz Yeigh (Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario).

The event also features networking sessions at the end of each day, during which industry leaders will reflect on the insights that emerged during the conference panels and delegates will have the opportunity to have their say and to connect with fellow attendees.

In addition to the conference and networking program, SBC Digital Italia features a virtual exhibition with 20 leading suppliers showcasing their latest innovations tailored for the Italian market.