SBC Summit 2024 in Lisbon breaks attendance records, attracting around 25,000 attendees

The SBC Summit 2024, held last week in Lisbon, saw significant participation from the gaming and betting industry, attracting nearly 25,000 attendees. This figure represents a 70% increase compared to last year’s event in Barcelona.

The summit welcomed participants from 134 countries. Lisbon officials, including Mayor Carlos Moedas and Minister of Economy Pedro Reis, acknowledged the event's positive economic impact, estimating it could generate up to 100 million euros in indirect benefits for the city.

The summit featured over 600 exhibitors, with 250 being new to the event. The SBC Connect Plus app, designed to facilitate networking, recorded 10,000 scheduled meetings, indicating a high level of engagement among attendees.

The summit focused on increasing attendance from key regions, achieving notable gains from Latin America and the Caribbean (126%), Asia (80%), Africa (45%), and North America (127%). The introduction of the Global Markets Lounge and various market-specific sessions further highlighted its global appeal.

Celebrity presence also added to the summit’s allure, with notable figures such as Sir Tim Berners-Lee and skateboarder Tony Hawk participating alongside industry experts. The event featured over 600 speakers, showcasing a wide range of perspectives from the sector.

A separate SBC Leaders Summit took place, gathering 500 industry leaders for exclusive networking opportunities and discussions. This included a Hall of Fame ceremony honoring Barry Gibson, who concluded his term as Chair of Entain Group.

The event concluded with a lively closing party, INFINITY Lisbon, at MEO Arena, featuring performances from popular DJs. The SBC Awards ceremony also took place during the summit, celebrating excellence in 39 categories, with companies like Soft2Bet and Betsson Group taking home significant accolades.

New additions to this year’s summit included the ESI Lisbon, Payment Expert Summit, and Affiliate Leaders Summit, each aimed at enhancing educational offerings and networking opportunities.

The Media Headquarters served as a hub for media-related activities, while the Startupsphere showcased innovative ideas in the industry, culminating in a First Pitch competition won by Match Hype. The summit also launched a Women Empowerment Initiative, which garnered support from organizations focused on promoting women in sports betting and iGaming.