Amidst a rapidly evolving industry, the SBC Summit North America, held from May 7th to 9th, emerged as an essential event for professionals in sports betting and iGaming. Attendees gathered to explore emerging trends, share best practices, and prepare for an exciting future in the industry.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We had nearly 5,000 of you join us this year, a substantial increase from the 3,500 delegates we gathered at the Meadowlands last year. I am always happy to feel your support, and it seems that every year, more and more of you realize how much work the entire SBC team puts into the event. Thank you for making this edition special. It was a blast.”
Engaging Conference Program and Notable Speakers
The summit featured an extensive conference program spread across four stages, with contributions from 300 industry leaders, offering attendees abundant learning opportunities. The event provided a platform to identify challenges, discuss solutions, and explore the potential of North American markets for both regional and global companies.
Among the notable speakers were BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt, seasoned professionals like Jan Jones Blackhurst, and former football legend Dan Marino. Insightful perspectives were shared by Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus on taxation and Shawn Fluharty, President of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), who advocated for model iGaming legislation. Donna Orender, former President of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), added to the diversity of topics covered, ensuring a comprehensive discussion.
Stephanie Maxwell, Deputy Director and General Counsel of the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, highlighted the event’s value, stating, “Being here and having the opportunity to listen to panellists and learn how they’ve addressed specific issues and pain points, it’s been really helpful.”
Kenneth Fuchs, COO of Caesars Digital, added, “The conference is organized in a way that makes it easy to find what interests you and the topics are generally useful regardless of your role in the industry. Everybody can come here and learn something.”
Networking and Inclusivity
Sarah Brennan, Senior Director of Compliance at BetMGM, shared her perspective as a speaker, noting, “One of the unique aspects of SBC is the very personal interaction prior to participating in this event, which allows you to speak on a panel that’s truly relevant to your personal experience in your professional capacity right now.”
The post-event survey for exhibitors and sponsors revealed a very strong Net Promoter Score (NPS), reaffirming SBC’s dedication to providing unique experiences and value to its customers. With 100 brands showcasing as exhibitors and sponsors, there was a notably diverse representation of companies.
Brennan emphasized, “There’s a big focus on inviting different groups; I saw a lot of vendors this year that hadn’t been at SBC previously, and many regulators are here. SBC does a great job of being very inclusive about who is represented, both from the US and across the globe.”
Sam (Shmulik) Segal, Co-Founder and CEO of MediaTroopers, a long-time sponsor but first-time exhibitor, remarked, “We decided to exhibit as this is our most important market and SBC Summit North America is the most important conference of the year. We always conduct a lot of business here; all of our partners are present. This year, we thought it was time to have a stand of our own so that people who don’t know the company can get to know it.”
Diverse Networking Events and Industry Insights
The show floor buzzed with various networking events, from gatherings for women in gaming to those for the tribal community, as well as meet-ups dedicated to responsible gambling. SBC’s objective of fostering diverse representation at the event was evident through the array of attendees.
Maxwell pointed out, “I’m a regulator in Tennessee, and our motivation (for attending this event) is the opportunity to connect with all the different kinds of people we work with – other regulators, vendors, operators.”
“The event has definitely evolved. There are way more people here. A lot more people, new entries, and new faces, and it’s exciting to see that every year honestly,” added Brett Hoffman, Founder of Gator Wagers.
Fuchs agreed, “Everybody that I generally want to catch up with is here, whether it’s across payments, data, innovation, or other operator peers, or people I know from the media, so it’s a nice mix of the industry.”
Segal added, “It seems that this time it’s even more packed than in previous years – we’ve seen everyone we’re working with in North America, everyone. It was amazing for us.”
In typical SBC fashion, the evenings concluded with networking events held at NY hotspots such as Slate NYC, Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge at Moxy Times Square, and the iconic Red Bull Arena.
Shawn Fluharty, who apart from his function as President of NCLGS, is also the Head of Government Affairs at Play’n GO, a headline sponsor of the party at Slate, commented, “You have companies from all over the world convening here because they know they’re going to shake hands with the people who are important in the industry and make those connections.”
Slot influencer Kelly Koffler was brief but expressive: “My biggest takeaway from the event is that you guys throw one hell of a party!” The Casino Kelly streamer, summarized the essence of the event well. “There’s a lot of value for anyone doing what I’m doing, because iGaming is only becoming more prevalent, so the more we learn, the more we can give to our viewers. They look up to us to be educated, so this is perfect for that.”
Mark Hicks, Managing Director of the NCAA, remarked, “This is the best event to attend throughout the year. Everybody we need to see is here, and the educational sessions are phenomenal.”
Source: “Networking, Learning, and Celebrating Success: Inside SBC Summit North America 2024”. May 14, 2024.