The SBC Summit Tbilisi is set to return to the spotlight on June 25-26 at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, following the success of its inaugural edition in October 2023.

The upcoming edition will witness 1,500 senior sports betting and iGaming executives reconvene in the heart of Georgia’s capital. The event will give its participants an opportunity to strengthen their presence in Eastern European and Central Asian markets while gaining insights into the nuances that shape the industry dynamics.

SBC has renewed its partnership with SMH to organize the SBC Summit Tbilisi, continuing the collaboration that began with the SBC Summit CIS in Kyiv in 2021. SMH is an international iGaming and sports management organization based in Georgia, bringing local knowledge to the event.

“I’m thrilled that the SBC Summit Tbilisi is making a comeback to my beautiful home country of Georgia. Witnessing all the engaging conversations and networking that took place last year filled me with pride, affirming that the effort that goes into organising an event of this calibre is absolutely and undoubtedly worthwhile,” Lasha Machavariani, Founder and CEO of SMH, said.

“Offering a platform for those keen on Eastern European and Central Asian markets feels not only rewarding but also essential, especially given all the buzz in these markets we’re diving into. If this event wasn’t on your radar yet, now’s the perfect time to start considering it,” he added.

“Operators, suppliers and affiliates who want to make a mark in the region simply have to attend SBC Summit Tbilisi if they are going to compete successfully. These markets are tricky to thrive in without local knowledge, which is why SBC has partnered with SMH in order to provide the platform for companies to perform effectively,” Andrew McCarron, Managing Director at SBC, commented.

The event promises an in-depth exploration of key markets, including Georgia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Slovenia among others, discussing ideas and strategies tailored for these geographically diverse regions.

The conference agenda will focus on trends including the new regulatory landscapes in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the influence of innovations from crypto to AI, and new developments in eSports, payments, and influencer marketing, among other topics.

The inaugural summit saw the presence of a host of operators including Adjarabet, Betlive, Crocobet, Europebet, Leaderbet, LVBet, Superbet, TotoGaming and Vbet.

Tereza Tokmajyan, CMO of TotoGaming, called the first edition an “excellent opportunity for operators and service providers from the region,” while Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming, said it “featured a very active and representative audience, outstanding topics, and speakers.”

This year’s show floor is set to feature over 60 exhibitors and sponsors, effectively doubling the count from the previous year. There is also an anticipated 70 percent growth in the count of operator representatives and 50 percent increase in affiliate representatives.

To cater to the growing interest, this year’s event will expand its agenda, commencing with a half-day conference on the opening day (25 June). This addition brings the total number of featured speakers to 60, marking a significant 50 per cent increase from last year.

Day one will feature a poker tournament followed by the Official Opening Party sponsored by Setanta Sports, taking place at Stamba Hotel. On the second day, a VIP dinner exclusively for C-level executives will be held at the Republic Restaurant, followed by a Closing Party at the Republic Event Hall.