SBC Events has hailed the support of the global iGaming industry as the reason for a record-breaking 2023 edition of the SBC Summit Barcelona.
This year’s exhibition and conference drew an impressive crowd of around 15,000 attendees, a threefold increase from last year’s figures, solidifying its status as the industry’s fastest-growing event.
The post-event survey data revealed a Net Promoter Score of 49 for the event, highlighting SBC’s dedication to upholding high-quality standards, even in the face of substantial growth in attendance compared to the previous year.
The event kicked off with grandeur at the SBC Leaders Summit—an inaugural edition of the exclusive pre-event invite-only gathering that attracted 500 top-tier industry executives.
This full-day affair featured a wealth of conference content, including a keynote from Frank Abagnale, the man who inspired Steven Spielberg’s ‘Catch Me if You Can,’ networking opportunities, and a poker tournament.
A significant highlight of the event was the induction of Gustaf Hagman (CEO and Co-Founder, LeoVegas), Jordan Levin (CEO, OpenBet), Per Widerström (Incoming CEO, 888 Holdings – effective October 16, 2023), and Brigid Simmonds OBE (Chair, Betting and Gaming Council) into SBC’s Hall of Fame.
Taking place at Fira Barcelona Montjuic on 19-21 September, SBC Summit Barcelona boasted a massive 38,000 square metres show floor accommodating 350 exhibitors, marking a 175% increase as compared to the previous year.
Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, VP of Global Gaming at IDnow, provider of identity verification solutions and one of the exhibitors, said: “We are being treated as a partner, not just as a company that pays money to get services. We’re being taken to events and get introduced to people. SBC is a solution-finding partner for us.”
The 2023 show floor was effectively split into five zones denoting key areas of the industry: Sports Betting; Casino & iGaming; Affiliate, Media and Marketing; Payments & Compliance; and Emerging Tech. In addition, there was a designated ‘Festival area,’ which not only showcased exhibitors but also provided the perfect casual networking setting, featuring a sangria & tapas bar, an ice cream bar, a smoothie and juice bar and various other amenities.
The exhibition area was enriched by multiple networking zones, with the SBC Connect+ Lounge serving as a central meeting hub for delegates who had organised their meetings through the official event app. Noteworthy is the fact that the app included a lead assessment feature that saw active use, totalling 2,560 interactions.
When asked what sets SBC Summit Barcelona apart as an industry event, Sab Jhooti, Founder & CEO of investment firm Bonmoja, said: “It’s the community element. Whenever I come, I have the opportunity to meet the who’s who in this industry. Everybody you want to meet comes to this event, so I don’t really have to go anywhere else.”
Spanning seven stages, the comprehensive conference agenda delivered over 80 hours of content and offered insights from over 450 industry leaders. 89.4% of the speakers held C-level positions, while 63.7% represented operators, and 8.9% came from affiliates. The remaining 27.4% of speakers represented suppliers, associations, regulators, media, sports teams, and investors. With a total of 302 questions directed at the speakers on stage, the event adopted a more interactive approach.
