The third edition of SBC Summit Rio marked another growth milestone for the betting and gaming industry in Brazil, bringing together key stakeholders at a pivotal moment as the market completes its first year operating under the country’s newly implemented regulatory framework.
Held from 3–5 March 2026 at Riocentro, the event welcomed 15 percent more attendees year on year, reinforcing its position as one of the industry’s leading early year meeting points in Brazil.
For many participants, the summit provided an opportunity to gauge the direction of the market. Santiago Indart, Head of Affiliates at BetMGM Brasil, commented: “Here we can measure the temperature of the market. SBC sets the trends at the Rio event, and the know how that comes out of it will certainly help BetMGM.”
Growth was particularly strong among key industry audiences, with operator attendance rising by 16 percent and affiliate participation increasing by 26.7 percent, including the increasingly influential creator driven segment. Audience quality also improved significantly, with senior level decision makers representing 38.7 percent of attendees, compared to roughly one in four last year.
Carla Dualib Sonnewend, LATAM Business Development Manager at SOFTSWISS, highlighted the value of the conversations taking place during the event: “The discussions and meetings we’ve had have been exceptional. I was genuinely impressed.”
The event also demonstrated strong international reach. While 60.78 percent of attendees were based in Brazil, the remaining participants travelled from more than 100 countries, reinforcing the summit’s growing role as a global meeting point for stakeholders interested in the Brazilian market.
For Andreas Ditsche, CEO of iGaming.com, attending in person remains essential: “It’s important to be on the ground and sense the mood of the market. People do business with people, and it’s important to meet face to face.”
The conference agenda reflected the industry’s shift from regulatory uncertainty toward operating within a formal framework, with discussions focusing on sustainable growth and long term market development. The programme featured more than 250 experts across three stages covering leadership, technology, payments, marketing and affiliation.
Government and regulatory voices also played an important role, including representatives from Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Sports and the National Advertising Self Regulation Council (CONAR).
Plínio Jorge, President of ANJL, highlighted the collaborative environment created during the event: “The conferences bring together regulators and industry stakeholders, showing the regulator’s commitment to sharing information with the market.”
Operators also played a key role in the discussions, with representatives from BetMGM Brazil, Betano, Stellar Gaming, Flutter Entertainment Brazil, EstrelaBet, Caixa Loterias, and Keno Loteria sharing their perspectives on operating in the market.
The exhibition floor remained busy until the final hours of the event, with exhibitors benefiting from strong visitor traffic. Fellipe Fraga, CBO at Stellar Gaming, praised the layout of the show floor, noting that the booth positioning and visitor flow provided strong brand visibility.
Ricardo Peixoto, Country Manager Brazil at Sofascore, added: “SBC events always deliver the best results. It’s always our first choice when deciding where to be present.”
The event also delivered a strong hospitality experience, including early badge collection, an on site food festival, shuttle services from partner hotels and multiple networking events. Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho attended in partnership with Grupo OTG, OTG Partners, and R10 Score.
The week concluded with networking celebrations, including the Opening Party at Rio Beach Club and a closing event at Infinity Rio featuring Marc Vedo and Brazilian DJ Öwnboss.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, thanked the industry for its continued support: “A huge thank you to everyone who exhibited, sponsored and attended SBC Summit Rio. The feedback makes it clear that Brazil’s market is only just getting started, and we’re proud to provide a platform that supports its growth.”
The next edition of SBC Summit Rio will take place from 2–4 March 2027, once again bringing the industry together in Brazil to discuss the future of the market.
