ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

IBIA flagged 300+ suspicious matches annually in recent years, yet enforcement outcomes remain inconsistent – this workshop shows where integrity systems fail under pressure and what operators can do to avoid exposure.

Delegates are invited to gather at the Main Stage, Hall 3, for the Official Opening Ceremony commencing at 12pm.

The workshop will deliver a strategic breakdown of cross-border enforcement trends, AML exposure for directors, and the real legal consequences of regulatory arbitrage versus regulatory risk. Gain practical guidance on licensing stacking strategies (EU, offshore, and local frameworks) to protect market access while minimizing liability in an increasingly aggressive global compliance climate.

Join this workshop for a sharp, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction breakdown of U.S. and Canadian licensing models heading into 2027, including tribal partnerships, sweepstakes versus regulated frameworks, and intensifying marketing enforcement. You will leave with concrete strategies to reduce payment and banking friction while positioning their operations compliantly across North America’s fragmented regulatory map.

The Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) and the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) are set to host a dedicated Malta workshop. The workshop will provide delegates with insights into two of Europe’s most significant regulatory frameworks: the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Representatives from both authorities will share perspectives on the evolving regulatory landscape and its implications for industry stakeholders. 

From blanket credit bans to bank-level transaction blocking, control over gambling payments is shifting away from operators, fundamentally changing acquisition, retention, and compliance strategies. Test who will own the player relationship in 2027, and how to regain control without breaching regulation.

Measures like ad bans or payment blocks often redirect players to unlicensed platforms instead of boosting licensed operators. Explore why enforcement alone doesn’t protect market share.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the first global sporting event where sportsbooks, prediction markets, and AI-powered betting experiences competed for the same fan attention. This live analysis examines what worked, what failed, and whether prediction markets changed the economics, engagement models, and technology stack of sports betting.

Brazil’s regulated market saw betting site access surge by 237% in 2025, driven by legalization and mobile adoption, but rapid growth is now, in 2026, colliding with stricter supervision, taxation (18% GGR), and enforcement frameworks. Discover where operators are already failing, licensing gaps, payment blocking, and compliance blind spots, and how to survive Brazil’s shift from expansion to enforcement.

Southeast Asia’s online gambling market is expected to grow from USD 3.66B (2025) to USD 5.67B by 2034, driven by mobile adoption and digital payments. At the centre is the Philippines, where gross gaming revenue reached PHP 410.5B (~USD 7B) in 2024 despite regulatory upheaval. Explore how the region’s fastest-growing iGaming markets are adapting as the Philippines shifts from offshore hub to a stricter regulatory model.

Europe’s iGaming market, projected to exceed €27 billion, is now defined by stricter enforcement, advertising bans, and increased compliance obligations across jurisdictions. Grasp how aggressive regulation is impacting channelisation, pushing players offshore, and forcing operators to rethink market strategies.

Each US state enforces its own licensing, taxation, and compliance framework, requiring operators to duplicate infrastructure across jurisdictions such as New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Understand how this structure inflates operational cost, slows deployment timelines, and forces selective market entry rather than national scale.

Some African markets hold up to 60-70% of activity in unlicensed operations, undermining legitimate operators. Regulators from across the continent examine why enforcement continues to lag behind legislation, which tools are proving effective against illegal operators, and how stronger regional cooperation can increase channelisation into licensed markets.

Industry leaders go head-to-head on questions many discuss privately but rarely on stage. Does the best tech always win? Can a newcomer break through without an established network? Are conferences deal-making engines or simply expensive social clubs? And in an era of AI-driven matchmaking and digital sales, does face-to-face trust still outperform data and product differentiation?

One year after Italy’s new licensing framework reduced concessionaires from about 350 to 50, operators assess the real impact on competition, compliance burden, and market dynamics.

Italy’s new €7M license fees and 9-year concession model have dramatically raised entry barriers, shrinking the field from about 90 applicants to a handful of serious contenders. Examine consolidation trends, M&A dynamics, the squeeze on affiliates and white-labels, and whether Italy is becoming a closed “club” or remains open to innovation.

Italy’s betting market is shaped by retail legacy, football culture, and cash-heavy payment habits that still define how many players engage. Compared with Spain and Greece, the differences show up in deposit behavior, retail-to-online switching, and promo response. Unveil what that means in practice for product design, payments, retention, and compliance on the ground.

Discover how Italy’s long-standing gambling advertising restrictions continue to reshape visibility, with regulated brands losing mass-reach channels while unlicensed operators exploit offshore acquisition funnels. The discussion will connect this to broader EU trends where ad bans have not proportionally reduced demand, but redirected it.

Behind every iGaming event is a hidden economy of hotels, hospitality, transport, tech suppliers, and business tourism services. Explore how host cities and governments can better measure and benefit from the real economic impact of gaming conferences beyond the show floor.

Live dealer streams, game-show formats, and experiential products are reshaping online casinos, blending streaming, social features, and data-driven personalisation. Engage in how operators are using these tools to boost engagement, tailor offers and lobbies, and create fun, social sessions – all while embedding responsible gambling measures.

Discover how Italy’s Riordino del Gioco Fisico and upcoming concession reforms are reshaping AWP, VLT and bingo operations while pushing retail toward PVR and franchise-based distribution models. Learn who ultimately controls the player relationship in a tightening market and how this shift affects market survival, consolidation, and channel migration to online.

Regulation is raising costs while shrinking margins. A look at whether independent venues can survive or whether Italy is heading toward a franchise-dominated retail model.

Retail venues and online platforms still run under different rules, but players don’t separate them. This session explores how operators align responsible gaming tools and communication across land-based sites, betting shops, and digital channels. Learn how consistent messaging and shared data improve compliance, strengthen player protection, and create a unified experience across every touchpoint.

Discover how amusement and non-wagering entertainment formats are expanding as operators diversify away from pure gambling revenue streams. The session will examine how hybrid entertainment venues are becoming part of broader leisure ecosystems.

Malta built the world’s first comprehensive crypto licensing framework and attracted the industry before anyone else moved. Then Brussels arrived with MiCA and rewrote the rulebook — on its own terms. This panel examines what early-mover jurisdictions actually gained from leading on regulation, and whether regulatory sovereignty in a bloc still means anything at all.

A discussion on how regulators and enforcement bodies are approaching compliance failures, market abuse, and illicit finance within the digital asset sector. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, how must exchanges, custodians, and service providers adapt their compliance strategies to remain operational in a rapidly tightening global framework?

As Europe rolls out the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, the global digital asset industry is watching closely. Is MiCA creating the most robust regulatory blueprint for crypto markets — or pushing innovation to friendlier jurisdictions? This panel compares Europe’s approach with evolving frameworks in the U.S., the UK, and Asia, exploring whether MiCA will shape the global rulebook or fragment the crypto landscape.

Three competing visions for programmable money are converging at the same moment. Stablecoins offer speed and global reach without the banking relationship; tokenized deposits preserve it; CBDCs give governments the control they never had over digital cash. This panel puts representatives of each model on stage and forces the real question: in ten years, which one is the default settlement layer — and which were just stepping stones.

Behind every crypto price is a network of market makers, liquidity providers, and prop traders whose influence is rarely disclosed and almost never scrutinised. The conflicts embedded in market-making arrangements are structural — and most institutional investors entering this asset class don’t fully understand them. This session opens the black box before it opens them.

Real-world asset tokenisation has generated some of the biggest promises in crypto — and some of the least scrutinised assumptions. Who actually holds the underlying asset? What happens to your token in a liquidity crisis, a legal dispute, or a custodian default? This panel cuts through the headline numbers to examine the structural vulnerabilities that RWA backers rarely want to discuss publicly.

The tokenised asset market has hit $34 billion and no single player controls it — yet. TradFi giants brought institutional credibility and distribution; native crypto protocols built the infrastructure and the integrations; and the battle for who owns the custody, the rails, and the end investor is far from over. This panel maps the real competitive landscape and asks who wins when the market hits the next order of magnitude.

Dubai has done what no other jurisdiction managed: turned regulatory clarity into a genuine capital magnet for the global digital asset industry. Dr Marwan Alzarouni, CEO of the Dubai Blockchain Center, sets out what comes after the foundation — the infrastructure, the institutions, and the ambitions that define Dubai’s next phase as the world’s leading digital asset hub.

The MENA conversation is dominated by licensing, institutional capital, and regulatory milestones — but the region’s most consequential crypto story is happening at the user level. Across the Middle East, crypto is being used for remittances, savings, payments, and financial access in ways that have nothing to do with ETFs or tokenised treasuries. This panel examines who the real MENA crypto user is, what they actually need, and whether the products being built for the region are meeting them where they are.

The world’s leading centralised exchanges are simultaneously competing for the same users, navigating the same regulators, and building increasingly similar product suites. Having the executives of the biggest exchanges in the same room — at the same time — is rare for a reason. This session cuts past the press releases to the real questions: who survives consolidation, where differentiation actually comes from, and what the exchange business looks like in the next cycle.

A head-to-head debate on the ultimate safe haven, comparing Bitcoin and gold in terms of volatility, adoption, and long-term reliability. Experts will discuss which asset can truly serve as a store of value in today’s economic climate.

Emerging markets remain one of the most compelling growth frontiers for FX brokers and fintechs, especially in the emerging regions. This panel brings together senior industry leaders to explore how firms can build commercial strategies, partnerships and locally relevant operating models.

How the industry is evolving into a more connected ecosystem where platforms, brokers, and prop firms each play a critical role in trader success.  

This keynote explores how AI agents are transforming fintech. AI agents are evolving from support tools into autonomous drivers of financial services. This keynote explores how they transform fintech through real-time decision-making, powering personalised advice, trading, fraud detection, and automated compliance, reshaping how institutions operate and serve customers.

As traders become more sophisticated and digital expectations for AI-driven trading continue to rise, what are the tools and technologies shaping the future of the industry? How can firms leverage AI, predictive analytics, and data to create smarter, more personalized customer journeys and redefine trader engagement?

An expert discussion on the rise of AI-powered fraud in payments and trading, from deepfakes to synthetic identities and the challenges facing the digital economy. Experts will explore emerging risks, changing fraud patterns, and the importance of collaboration, innovation, and trust in protecting businesses and customers.

How Is AI Transforming Customer Acquisition? What does it mean for forex brokers, affiliates, and introducing brokers, and how can they build scalable, compliant, and high-performing acquisition funnels?

Consumer expectations are reshaping payments through demand for faster, seamless, and secure experiences. This panel explores how PSD3 and PSR are accelerating open banking, driving innovation, and redefining products, services, risk management, and operational resilience across the payments ecosystem.

The payments world is being reshaped as stablecoins and PSPs transform how fast, low-cost, borderless transactions are delivered. This panel explores their convergence, enabling more efficient cross-border payments, new settlement models, and the evolving role of digital assets in global finance, while debating whether this shift is a threat or a major opportunity.

A practical deep-dive into Brazil’s licensing pathway, corporate structuring, tax exposure, payments setup, and local compliance obligations, equipping operators with a clear blueprint to move from regulatory approval to fully operational, risk-resilient market entry.

In several LatAm markets, 40-60% of GGR still flows through unlicensed operators, despite tightening regulation; this session gives a rare, practical view into how authorities are adjusting tactics, where they’re failing, and what operators should expect next.

Dive into the whirlwind of Mexico’s gaming regulations, federal vs. state clashes, permit renewals in limbo, and political twists, and uncover how to turn uncertainty into strategic advantage in this fast-evolving market.

Europe is increasingly a patchwork of diverging regulations, with Germany facing legal uncertainty around player claims, France and the Netherlands tightening enforcement, and grey markets expanding under stricter regimes. Assess the reality behind “one Europe,” exploring the cost of compliance vs speed to market, how operators structure tech, payments, and KYC across jurisdictions, and whether a pan-European licensing model is still viable.

Despite tighter regulation across Europe, offshore operators still capture up to 30-50% of market share in highly restricted jurisdictions, driven by faster onboarding, fewer limits, and better odds. Unpack the economic and product-driven forces behind black market growth and what must change to improve channelisation.

Despite strict regulation ensuring fairness, player mistrust remains high due to opaque UX and misunderstood mechanics, with many users underestimating RTP and overestimating risk. Unlock how transparency in product design, RNG visibility, odds clarity, and decision-making, can increase trust, retention, and long-term player value.

Top-performing executives obsess over KPIs, CAC, and revenue growth but rarely measure the biology driving every decision they make. Witness the science behind sustained cognitive performance, recovery, stress resilience, sleep optimisation, peptides, metabolic health, and emerging longevity protocols. Separate evidence from hype and discover which interventions can improve focus, energy, decision-making, and long-term executive performance without becoming another wellness fad.

Unveil how Italy’s move to single-domain licensing eliminated multi-skin ecosystems and forced operators into unified brand architectures, and how this impacts acquisition funnels, affiliate dependency, and brand consolidation strategies in a post-skin environment.

Learn how payment systems now function as both transaction infrastructure and compliance enforcement tools across retail and online environments, and learn how cashless adoption changes traceability, fraud prevention, and customer journey mapping.

Italy’s mobile experience is shaped by retail habits, regulatory constraints, UX restrictions, and payment friction that don’t exist in more open markets. A look at what mobile-first actually means in practice how operators adapt onboarding, navigation, payments, and engagement flows for thumb-driven usage while still driving conversion and retention within Italian limits.

Gifting mechanics and mystery boxes have moved from novelty to retention infrastructure, with startups leading the charge on models that go well beyond the traditional bonus. Examine what’s working, where regulators are drawing lines, and whether gamification is building genuine loyalty or just masking churn.

Which sustainability models actually work in gaming and which are just PR? Hear proven case studies from Italy and international markets, backed by research and measurable outcomes. Learn how leading operators are balancing profitability, compliance, player trust, and long-term resilience.

Explore how the communication of public gambling is changing, balancing the need for transparency and social responsibility with the dynamics of digital engagement. A discussion bringing together media professionals, industry experts and key stakeholders to examine challenges, opportunities and future perspectives of an increasingly hybrid and strategic narrative.

In a sector often shaped by polarised narratives and public scrutiny, delivering accurate, balanced and responsible reporting on public gambling is both a challenge and a duty. Media coverage plays a crucial role in shaping public perception, influencing policy debate and defining the social legitimacy of the industry.

AI-powered search is changing how customers discover, evaluate, and trust financial brands. As AI-driven search reshapes online discovery, how can firms stay visible, credible, and competitive? This panel explores the future of SEO and content, how consumers use AI to research financial services, and the strategies firms need to drive discovery, trust, and customer acquisition. 

Are Prop Firms the Next Regulatory Target? The proprietary trading industry has grown rapidly, driven by retail demand, online platforms, and challenge-based models. As global expansion continues, regulatory scrutiny and risk are emerging as key factors shaping the future of prop firms and the wider industry.

In 2026’s volatile markets, shaped by geopolitics, shifting rates, and fragmented liquidity, execution is under pressure. This panel explores how liquidity providers adapt to risk, whether liquidity is fragmenting, and how brokers can ensure consistent execution using technology, smart routing, and deeper liquidity access.

In this fireside chat, we’ll explore key technology priorities for brokers, including data integration and hosting, CRM systems, cybersecurity, and automation. Discover how these technologies can improve efficiency, strengthen security, enhance client service, and help brokerage businesses prepare for the future.

Is CPA still the dominant choice, or are revenue share and hybrid structures becoming the preferred route for sustainable growth?Industry experts will discuss the pros and cons of CPA, RevShare, and hybrid models, how to align incentives between partners, and what deal structures are delivering the best long-term results in today’s financial services landscape.

Why do some trading communities explode while others die? Discover how leading affiliates and influencers use Telegram, Discord, gamification, live trading sessions, and educational funnels to grow engaged communities, increase trust, and improve trader retention.

This workshop offers an in‑depth look at Africa’s evolving gaming landscape, from rapid tax model shifts and licensing restructures to heightened scrutiny of foreign operators and political risk exposure. Participants will gain practical strategies to navigate regulatory changes, optimize market entry, and safeguard operations across diverse African jurisdictions.

Fraud in iGaming has surged 64% YoY, with AI-driven scams such as deepfakes increasing 10x. Organised fraud networks are using automation, synthetic identities, and cross-border coordination to outpace traditional detection and enforcement. Examine where operator controls, regulatory oversight, and investigative efforts are falling behind and what must change to accelerate detection and response.

If your anti-fraud strategy begins and ends with static rules, you’re leaving money on the table. Discover the hidden capabilities that catch sophisticated fraud while improving conversion, player acquisition, and long-term revenue.

With 82.9% of operators reporting increased fraud and ~42% of attacks targeting the deposit stage, this live simulation pits fraud tactics against AML teams in real time, exposing exactly where detection fails and how fast responses need to be. Drawing on frontline investigative experience, the discussion will examine how criminal networks exploit weaknesses across payments, onboarding, and transaction monitoring and what operators can do to stay ahead.

Pop-ups, deposit limits, AI monitoring, affordability checks – which tools genuinely protect players, and which simply satisfy regulators? Hear how companies are combining tech, data, and human support to reduce harm while maintaining player trust.

Finland’s parliament has approved the country’s biggest gambling reform in decades, replacing Veikkaus’ online monopoly with a licensing system from 2027. Learn what drove the decision, how Finland plans to channel players back into the regulated market, and what other jurisdictions can learn from its transition.

In high-stakes iGaming, the balance between commercial control and authentic connection defines whether a VIP becomes a long-term asset or a short-term spike in revenue. This panel dissects the invisible power dynamics shaping high-value player relationships: from boundary-setting and risk management to emotional leverage and loyalty architecture.

Female participation in sports, esports, and mobile gaming is rising across Europe, while betting products and UX remain largely male-focused. With acquisition costs increasing, this gap is becoming a missed growth opportunity. Unveil why the industry has lagged behind, what female engagement data shows, and how operators can better design products and acquisition strategies to capture this segment.

AI is reshaping iGaming hiring, where CVs and job titles are losing relevance to adaptability, AI fluency, and reputation-based evaluation. At the same time, companies are struggling to retain experienced talent as automation reshapes roles, increases mid-level churn, and exposes weak progression paths. Learn where AI hiring works and fails, what signals matter beyond CVs, and how operators are improving retention and reducing mid-level attrition.

Access how the removal of multi-brand and “skin” strategies forces operators back into single-brand acquisition models, eliminating arbitrage tactics that previously reduced CPA volatility. The discussion will show how operators are compensating through CRM, SEO, and owned media channels.

In the U.S., prediction market platforms like Novig are pivoting toward federal regulatory frameworks under the CFTC, challenging the status quo of state‑by‑state sports betting regulation. Dissect how prediction markets blur lines between gambling and financial products, why current legal ambiguity cost operators time and money, and what federal regulation could mean for nationwide liquidity and compliance scalability.

Unveil how behavioural tracking systems now process thousands of player signals per second to detect risk patterns, with operators increasingly required to intervene before regulatory thresholds are breached. The session will break down how predictive models are being used to balance compliance with retention pressure.

As major events (e.g., FIFA World Cup 2026) stress test betting technology and integrity systems, operators are under pressure to prove systemic maturity and risk controls ahead of record handle spikes. Reveal how high‑volume events expose flaws in sportsbook tech, why regulators are demanding stronger real‑time integrity surveillance, and what practical system upgrades actually reduce regulatory risk at scale.

Consultants and representatives from regulatory and certification bodies explain when the term “traceability” is misused, and what risks may arise both for providers offering non-compliant services and for companies that use them.

Every day, new payment solutions are launched claiming major advantages over competitors but what are those advantages in practice? How do these systems actually work? What are the real differences, benefits, and hidden risks?

As crypto assets, tokenised markets, and prediction platforms grow, the lines between investing, speculation, and gambling are becoming harder to define. Industry leaders and regulatory experts examine where these models fit legally, how risk is assessed, and whether they represent competition, convergence, or a new category entirely.

We´re championing up-and-coming startups with the exciting Pitch competition. Held live on stage, it’s your chance to connect with investors and VCs—don’t miss this golden opportunity!

The first wave of blockchain gaming burned players with tokenomics dressed as gameplay. The studios still standing learned a different lesson: the best Web3 game is one where players never have to think about the blockchain. This panel examines the stealth adoption strategy — real games, real studios, real retention — and whether invisible infrastructure is finally the unlock the industry needed.

Crypto price discovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum. This session opens the black box — how market making actually works, what the conflicts of interest are, and what happens to liquidity when conditions deteriorate.

In no other asset class does social narrative move price the way it does in crypto. An honest conversation about how influence actually operates — who the real power brokers are, and whether the relationship between creators and the projects they promote is sustainable.

Capital, users, and builders are consolidating around a shrinking set of ecosystems. The people building the actual plumbing of Web3 — connectivity layers, cross-chain protocols, oracles — argue which components of the stack are genuinely durable.

The traditional startup playbook says hire fast, build a team, scale headcount. A new generation of founders is ignoring it entirely – using AI to run operations, generate content, close sales, and ship product with a team of one. This panel examines whether the solo AI-native founder is an anomaly or the new default, and what it means for venture, talent, and the economics of building a company.

The next wave of internet users won’t be human. AI agents are already executing transactions, querying APIs and managing accounts at a scale no human can match, and almost none of the infrastructure they’re hitting was built for them. This panel examines what has to be rebuilt before the agentic economy can actually work.

A hands-on 25-minute session with Tony Ventura exploring how AI tools are reshaping business, creativity, and decision-making in real time. Less theory, more demonstration — expect live examples, tools you can use the same day, and a Latin American perspective on why digital transformation is accelerating faster in emerging markets than anywhere else.

Watch a humanoid robot deliver savage stand-up comedy before taking your toughest questions live in an unfiltered AMA.

The most useful investors are the ones who’ve had to make payroll, fire someone they believed in, and watch a competitor ship faster. This panel brings together founders who became capital allocators to talk about what crossing that line actually changes – how they evaluate founders differently, what they were wrong about when they were building, and what separates the companies worth backing from the ones that only sound like they are.

Institutional capital spent years watching digital assets from a safe distance. That phase is over. This panel examines where conviction is actually building among the allocators who move real volume – what the investment thesis looks like now, how they evaluate founders differently from crypto-native VCs, and what Web3 and AI companies consistently get wrong when they walk into a serious capital conversation.

As financial advice increasingly moves from traditional institutions to TikTok creators, YouTubers, Instagram personalities, and “finfluencers,” regulators are racing to keep up. In an era where viral content can move markets, shape investor behavior, and blur the line between education and promotion, financial firms face a new challenge: how to stay compliant while remaining culturally relevant and digitally competitive.

Cross-border payments are the backbone of international trade, powering everything from e-commerce and remittances to B2B transactions and marketplace settlements. As businesses demand faster, more transparent, and cost-effective global payments, the industry is embracing instant payment networks, interoperability, AI-driven payment orchestration, and digital assets. This panel explores how banks, PSPs, fintechs, and payment innovators are building the next generation of cross-border payment infrastructure while balancing speed, compliance, and resilience.

Leading experts will discuss the trends and innovations shaping the markets of tomorrow. From macroeconomic shifts and geopolitical events to AI-powered solutions, digital assets, crypto payment evolution, regulatory frameworks, and next-generation trading infrastructure, this panel will provide insights into the opportunities and challenges that will define forex in 2027 and beyond.