SBC Summit North America 2023 Sees Overwhelming Success
SBC is celebrating the tremendous success of the SBC Summit North America conference and tradeshow that set a new record for the organizer by attracting over 3,000 attendees on May 9-11 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, New Jersey.
Widely recognized as the premier gathering for North American iGaming industry and sports betting companies, this remarkable event featured three action-packed days filled with informative conference sessions led by over 300 distinguished speakers. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to explore a dynamic exhibition area with 60 booths and enjoy lively networking events in the evenings.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, said: “The atmosphere at the Summit was absolutely electric. The spirit of collaboration was embraced wholeheartedly, with people exchanging ideas left and right! This wasn’t just our biggest event in North America; it was also our most engaging ever. What really excited me was seeing so many new faces this time around. It’s clear that the Summit is growing, attracting fresh perspectives and voices.”
The event kicked off with an exclusive power-packed pre-day conference on May 9 at the Altman Building in Chelsea that zeroed in on the critical subjects of Player Protection, Compliance, and Leadership, captivating the attention of 300 industry leaders.
SBC Summit North America witnessed numerous remarkable moments, with the keynotes delivered by esteemed leaders standing out prominently. Among them, Fanatics Betting and Gaming CEO, Matt King, took the stage and shared invaluable insights on revolutionizing sports betting and iGaming with a fresh mindset. Another prominent speaker was the world-renowned cybersecurity expert and fraud prevention specialist, Frank Abagnale, whose life story inspired Steven Spielberg’s film “Catch Me if You Can.”
The event further benefited from the expertise of notable personalities such as Barry Gibson (Chairman, Entain), Bill Miller (President and CEO, American Gaming Association), Richard Schwartz (CEO of Rush Street Interactive), Jan Jones Blackhurst (Board Member, Caesars Entertainment), Justin Dellario (Managing Director of Esports, Entain & CEO, Unikrn) and Susan Jensen (Executive Director, CNIGA).
“The quality of our conference sessions was off the charts. We took things up a notch by expanding to a lower floor to accommodate even more top speakers and discussion topics. The conference rooms were packed with not only insightful panels but also individuals ready to absorb this information and drive the industry forward,” Sojmark added.
“It’s actually one of my favorite conferences. This is my third time at the event and the growth that I have seen from the first time I attended is incredible. There are so many more people here and I feel like we’re at the brink of maybe even outgrowing the space. Everybody is here to help each other out and bring the industry forward. The event has allowed us to be accountable for our goals by setting us up for success.” said Cassie Brickman, CEO at Betting Hero.
At the evening networking event held at the iconic Slate NYC on May 10, SBC unveiled the esteemed quartet of industry titans whose legacies secured their coveted positions in the 2023 Sports Betting Hall of Fame. Among the honored inductees were Michael Gaughan (Owner of South Point Casino), Nick Bogdanovich (Sportsbook Manager/Oddsmaker, Circa Sports), Trish Lewandowski (Sportsbook District Manager, Caesars Digital) and David L. Rebuck (Director of the NJ Department of Gaming Enforcement).
The fierce SBC First Pitch North America competition showcased five startups vying for the grand prize package worth over $55,000 to fuel their development. Scrimmage, the retention tool revolutionizing the betting space by designing a gamified rewards program to boost user engagement, emerged as the winner.
The SBC Awards North America ceremony unfolded at the illustrious New York Hilton Midtown, bringing together 600 guests to honor the accomplishments of outstanding operators, affiliates, suppliers and Tribal-led companies. Hosted by New York Yankees’ clubhouse reporter for the YES Network Mederith Marakovitz, the lavish event recognized exemplary companies including FanDuel, Sportradar, Better Collective, BetMGM, Desert Diamond Sports, and OpenBet among the winners.
Furthermore, this year’s edition was enriched by an array of highly successful daytime networking events. The highly anticipated Tribal Gaming Breakfast, African Americans in Gaming, and Global Gaming Women meetups provided invaluable opportunities for industry professionals to connect, while the Affiliate meet-up at the OpenBet Sports Bar served as an informal environment to exchange ideas.
Alex Dixon, CEO at DRA & Q Casino, said: “The connections I’ve been able to establish have been simply phenomenal. What’s truly amazing about this conference is how it brings together the entire industry, helping us not only stay rooted in what’s happening but also identify the driving forces behind innovation. The execution of the event has been outstanding, and it begins well before the actual event itself. Starting six months prior, you’re already being contacted, and in a very short period of time, you can build relationships that propel your business forward. That’s why I keep coming back year after year. This is the Super Bowl of sports betting.”
After a resoundingly successful event, SBC Summit North America is set to make a triumphant return to the Meadowlands Exposition Center on May 7-9, 2024.
