Attending an industry event for the first time can feel a little overwhelming, right?
Having only been in the industry for just over two years myself, I can still remember walking into my first event (CasinoBeats Summit 2023) and thinking, “Wow, what have I just stepped into?”
I’d barely stepped out of the lift at the InterContinental Malta before being hit by a sea of exhibitor stand lights, crowds of eager delegates ready to learn, and the unmistakable buzz of deals being done all around me. It was a lot to take in, but it also showed the wealth of opportunities available to SBC attendees.
So, as we gear up for the second edition of the newly revamped SBC Summit Malta, I thought: What better time to create the ultimate first-timers’ playbook?
Whether this is your first SBC event or your first ever industry conference, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from setting your goals and booking the right ticket to breezing through badge collection like a pro.
Let’s dive in.
SBC Summit Malta: The Lowdown for Newcomers
Last year, the industry lit up when we announced that our long-running CasinoBeats Summit was evolving into SBC Summit Malta.
Now, this wasn’t just a name change (though it does sound pretty slick alongside our other global events). It marked our move away from a purely casino-focused gathering to one that represents the entire European betting and gaming landscape.
For first-timers, this means the conference agenda is more diverse than ever, featuring panels on iGaming, sports betting, payments, European regulation, marketing and affiliation, alongside a variety of workshops.
But don’t worry, if education isn’t your thing (although we highly recommend you reconsider), the event will also feature an expanded show floor hosting leading European operators, affiliates, game studios and providers, as well as networking opportunities both throughout the day and into the evening.
So, in short, if you are an industry stakeholder from Europe or operating ANYWHERE in Europe, looking to educate, network or explore the latest technologies, SBC Summit Malta is the event for you.
Now, let’s explore how you can make the most of your time as a first-time attendee.
Event Action Plan: Know What You Want to Get from SBC Summit Malta
April might feel far off, but trust me, you’ll be walking through the doors of the InterContinental Malta before you know it.
That’s why defining your event goals early is key to making the most of your time (and investment). Understanding your event ROI shapes every decision you make before the event, from choosing the right ticket type to scheduling meetings, booking travel, and aligning your team’s objectives.
Here are a few tips to help you maximise the business value of attending the event while keeping your experience smooth and stress-free:
- Define your event focus: Are you attending for education, networking or deal-making? Some delegates want the full SBC Summit Malta experience, whilst others may be laser-focused on business meetings or conference content. Clarifying your priorities helps you choose the most relevant ticket type for you and save money in the process.
- Set a meeting goal: Setting a target number of meetings (say 10) is a great way to help guide your outreach strategy. It determines how early you start connecting via the SBC Connect app (up to six weeks), and influences how many team members to bring along.
- Do your research early: Review the conference agenda, speaker list, and exhibitor lineup as soon as they’re released. Highlight key sessions and add them to your calendar, and keep a note of the people most relevant to your goals so you can prioritise your time effectively.
- Optimise your profile on SBC Connect: A complete and professional profile increases your visibility to other attendees. Include a clear bio, profile photo, and details about what you’re looking for (or offering).
- Plan your networking strategy: Identify which networking events align with your objectives, whether it’s building relationships at the ‘Opening Party’ or heightening brand awareness at the SBC Awards Europe ceremony. There’s plenty of networking on offer, so make sure you utilise the opportunities!
- Promote your attendance: Announce your participation on LinkedIn to increase event participation and networking opportunities. Tag #SBCSummitMalta and the official SBC LinkedIn accounts to expand your reach.
- Align with your team: If you’re attending with colleagues, decide who will focus on which verticals, clients, or prospects. A coordinated approach ensures broader coverage and better ROI.
- Prepare your talking points and materials: Have sales pitches, digital one-pagers, or product demos ready. This saves time and makes you look organised and professional.
The Early Bird Catches the Worm (and Saves €200!)
Imagine being able to say, “I just secured access to everything SBC Summit Malta has to offer and saved €200 doing it.”
That’s exactly what you’ll be telling your colleagues if you take advantage of our limited-time Early Bird offer!
The Early Bird deal gives you a VIP Event Pass at a discounted price of €400 (normally €600), unlocking access to everything that makes SBC Summit Malta unmissable at an unbeatable price!
A VIP Event Pass grants you:
- Full access to the show floor across both core days, featuring over 75 European brands.
- Entry to all educational content, including sessions on sports betting, iGaming, payments, affiliation, regulation, keynotes, and workshops.
- Admission to our evening networking events, including the Opening Party (Tuesday 28 April), the SBC Summit Malta Official Party (Wednesday 29 April) and the SBC Summit Malta Closing Party(Thursday 30 April).
- Complimentary food and drinks throughout both event days.
- Unlimited access and messaging via the SBC Connect app, allowing you to browse exhibitors, schedule meetings, and connect with fellow attendees.
- On-demand educational content after the event, available through SBC Connect.
The Early Bird offer really is the best value for money when attending SBC Summit Malta, but be quick, the offer ends Friday, 6 February!
Click here to secure your Early Bird discount today!
Operator and Affiliate Passes
If you’re an operator or an affiliate, good news: you qualify for a free Full Event Pass!
Simply fill out the application form, and once our team confirms your company type, you’ll receive your ticket within 3–5 working days.
Expo+ Pass
Not planning to experience everything SBC Summit Malta has to offer? In that case, you should consider our Expo+ Pass!
Priced at just €150, the Expo+ Pass is perfect for those focused on learning and deal-making or those simply on a budget.
Enjoy full access to panels, keynotes, workshops, and the show floor across both days of the event! (Please note: this pass doesn’t include complimentary food and drink or access to evening networking events.)
Purchase your Expo+ Pass here.
Bringing the Team?
If you’re attending with three or more colleagues, make sure to grab our Group Pass.
From Monday, 9 February, you can save €200 per ticket when purchasing three or more VIP Event Passes in one booking, meaning you’ll pay just €400 each.
(Pssst… that’s the same price as our Early Bird offer, but we’ll keep that between us!)
Badge Collection: Skip the Queues and Stroll In Like a Pro
With 6,000 attendees expected at the event, badge collection will naturally get a little hectic. But it doesn’t have to.
You can pick up your badge a day before the main event on Tuesday, 28 April, between 12:00–17:00 at the InterContinental Malta. This usually takes no more than five minutes and can save you valuable time during the main event.
As it’s normally quieter during this period, this is a perfect opportunity to assign a team member to collect everyone’s badges at once, meaning no one in your team gets left behind waiting in line!
Additionally, you can pick up your badge at Tuesday evening’s Opening Party while enjoying music, drinks, and beautiful St. Julian’s views.
Badge Colours:
When you collect your badge, you might notice it’s a different colour from others, and that’s by design. Badges are colour-coded for Operators, Affiliates, and Delegates to make networking and lead generation smoother and more efficient.
- Operators: Yellow
- Affiliates: Purple
- Delegates: Blue
Book your Flights and Hotels Now:
When it comes to hotels and flights, we can’t stress this enough: book early!
With thousands of delegates flying in, flights and hotels sell out fast, and prices climb even faster, so sorting the logistics early can save serious money and serious headaches.
But before you book, let’s take a look at some of the hotels on offer.
The InterContinental Hotel:
As the official host venue for SBC Summit Malta, we’ve secured exclusive preferential rates for all attendees — making it a no-brainer!
Additionally, with the event taking place inside the hotel, you’ll be just seconds away from the action. This means no daily travel, later alarm times, and the chance to head back to the room if you need a moment to refresh and recharge.
If you would prefer some distance from the event, that’s no problem. We have highlighted a number of surrounding hotels. Here, you’ll see their proximity to the venue and their most up-to-date Booking.com rating.
Luxury Hotels
- Hyatt Regency Malta Rating: 9.2/10 | 4-minute walk (300m)
- Hilton Malta: Rating: 8.9/10 | 6-minute walk (500m)
- The Westin Dragonara Resort: Rating: 9.2/10 | 8-minute walk (700m)
- ME Malta by Melia: Rating 9.3 | 8-minute walk (700m)
Mid-Range Hotels
- be.HOTEL: Rating: 8.8/10 | 2-minute walk (100m)
- Holiday Inn Express Malta: Rating: 9.0/10 | 3-minute walk (200m)
- Hotel Valentina: Rating: 8.6/10 | 5-minute walk (400m)
Budget Hotels
- Antoniel Suites: Rating: 9.0/10 | 6-minute walk (500m)
- Allegro Hotel: Rating: 7.9/10 | 8-minute walk (700m)
- Hotel Argento: Rating: 8.1/10 | 9-minute walk (650m)
Conference Agenda: Know Your Tracks to Stay on Track
SBC Summit Malta’s three-stage educational agenda brings together more than 150 of the industry’s brightest minds to share their experience, discuss current trends and look to the future of European iGaming and sports betting.
Knowing which panels and workshops align best with your business goals will help you plan your days effectively, ensuring you spend time where it counts and avoid the last-minute dash between sessions.
To focus your learning, each stage is themed around three key focus areas:
- Marketing: Covering affiliation, influencer marketing, emerging channels, player retention, loyalty, AI, and data-driven strategies and more.
- Product: Exploring sports betting, iGaming, gamification, crypto, the 2026 World Cup, and product innovation and more.
- Operations & Compliance: Focused on cybersecurity, payment fraud, tax and regulatory updates, operational intelligence, and player protection and more.
Workshops
Following their success last year, SBC Summit Malta 2026 will once again host two dedicated workshop rooms running throughout both core days.
Each workshop is led by an industry expert and designed to foster valuable collaboration, with delegates able to ask questions directly to experts and exchange ideas with peers in a more personal setting.
- Workshop Room One – Purpose, Policy & PR: Explore crisis communication, ESG, HR, AI, personal branding, media strategy, and women in tech.
- Workshop Room Two – Digital Powerhouses: Dive into sessions on OpenAI, Google marketing, TikTok and Meta strategies, affiliate innovation, and mastering the ever-evolving world of SEO.
Networking On and Off the Show Floor
If you’re serious about making a splash in Malta, networking should be right at the top of your priority list.
Effective networking can be the difference between maintaining the status quo and discovering a breakthrough technology or partnership that takes your business to the next level.
Luckily, SBC Summit Malta is built with networking in mind, with opportunities woven throughout the show floor, conference, and dedicated evening events, ensuring you’ll never be short of chances to connect with the industry’s biggest players!
Here are some key ways to network like a pro before, during, and after the event:
Pre-Event Networking
Don’t wait until you arrive in Malta to start building connections. Promote your attendance on social media using the hashtag #SBCSummitMalta and keep an eye out for branded event assets that will be shared closer to the date.
You can also get a head start by reaching out to attendees through the SBC Connect app a month before the event. The earlier you start, the more meaningful your schedule (and conversations) will be once you’re at the event.
On the Show Floor
If a booth is a little too busy, or you’re after a quieter space to talk business, take advantage of the various networking facilities dotted around the venue. From the dedicated SBC Connect Lounge (F100) to multiple refreshment areas, you’ll find plenty of comfortable spots for more relaxed, one-on-one discussions.
During the Conference Panels
It might not seem like the most obvious networking opportunity, but conference sessions can be a goldmine for connections.
With 150 expert speakers across the agenda, take the chance to approach a panellist after their session and continue the discussion, ask a question, or simply introduce yourself.
Don’t overlook your fellow attendees either. You’ll be surrounded by people who share your interests and challenges. Strike up conversations before or after a session, share your perspective, and connect over common ground. You never know who might offer the perfect insight or solution.
Evening Networking Events
SBC Summit Malta features three unmissable evening networking events:
- Opening Party (Tuesday, 28th April)
- SBC Summit Malta Official Party (Wednesday, 29th April)
- SBC Summit Malta Closing Party (Thursday, 30th April)
These gatherings are ideal for breaking the ice before the event and leaving a lasting impression afterwards. With drinks in hand, great music, and the stunning Maltese coastline as your backdrop, there’s truly no better way to build relationships in a more casual, memorable and most importantly, fun setting.
Download the SBC Connect App
If this is your first SBC Event, there is a chance you may not be familiar with our in-house event app, SBC Connect.
This is essentially your personal event companion, equipped with tools and features set to streamline your event experience and bring your networking to an entirely new level.
Here’s what it can do for you:
- Efficient Meeting Scheduling: Arrange meetings with delegates in advance for seamless networking. Meetings are automatically set in the SBC Connect Lounge, but with multiple lounges across the show floor, you’ll always find a comfortable spot for focused conversations. (Note: Expo+ holders can make up to 50 meeting requests)
- Digital Badges: Share your credentials instantly using your personal QR code (available on the mobile app).
- Advanced User Search: With 6,000 industry stakeholders attending, including operators, affiliates, suppliers, payment experts, and senior-level decision-makers, efficient networking is key. Use advanced filters to find people by company, job title, or sector and connect faster.
- Private Chats: Start conversations before the event or message contacts during it. Whether confirming a meeting or sending a quick follow-up, the app’s built-in chat keeps communication smooth.
- Comprehensive Company List: Plan ahead by browsing all registered companies and their delegates directly in the app. Prioritise meetings and make sure you’re connecting with the people that matter most.
- Interactive Floor Plan: Explore the show floor effortlessly with a digital map showing exhibitors, conference stages, and networking areas.
- Exhibitor Information: Access full exhibitor profiles, including stand numbers, to help you target key contacts and avoid aimless wandering.
- Full Conference Agenda: From unmissable keynotes to panel discussions with top CEOs, browse the full schedule, save your favourites, and receive real-time updates so you never miss a session.
- On-Demand Session Access: Couldn’t attend every panel? No problem! Catch up on all sessions, presentations, and keynotes after the event, directly through the app.
- Real-Time Alerts & Notifications: Stay in the loop with last-minute updates, new sessions, and important announcements. Just be sure to enable notifications!
SBC Summit Malta will be available on the SBC Connect App approximately six weeks before the event. Download now on Android & IOS devices.
SBC Awards Europe: Get your nominations ready
On the evening of Thursday, 30 April, SBC will host the second edition of the SBC Awards Europe, a night dedicated to celebrating the industry’s most innovative and impactful operators, affiliates, and suppliers.
This glamorous ceremony is more than just an awards show; it’s a chance to recognise excellence, raise your company’s profile, and network with some of the biggest names shaping the future of European gaming.
Award entries go live on the 2nd December, giving you plenty of time to plan your entries and avoid the last-minute rush. Who knows, it might even inspire you to launch a product or campaign early to make the eligibility window!
Award categories span everything from product innovation and marketing excellence to leadership, growth, and emerging talent, so there’s bound to be one that fits your business.
Take a look at last year’s winners for inspiration, start crafting your entries, and maybe clear a little space in your suitcase for that shiny new trophy.
Please note that entry to the SBC Awards Europe requires a separate ticket. Tickets can be sold individually or by table. You can purchase your tickets here.
