SBC Summit Malta will bring together some of the industry’s most influential executives to discuss how they are responding to pressures across the market, and where they believe new opportunities are emerging.
Across three sessions, CEOs, CMOs, and COOs will each take the stage to share their perspective, covering strategy, marketing, and operational growth from the leadership level.
Together, these conversations offer a rare opportunity to hear how the leaders running Europe’s gaming businesses are thinking about the challenges ahead and the decisions that will shape the next phase of the industry’s evolution.
Below, we take a closer look at the three C-suite sessions.
The CEO Chat Show: Leadership in the Hot Seat
Wednesday 29 April | Marketing Unplugged | 11:30 – 12:15
What to Expect:
Unlike a traditional panel discussion, the CEO Chat Show is designed to deliver fast-paced and candid insights from some of Europe’s most influential gaming leaders.
Each CEO takes the stage for a 10–15-minute fireside conversation, discussing the strategic challenges facing the industry, the decisions shaping their organisation’s future, and where they see the next opportunities for growth.
Before leaving the stage, every CEO will pose a closing question for the next guest in the chair, creating a unique chain of leadership perspectives that evolves throughout the session.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to navigate regulations across Europe’s varied jurisdictions
- How to identify emerging markets offering opportunities for growth
- Which technological innovations, from AI to new products, can spark growth in a competitive market
Meet the CEOs:
- Jesper Kärrbrink, CEO, Immense Group
With CEO roles across Svenska Spel, Mr Green, Eniro and Euroflorist, Kärrbrink has over three decades of leadership experience. Now CEO of Immense Group (Videoslots, Mr Vegas), he brings a high-level strategic perspective on leadership, regulation, and scaling in Europe.
- Francesco Postiglione, CEO, Casumo
Since stepping into the CEO role at Casumo in 2023, Postiglione has drawn on experience from Betclic, Napoleon, and Hattrick to steer the brand through a shifting regulatory and competitive landscape. His perspective combines operational know-how with a strong understanding of what it takes to grow and differentiate in Europe.
- Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO, EvenBet Gaming
With more than 20 years in software development and iGaming, Starostenkov leads EvenBet Gaming, a global provider of online poker solutions. His expertise sits at the intersection of technology and product innovation, offering a valuable perspective on how platforms can evolve to meet changing player expectations.
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The CMO Review: Campaigns Under the Spotlight
Wednesday 29 April | Marketing Unplugged | 12:15 – 13:00
What to Expect:
Europe’s leading gaming CMOs will analyse real campaigns from both within and outside the industry live on stage.
Attendees will gain insight into how successful brands balance creativity with regulatory compliance while still driving player acquisition and engagement across Europe’s markets.
The session will also feature a live Q&A element, allowing delegates to put their own marketing challenges to the experts.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to build creative campaigns that drive acquisition while staying compliant in tightly regulated markets
- How the gaming industry can learn from high-performing campaigns outside the sector
- Where gaming campaigns have fallen foul of regulations, and how to avoid the same mistakes
Speakers:
- Nikola Jellacic, CMO, Casumo
With a background spanning nine years at Google and a senior role at Superbet, Jellacic brings a strong mix of big tech and operator-side experience. As Casumo’s CMO since 2023, he’s focused on building campaigns that cut through in increasingly restricted and competitive markets.
- Marco Trucco, CMO, Immense Group
Trucco has built his career across some of the industry’s biggest names, including Coral, The Stars Group, and GGPoker. Now leading marketing at Immense Group, he brings a sharp understanding of how brands evolve and stay relevant in a crowded European landscape.
- Sam Behar, Marketing Director, Sky Gaming
With a creative track record shaped at Marathonbet and LeoVegas, Behar has worked across a range of bold, performance-driven brands. At Sky Gaming, he focuses on delivering campaigns that balance standout creativity with the realities of a tightly regulated market.
Related Sessions:
- Marketing channels – The Marketing Balancing Act: Where to Spend, Where to Save in 2026–2027
- Media & Messaging: From Sales to Storytelling in a Restricted Age (Panel + Interactive Workshop)
- Crisis Comms Masterclass: Who Got It Right? (Case Study + Workshop)
The COO Horizon: Challenges and Opportunities in 2026/27
Wednesday 29 April | Risk, Regulation & Resilience | 15:00 – 15:45
What to Expect:
Europe’s leading gaming COOs will discuss the challenges facing operators in the coming years, from rising taxes to increasing compliance demands.
The conversation will also examine how businesses can unlock new opportunities through AI-driven automation, improved supplier integration, and expansion into new markets.
What You’ll Learn:
- What upcoming tax changes and evolving compliance standards across Europe mean for operators
- How AI and smarter supplier integration can unlock operational efficiency and growth
- Where companies should invest budget, with our COOs providing a roadmap for growth to attendees.
Speakers:
- Ramon Glieneke, COO, Alea
With a background spanning startups and scale-ups, Glieneke has built and led businesses across multiple industries, including founding Planthia, a plant-based cosmetics brand focused on sustainable, natural products. Now COO at Alea, he brings a hands-on perspective on operational efficiency, supplier integration, and how platforms scale in a fast-moving market.
- Tom McGovern, Chief Operations Officer, Flutter
McGovern has risen through the ranks at Flutter, from handling customer complaints to leading operations at one of the world’s largest gaming groups. His experience offers a grounded, inside-out view of how large organisations manage complexity, regulation, and growth at scale.
- Tim De Borle, COO, Casumo
After rising to CEO at Napoleon Sports & Casino, De Borle joined Casumo as COO in 2023. His leadership experience across both operational and executive roles gives him a clear perspective on how companies adapt their structures to support sustainable growth.
- Chris McGowan, COO, Scatters
McGowan has built his career within the gaming sector, including roles at Condor Gaming and Cassava Enterprises before stepping into leadership at Scatters. His experience across product and operations brings insight into how smaller and mid-sized businesses compete and scale in today’s market.
Related Sessions:
- Regulation: Tax Hikes, Player Migration and the Black Market Effect
- Tax Hikes 2026: Market Shocks, Regulatory Risks & Margin Impact
- Cybersecurity in iGaming: The Rising Cost of Breaches
Final Thoughts
Europe’s gaming industry is undergoing a period of rapid evolution, driven by changes in regulation, tax structures, and technological innovation. SBC Summit Malta offers delegates from across company teams the opportunity to gain valuable leadership insight from the executives navigating this change. The ones who are actively shaping the industry.
Explore SBC Summit Malta’s full conference agenda here.
