Since the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, the US gaming market has undergone rapid expansion, with regulated sports betting and iGaming playing a central role in its growth. In 2024, total commercial gaming revenue reached a record US$72 billion, making the US the most lucrative gaming market globally.
But just because a market is mature does not mean it is not subject to change. The rise of prediction markets has shaken up the industry, with the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings moving to create their own offerings in response to competition from Kalshi and Polymarket. Regulation continues to evolve too, with potential changes to how lottery couriers operate and player protection something that may soon be on the horizon.
There is also a huge potential new opportunity for the industry with the US hosting the World Cup this summer. Record sign-ups and revenue are expected, but how can operators turn this enthusiasm into long-term retention and revenue?
These are the topics that will be tackled by over 250 expert speakers at SBC Summit Americas, with dedicated conference tracks to sports betting and casino, payments and technology, marketing and affiliation, and regulation and compliance.
The speakers on these tracks are led by years of experience. They are the operators, regulators, and affiliates reacting to and shaping the industry in response to changes in the North American market.
While it would be impossible to highlight all of the speakers featured across our conference agenda, we’ve selected ten of the most influential for this blog. You’ll find out more about each speaker, the panel they are appearing on, and all the details you need if you’d like to connect with them ahead of their session.
Jon Bowden, CMO, Playstar
Role: CMO, PlayStar
Experience: 15+ years across brands such as Entain, Ladbrokes, Coral, and PlayStar
Focus: Brand strategy, marketing leadership, and customer growth in regulated gaming markets
Region: US, New Jersey
LinkedIn: Jon Bowden, PlayStar
PlayStar
PlayStar is an operator that prioritizes personalization for its players. Launched in New Jersey in 2022, PlayStar is now a top 10 online casino revenue driver in the state.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- Beyond the Link: Redefining Affiliate Growth Through Emerging Channels: An in-depth look at how affiliates can move beyond the traditional playbook of search tactics by investing and growing on channels such as TikTok, Threads, YouTube Shorts, podcasts, and live streaming.
Jon Ford, Former Senator, Indiana State
Role: Executive Director, Indiana Office of Energy Development
Experience: 9+ years serving in the Indiana State Senate. Leadership roles in gaming policy at the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States
Focus: State gaming regulation, public policy, and legislative leadership in gaming and sports betting
Region: US, Indiana
LinkedIn: Jon Ford, Indiana Office of Energy Development
Indiana Office of Energy Development
The Indiana Office of Energy Development is the agency responsible for the state of Indiana’s energy policy. It works across government, industry, and communities to support reliable, affordable energy solutions.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- Crackdown on Unregulated Gaming: Where States Draw the Line: State regulators across the U.S. are stepping up efforts to tackle unregulated gaming. Ford will be joined by fellow regulators and operators as they assess how to tackle unregulated gaming. The panel will also discuss the impact that unregulated gaming is having on licensed operators.
Sheila Morago, CEO, Trilogy Group
Role: CEO, Trilogy Group
Experience: 20+ years in the tribal gaming sector, including senior leadership roles at the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association and the Arizona Indian Gaming Association
Focus: Tribal gaming governance, industry collaboration, regulatory engagement, and community-driven innovation across North American gaming markets
Region: US, Arizona
LinkedIn: Sheila Morago, Trilogy Group
Trilogy Group
Trilogy Group provides strategic advisory and event services to gaming organisations, trade associations, and stakeholders, with a focus on tribal gaming, government relations, and industry engagement.
Where You’ll Hear Her Speak
- From Regulation to Representation: Giving Tribes a Voice in the Future of U. S. Gaming: Speakers will discuss how tribal operators can work together to ensure their voices are heard in shaping the future of US gaming policy amid threats from grey market competitors.
Joshua Sterling, Partner, Milbank
Role: Partner, Milbank
Experience: 15+ years of legal leadership experience across Milbank LLP, Jones Day, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Region: US, Washington D.C
LinkedIn: Josh Sterling, Milbank LLP
Milbank LLP
Milbank LLP is a global law firm headquartered in New York City, known for advising on complex corporate, financial and litigation matters for leading institutions, governments and multinational clients. Milbank is internationally recognized as a leader in major corporate/finance transactions and boasts 11 offices across the globe.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- The Current State of Prediction Markets in the US: Prediction markets are the US’s hottest topic right now, with market leaders Polymarket and Kalshi both recently achieving valuations of over $10 billion. This panel will offer clarity on the grey area in which prediction markets currently operate, and what their surging popularity means for operators.
Kenneth Fuchs, COO, Head of Sports, Caesars Entertainment
Role: Head of Sports, Caesars Entertainment
Experience: 20+ years across digital media, sports technology and gaming operations, including executive roles at Caesars Entertainment, William Hill, STATS LLC and Yahoo Sports.
LinkedIn: Kenneth Fuchs, Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment is one of the largest gaming and entertainment companies in the United States, with a growing digital presence through its sports betting and iGaming platforms. Operating across multiple regulated states, Caesars has expanded beyond its land-based portfolio to build mobile sportsbook and online casino products that sit at the centre of its digital operations. The brand has a market cap of $4.8 billion at the time of writing.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- World Cup 2026: Turning the Global Stage into Long-Term Growth: This summer’s World Cup is the first to be hosted in North America in 30 years. With the popularity of football in the country soaring, the industry is preparing for an influx of players. This panel will ask how operators can turn that boom into long-term retention and growth.
Sarah McCarthy, CEO, Responsible Gambling Council
Role: Chief Executive Officer, Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)
Experience: 10+ years in senior leadership roles across the non-profit and social impact sectors. Her roles included executive positions at the Rick Hansen Foundation, before being appointed CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council
Focus: Responsible gambling strategy, harm reduction, player protection frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration between regulators, operators, and public interest organisations
Region: Canada, Toronto
LinkedIn: Sarah McCarthy, Responsible Gaming Council
Responsible Gaming Council
The Responsible Gaming Council works to reduce gambling risks by creating and delivering innovative awareness and information programs. It also promotes the adoption of improved play safeguards through best practices research, standards development, and the RG Check accreditation program.
Where You’ll Hear Her Speak
- Clearer Messages, Safer Players: Streamlining Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion through Coordinated Communication and Smarter Technology: Speakers will examine how operators can work together to form a unified safer gambling strategy that utilises technological innovation in data and AI to help protect players.
Alex Kane, CEO, Sporttrade
Name: Alex Kane
Role: CEO, Sporttrade
Experience: 10+ years across entrepreneurship, sports betting innovation, and financial technology, including founding and leading Sporttrade as CEO
Focus: Sports betting marketplaces, exchange-style wagering platforms, product design, and regulatory engagement in the US sports betting ecosystem
LinkedIn: Alex Kane, Sporttrade
Sporttrade
Sporttrade is a regulated sports betting platform that operates as a marketplace, allowing users to buy and sell positions on sports outcomes rather than betting directly against a bookmaker. Licensed in several US states, the platform applies trading-style mechanics to sports wagering.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- The Current State of Prediction Markets in the US: Sporttrade operates on a similar model to prediction markets, but unlike Kalshi and Polymarket, it is licensed as an operator. As public pressure continues to mount on whether prediction markets should be regulated, Kane’s experience offers a unique perspective.
Tom Metzger, CEO, Lotto.com
Role: CEO, Lotto.com
Experience: 20+ years across lottery innovation, corporate development, and gaming technology, including senior leadership roles at Scientific Games and Camelot before founding Lotto.com
Focus: Digitising lottery participation, product innovation, strategic growth and navigating regulatory frameworks for lottery and courier platforms
Region: US, New Jersey
LinkedIn: Tom Metzger, Lotto.com
Lotto.com
Lotto.com is a regulated US digital lottery platform that allows players to purchase official state lottery draw and instant games online via mobile and web. Operating in partnership with state lottery operators, the company focuses on modernising how consumers access lottery products while working within established regulatory frameworks.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- Lotto Couriers Under Review: Where Do States Draw the Line?: Lottery courier services are growing quickly, sitting somewhere between traditional lottery sales and the wider betting market. However, recent regulatory action in Texas has exposed legal grey areas, raising the prospect of further regulation for lotto couriers.
Matthew L Morgan, Chairman, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association
Role: Chairman, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association
Experience: 20+ years across tribal gaming law, regulation, and public policy, with extensive experience advising Native American gaming authorities, tribal governments, and regulatory bodies in Oklahoma
Focus: Tribal gaming governance, regulatory oversight, sovereign gaming frameworks, public policy, and the long-term sustainability of tribal gaming operations
Region: US, Oklahoma
LinkedIn: Matthew Morgan, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association
Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association
Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) is a non-profit organization of Indian Nations engaged in tribal gaming enterprises from around Oklahoma. The mission of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association is to promote the general welfare of the Oklahoma Indian Tribes through the development of sound policies and practices with respect to the conduct of gaming enterprises in Indian County.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- From Regulation to Representation: Giving Tribes a Voice in the Future of U.S. Gaming: Grey areas like prediction markets and sweepstakes casinos are posing a threat to tribal gaming revenue. This panel will analyse how tribal nations can find a unified voice to influence evolving state and federal frameworks.
Adam Warrington, Vice President, Responsible Gaming, Underdog
Name: Adam Warrington
Role: Vice President, Responsible Gaming, Underdog
Experience: 15+ years in corporate responsibility, with roles at FanDuel, Praytell, and Annheuser-Busch
Focus: Player protection, responsible gaming strategy, compliance frameworks, and industry best practices.
Region: US, New York
LinkedIn: Adam Warrington, Underdog
Underdog
Underdog Fantasy is a US-based fantasy sports platform offering daily and season-long contests across major sports like NFL, NBA, MLB and more. The app combines simple entry formats with real cash prizes, making fantasy play accessible to both casual and experienced players. Underdog Fantasy operates in compliance with state regulations where fantasy gaming is permitted and places a strong emphasis on responsible play and player safety.
Where You’ll Hear Him Speak
- Smarter Engagement, Safer Play: Rethinking Responsible Gaming: Speakers will discuss how AI and data insights are transforming player protection, potentially creating a much safer gaming landscape.
View the full list of confirmed speakers at SBC Summit Americas here.
View the full SBC Summit Americas agenda here.
Get Your Ticket to SBC Summit Americas:
Early Bird VIP Pass – Our VIP Passes are available for just $400 at the moment (a saving of $300). You’ll have access to the full conference agenda, show floor, complimentary food at our Food Festival and our evening networking events!
Expo+ Pass: Includes access to the expo floor and all conference sessions (does not include access to evening networking events). Get Your Expo+ Pass at $95.
Complimentary Operator & Affiliate Passes: Operators and affiliates can apply for free passes for SBC Summit Americas, subject to approval. Apply for Your Complimentary Operator Pass. Apply for Your Complimentary Affiliate Pass.
