Attending SBC Summit for the first time? Congratulations, you’re in for an incredible week.
With more than 40,000 industry professionals, hundreds of exhibitors, six conference stages and countless networking opportunities spread across three days, it’s one of the biggest events in global gaming.
The good news is that you don’t need to see everything to have a successful week.
With the right approach, your first SBC Summit can be exciting rather than overwhelming.
Whether your goal is closing deals, growing your network or learning from industry leaders, this first-timer’s guide will help you get the most out of your first SBC Summit experience.
Table of Contents
Identify Your Event Objectives 🔲
Before arriving in Lisbon, think about what would make SBC Summit successful for you and your company.
You might be attending to meet potential partners, strengthen existing relationships, discover new products or learn from industry leaders. You may want the full experience.
Whatever your priorities, having one or two clear goals will help you make better decisions throughout the week.
Ask yourself:
- What is my main objective? Are you focused on education, networking, business development or product discovery?
- Who do I want to meet? Identify a small number of companies, clients or industry professionals you would like to connect with.
- What do I want to learn? Choose the markets, technologies or business challenges most relevant to your role.
- How will my team divide its time? If you are attending with colleagues, assign different areas, verticals or prospects to each person.
The key is not to try to do everything at once. A focused plan will usually deliver more value than an overloaded schedule.
Choose the Right Ticket For Your Goals 🔲
SBC Summit offers several ticket types, each designed around a different event experience.
Before arriving, make sure you understand which areas, sessions and networking opportunities are included with your pass.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Just want to explore the exhibition floor? Expo Pass
- Are you attending primarily for the conference? Conference Pass
- Is networking your main priority? Networking Pass
- Interested in networking and education? Business Pass
- Want the full SBC Summit Experience? VIP Pass
This is, of course, a very brief overview, so before making any final decision, we highly recommend you take a look at our ticket type breakdown here.
You can purchase your ticket to SBC Summit here.
Book Travel & Hotel Now Before It’s Too Late 🔲
With tens of thousands of delegates travelling to Lisbon, flights and hotels become more expensive as the event approaches, so make sure to book early.
SBC Summit attendees can also access exclusive travel and accommodation benefits.
Flights: We have an exclusive partnership with TAP Air Portugal, which offers 10% off Economy Class round-trip fares and 15% off Business Class round-trip fares. Find out more here.
Hotel: Through our official housing partner, LEADING, all SBC Summit attendees will have access to preferential rates, secure booking and transparent pricing. Find out more here.
Download the SBC Connect App 🔲
If there’s one thing every first-timer should do weeks before arriving in Lisbon, it’s to download SBC Connect.
It’s essentially your personal headquarters for the week. Through the app, you can:
- Search registered attendees
- Filter by company, job title and market
- Build your personalised conference agenda
- Explore exhibitors and the show floor
- Register for networking experiences
- Receive live notifications throughout the event
If you have a VIP, Networking or Business Pass, you’ll gain advanced access to the app, allowing you to send direct messages and meeting requests.
This means you can introduce yourself to potential partners, begin conversations and schedule meetings in the SBC Connect Lounge (CR1) before you arrive.
That early access is especially valuable for first-timers. Instead of walking into a venue filled with thousands of unfamiliar faces, you can arrive with introductions already made and a clear schedule in place.
Read more about the SBC Connect app here.
SBC Connect is available now on Android, iOS and desktop.
Collect Your Badge Ahead of Day One 🔲
Your first morning at SBC Summit should begin with excitement, not a long registration queue.
Airport badge collection and early registration at FIL allow you to collect your badge before the main event begins.
Airport Badge Collection
- Sunday 27 September: 09:00 to 23:00
- Monday 28 September: 06:30 to 23:00
- Tuesday 29 September: 06:30 to 21:00
- Wednesday 30 September: 06:30 to 15:00
FIL Pre-Registration
- Monday 28 September: 12:00 to 20:00
Familiarise Yourself with the Venue 🔲
SBC Summit is a big event, and moving between different areas can take longer than you might expect. Take some time before the event to study the floor plan and identify the places most relevant to your goals.
Key areas:
- Casino & iGaming Zone
- Sports Betting & iGaming Zone
- Payment Expert Summit
- Player Protection Zone
- Startup Hub
- Media Hub
- Food Festival
- Festival Square
- Various Networking Lounges
- Affiliate Leaders Summit (Separately ticketed event)
Knowing where your meetings, sessions and target exhibitors are located will save valuable time during the event. It will also help you avoid booking back-to-back appointments on opposite sides of the venue!
View the show floor plan here.
Understand the Conference Agenda 🔲
With more than 600 industry experts across six conference stages, there’s plenty to choose from at SBC Summit’s conference agenda
So make sure you take the time to understand what each stage covers and the sessions you want to attend. You can use SBC Connect to browse the agenda in advance and save the sessions most relevant to your goals.
Stages include:
- Super Stage
- Global & Emerging Markets
- Technology & Innovation
- Regulation & Compliance
- Payment Expert Summit
- Product Innovation
- Global Prediction Markets Forum (A standalone event, requiring a separate ticket)
- African Gaming Forum (A standalone, invite-only event. Register interest here.)
Top tip: Make sure to check where each stage is located before building your schedule. Try to avoid choosing consecutive sessions in distant parts of the venue.
View the full conference agenda here.
Explore Education+ 🔲
Looking to take your industry knowledge beyond the conference stage? Education+ offers a more hands-on learning experience through a series of dedicated Tech Academies and Masterclasses, available as a €249 upgrade.
Delegates can choose from one of the following:
Tech Academies: AI, Digital Marketing & CRM, Player Experience and Web3
Masterclasses: Sportsbook Trading, Responsible Gaming Marketing and Electronic Gaming.
Read more about Education+ here. | Purchase your upgrade here.
Use Structured Networking as a First-Timer 🔲
Introducing yourself to strangers on a busy exhibition floor can feel intimidating.
Structured networking experiences remove some of that pressure because every participant is there for the same reason.
SBC Summit 2026 will introduce several formats designed around shared markets, verticals and business goals.
Networking experiences include:
- Speed Networking: Fast-paced sessions that allow you to meet several relevant contacts in a short period, including a session dedicated to ‘First Timers’.
- Show Floor Tours: Eight guided tours organised around themes such as Artificial Intelligence, Casino and Sports Betting.
- Regulatory Gaming Meetups: A programme of 21 regional sessions connecting professionals focused on specific jurisdictions.
- Smart Connect: Curated meetings between operators and suppliers based on business objectives, product fit and market focus.
Spaces for networking experiences are filling up fast, so make sure to register for your desired experience now to avoid disappointment. You can register for networking sessions either through the SBC Connect app or the SBC Summit website.
Read more about our new networking opportunities here.
Know Your Evening Networking 🔲
SBC Summit will feature a number of evening networking events:
- SBC Summit Opening Party (Tuesday, 29th September)
- INFINITY Lisbon Closing Party (Featuring Tiësto, Blasterjaxx and Marc Vedo) : (Thursday, 1st October)
- Affiliate Leaders Awards (Separate ticket required): (Wednesday, 30th September)
- SBC Awards (Separate ticket required): (Thursday, 1st October)
These events are often where conversations that started during the day become genuine business relationships, so don’t head back to your hotel immediately after the exhibition closes.
Have an Expo or Conference Pass? You can still attend INFINITY Lisbon by purchasing a Party Pass (€149) here.
Build a Realistic Daily Schedule 🔲
A full diary can look productive, but an overcrowded schedule often creates unnecessary stress.
Leave time to stop for lunch, wander the exhibition floor and be open to unexpected conversations. Some of the best opportunities happen when you’re not rushing from one appointment to the next.
Check out our ‘Day in the life of an Operator’ schedule to see an example.
Pack the Essentials 🔲
- Light, breathable clothing
- Comfortable shoes
- Bring a water bottle
- A fully charged portable charger
- A small notebook or notes app
- Business cards/Linkedin QR Code at the ready
Final Thoughts
Your first SBC Summit won’t be your last. With a little preparation before you arrive, you’ll spend less time finding your way around and more time building relationships, discovering new opportunities and experiencing everything that makes SBC Summit the Greatest Show in Gaming.
