SBC Summit Tbilisi 2025: At the Center of Discussions on the Future of iGaming in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Opening and a Special Guest – Alessandro Nesta

The first day of the conference began with an opening speech by Lasha Machavariani, Founder of SMH Global, and Andrew McCarron, Managing Director of SBC, who welcomed participants to this year’s edition of the event.

One of the most anticipated moments was the conversation with Alessandro Nesta, the legendary Italian defender and 2006 World Cup champion. Nesta spoke about his career and how the principles of discipline, leadership, and teamwork that guided him on the field can be applied to the business world.

Eastern Europe in the Spotlight of Operators

One of the key opening panels was “Eastern European Market Insights: Opportunities & Challenges in a Rapidly Evolving Landscape” dedicated to the development prospects of Eastern European markets. The discussion featured Dainis Niedra (Entain), Liutauras Ulevičius (National Gambling and Gaming Business Association), and Sergiu Petre (Superbet Romania), moderated by Tamar Badashvili (Setantabet). The talks focused on local player preferences, cultural and regulatory differences, and effective marketing strategies for the region.

Regulations, Compliance, and the Future of Land-Based Casinos

The next part of the conference focused on regulation and legal challenges. In the panel “Regulating the Future: Navigating Compliance in iGaming” participants including Giorgi Tsamalaidze (Random Systems Georgia), Milica Delevic (DeleWhite), and Andreas Ditsche (iGaming.com) discussed issues of taxation, GDPR, and responsible gaming in the context of CEE and CIS markets.

Meanwhile, the panel “Brick & Beyond: The Role of Land-Based Casinos Today and Tomorrow” addressed the transformation of land-based casinos in the digital era. Speakers such as Maka Gorgadze (Casino Adjara Tbilisi) and Cosmin Murzea (Cyberteam Solutions) emphasized that traditional casinos still play a key role in local economies but must develop omnichannel experiences to compete with online offerings.

Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrencies in Focus

Technology-driven panels dominated the second part of the day. In the session “The AI Evolution: Personalizing Gaming Experiences at Scale” speakers including Gagi Ninoshvili (betlive.com) and Denis Kosinsky (NuxGame) presented practical examples of using artificial intelligence to personalize player experiences and optimize operator operations.

Equally popular was the panel “Cryptocurrency Adoption in iGaming – Balancing Risks & Rewards” moderated by George Paliani (Paliani Business Consulting). Participants discussed the growing role of blockchain technology in payments, security, and player anonymity.

The final panel of the day, “Unlocking the Potential of the Caucasus Region – A Rising iGaming Hub” was particularly important for the event’s hosts. Panelists included Varlam Sakhvadze (betlive.com), Giorgi Gvenetadze (Flutter CEE), and Akaki Meladze (Singular). Experts discussed how the Caucasus region can become a key development hub for operators, affiliates, and investors interested in the Central Asian and Middle Eastern markets.

Day Two: AI, Sports, and the Future of Regulations

The second day of SBC Summit Tbilisi began with a discussion on gamification in iGaming featuring Giorgi Nadaria (betlive.com) and Viktorya Harutyunyan (Totogaming). The panel demonstrated how gamification mechanisms help increase player engagement and loyalty.

High interest was also drawn by the presentation of Arina Rumyantseva (Sumsup) on combating fraud in iGaming, as well as the debate “The Influence of Sports Icons in Gaming & Entertainment” in which, alongside Nesta, speakers included Zurab Magalashvili (Adjarabet) and Dr. Matthias Kirschenhofer (Sport1 Medien GmbH). The discussion focused on the influence of athletes on the image of gambling brands and responsible gaming.

In the session “Eurasia as a Talent Powerhouse: Shaping the Global iGaming Workforce” experts including Lasha Gogiberidze (Brave Rave) and Maja Rastovic (Lottomatica) highlighted the region’s potential in recruiting technology specialists, game developers, and customer support experts.

Regulations and Market Boundaries

The Regulator’s Summit block was devoted to legal frameworks and cooperation between regulators and operators. Speakers included Jordan Apap (Malta Gaming Authority), Quirino Mancini (WH Partners), and Dr. Wulf Hambach (Hambach & Hambach). The discussion focused on the need for harmonization of regulations and the fight against illegal operators.

The subsequent panels – “Cross-Border Gaming Threats” and “Opening Markets Responsibly” – emphasized that the CEE region can draw on Western market models, combining economic growth with principles of responsible gaming.

Sports, Esports, and Sponsorship in Focus

In the afternoon, attention turned to panels on sports and modern forms of entertainment. In “Big Games, Bigger Bets” experts such as David Japaridze (Setanta Sports) and Tom Waterhouse (Waterhouse VC) analyzed the role of sports broadcasts in engaging players.

Next, in “The Rise of Esports and Fantasy Sports” speakers underlined that new competition- and community-based gaming formats are becoming the future of online betting. The day concluded with the panel “Game Changers: How Betting Sponsorships Are Powering the Sports Industry” where Nikoloz Nadaria (betlive.com) and Aelita Chilingaryan (Totogaming) discussed the growing role of sponsorship in the professionalization of sports.

Networking, Partnerships, and Inspiration

Beyond the conference sessions, attendees took part in numerous networking events, including the Opening Party sponsored by Setanta Sports at the iconic Stamba Hotel and a Poker Tournament organized by Betlive and EvenBet on the rooftop of the Sheraton.

The atmosphere of the event confirmed that SBC Summit Tbilisi is becoming a key platform for experience exchange among iGaming industry representatives from emerging markets. Tbilisi once again proved it can combine European openness with Caucasian energy and hospitality – creating a place where the future of the industry in the region takes shape.