SBC launches Global Prediction Markets Forum to confront the sector’s toughest questions

By jili tutorial · September 3, 2026

SBC Launches Global Prediction Markets Forum to Tackle the Sector’s Biggest Challenges

Prediction markets have evolved from a niche curiosity into one of the most debated topics in global gambling. Are they a financial product, a betting product, or something that regulators have yet to properly define? SBC’s new Global Prediction Markets Forum aims to bring the industry’s leading voices together to answer that very question through a full-day conference programme in Lisbon.

Taking place on Thursday, 1 October 2026, at the Myriad Hotel in Lisbon, this standalone event will run alongside SBC Summit 2026. It provides a dedicated meeting point for stakeholders interested in the future of prediction markets – from operators and specialists to legal experts and technology leaders.

The educational programme will address the sector’s biggest challenges as it transitions from a predominantly American niche into a growing global opportunity. Sessions will examine evolving regulatory and legal frameworks, how prediction markets could translate to European audiences, the technical considerations of launching and integrating markets, and the long-term future of the sector.

Why This Forum Matters Now

“Prediction markets have quickly become one of the biggest talking points in the industry, but as with any sector moving at this pace, the opportunities come with a lot of questions,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC. “For operators considering entering the space, the question is how to do so effectively, safely and compliantly. That is the purpose of this forum: to bring newcomers and experts into the same room, tackle the questions, and build a clearer understanding of where the sector is heading.”

H2: Key Sessions and What They Cover

H3: Regulating Futures – Bridging the US and Europe

With jurisdictions divided over whether to block, regulate, or license prediction markets, the session Regulating Futures: Bridging the Gap Between the US and Europe will examine how the regulatory landscape is developing on both sides of the Atlantic.

Experts include Andrew Lyman (Gambling Commissioner and Executive Director, Government of Gibraltar), Charles Mizzi (CEO, Malta Gaming Authority), Terence Cassar (Partner, GTG Legal), Zach Doctor (Co-Founder & CEO, WagerWire), and moderator Ron Segev (Founding Partner, Segev LLP). They will assess ongoing regulatory uncertainty across key global markets and explore how operators can prepare for future changes.

H3: The Legal Conundrum – Are Prediction Markets Gambling?

At the heart of this regulatory debate is how prediction markets should be legally defined. The session The Legal Conundrum: Are Prediction Markets Gambling? will tackle this question head-on.

Panelists include Matt Kane (Head of Legal, Betr), Arthur Stadler (Founding Partner, Stadler Partner Attorneys), Steve Humenik (Chief Legal Officer, Crypto.com), and moderator Quirino Mancini (Partner, WH Partners Italy). They will debate whether event contracts constitute gambling or financial trading, examine existing legal frameworks, and consider how regulators may rule in the future.

H3: Time to Market – Technology Hurdles

The discussion then moves to the technical side. The session Time to Market: Technological Hurdles to Launching a Prediction Market Product features speakers Andrew Gonzalez (CEO, ParlayX), Henrich Tauber (Head of Business Development, Limitless), Amit Mahensaria (CEO, Pred.app), Guy Dotan (Co-Founder, WireMarkets), and moderator Jeff Haas (Strategic Advisor, Binara.ai). They will evaluate the technology needed to remain compliant, available integration options, and which tech can support a faster, more efficient route to market.

H3: Boom or Bust – The Future of Futures

The future of prediction markets takes centre stage in the session An Industry on the Cusp of Boom or Bust: What’s the Future of Futures? Experts John Aristotle Phillips (CEO, PredictIt), Joey Levy (CEO, Betr), and Noah Traisman (CEO, Winible) will explore whether prediction markets can coexist alongside traditional sportsbooks, what can be learned from other formats such as poker and daily fantasy sports, and whether there is room for multiple major players.

Additional Session Topics

Other sessions throughout the day will delve into:

The role of strategic media partnerships in bringing prediction markets mainstream
Distinctions between prediction markets and sportsbooks
The merits of peer-to-peer versus fixed-odds models
Developments that have transformed prediction markets from a niche product into one of the biggest talking points in global gambling

Tickets and Access

Access to the Global Prediction Markets Forum requires a separate ticket, priced at €399. Each ticket holder will also receive a complimentary copy of SBC Insights’ Prediction Market Report 2026.

Purchase your ticket here.