SBC Summit Americas 2026 kicks off today in Fort Lauderdale
The Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale opens its doors today to host one of the most anticipated gatherings of the year in the gaming industry. SBC Summit Americas 2026 enters its main day, bringing together operators, suppliers, affiliates, regulators, and media from North America, Central America, and South America under one roof. The previous night had already set the mood with the opening party at The Wharf, so the community arrives at this first big day with connections already underway.
The event starts early. The registration desk opens at 8:00 AM for attendees to collect their badges before moving on to panels and meetings, and remains open throughout the day to accommodate any arrival schedule. At 10:00 AM, the exhibition floor opens, and at 11:00 AM, the conference begins, the content heart where the future direction of the business in the region is debated. Those who wish to plan their day in detail can consult the full event schedule.
An exhibition floor that brings together the entire value chain
The expo is the backbone of the day. More than 300 leading industry suppliers showcase their latest products and services, and within this journey, two distinct spaces coexist: the Affiliate Leaders Summit and the Payment Expert Summit, designed for those who want to get straight to the point in affiliation and payments. In parallel, more than 300 expert speakers take to the stages to debate the present and future of gaming in both the North American and Latin American markets, a dual perspective that has become the hallmark of this event since it adopted its combined format.
For those looking to grasp concepts without getting lost among so many stands, the Walk Around guided tours offer a curated tour of the venue. The first, dedicated to platforms and technology, departs at 10:45 AM from the SBC Booth, and in the afternoon, at 3:00 PM, there is a second edition focused on games. It's a good way to gauge the pulse of innovations and trends without walking blindly.
Networking takes center stage
If anything defines this year's proposal, it's that connections are no longer a complement but take center stage. The SBC Connect Lounge operates from 10:00 AM as a base for pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings, and throughout the day, Strategic Connections are added, pre-selected meetings that match each delegate with partners in sports betting, payments, regulatory compliance, and marketing.
For those who prefer a fast pace, The Hive is a safe bet. Four-minute, face-to-face, open-topic rounds are distributed throughout the day with sessions designed for different profiles, from newcomers to startups, including a block focused on connections with the US market. In a single session, you can expand your contact list more than in an entire afternoon of hallway networking.
The Briefings Roundtables complete the picture with specialized discussions led by experts. The morning session, at 10:15 AM in the Gold Lounge, covers topics that set the regional agenda, such as payments in Latin America, sweepstakes, tribal regulation, and AdTech applied to online gaming and sports betting.
Prediction markets, the hot topic of the day
There's a thread running through much of today's program that's worth following closely. Prediction markets have gained a prominence that's hard to ignore, and the event gives them their own space. At 2:30 PM, in the Podcast & Interview Zone, El Círculo Íntimo opens an interactive post-panel debate to delve into their impact on the sector. And from 4:00 PM, the Prediction Markets Exchange sponsored by Edge Markets closes the first day at the venue with a specialized gathering where professionals in the area share insights and opportunities.
Community and encounters that go beyond business
The first day also makes room for spaces that build the industry from a human perspective. The Exchange, in the Soccer Bar & Lounge, opens the morning with a women's exchange driven by GGW, PayNearMe, and SEGEV, and in the afternoon, it resumes the format with a meeting dedicated to payments and fintech. At noon, the SBC Summit Americas LGBTQ+ Mixer, in partnership with LGBTQ+ in Gaming, offers a meeting point for professionals and allies of the community, with the idea that everyone can bring their authenticity to work and grow professionally and personally.
The day ends with the big awards night
The close of the day moves to Pier Sixty Six, where the SBC Awards Americas 2026 will be celebrated starting at 7:00 PM. The ceremony announces and presents industry awards in an evening with a three-course dinner and complimentary drinks. It's worth noting that the gala requires a separate ticket from the general event badge, so anyone wishing to attend should secure their pass in advance.
With the agenda set and the community already in motion, SBC Summit Americas 2026 kicks off its first big day in Fort Lauderdale. Three days remain to converse, close deals, and understand where iGaming in the Americas is heading, and it all starts today.
Tags: United States, SBC, SBC Summit Americas, SBC Summit Americas 2026