The SBC Digital Italy conference and exhibition is set to see 25 of the country’s most influential betting and gaming industry executives tackle a highly topical agenda that addresses the many challenges facing the sector. 

While Italy can boast one of Europe’s largest and longest-established regulated gambling markets, the industry has a host of problems related to regulation, taxation, government instability, and COVID-related closures. However, while the land-based industry endured a tough 2020, the 45.1 per cent increase in online GGR showed the potential offered by the changing habits of Italian players.  

Some of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts will gather at the online event on 17 February 2021 to share insights and exchange ideas on how to approach the most pressing issues, as well as to examine the nature of the opportunities presented by the growth of online. 

Those experts include Fabio Schiavolin (CEO, SNAITECH), Carlo Di Maio (managing director – betting division, Gamenet Group), Alexander Martin (CEO, SKS365), Pietro Lechiara (managing director Italy, Betsson Group), Marco Castaldo (CEO, Microgame), and Ludovico Calvi (board director, Lottomatica Betting Ltd).  

The event opens with the ‘Italy 2021 – Recovery, Retreat or Restart?’ session, which will examine how operating in Europe’s toughest regulatory regime has affected the growth prospects of the country’s heritage operators and evaluate whether Italy remains an attractive market for international operators. 

It will be followed by ‘Wake-Up Call: igaming’s Time to Rise?’, a session that will drill down into the headline statistics to establish whether the online casino segment’s 46.5 per cent growth last year was simply a by-product of 2020’s unique trading conditions or a sign of a longer-term trend that represents a major opportunity for the industry. 

The casino sector will also be the focus of the day’s third session, ‘La Dolce Vita: How Can Slots Hit Italy’s Sweet Spot?’, an assessment of what the country’s growing number of slots players want from the games. 

For the final two panels of SBC Digital Italy, attention will return to regulation and how businesses can operate effectively within the tight restrictions. ‘Regulation – Getting Ahead of the Curve’ will examine whether the betting and gaming industry’s leaders can forge an improved relationship with the new government, before the ‘Marketing and Advertising Under Tightening Restrictions’ session reveals some of the promotional tactics operators have successfully employed within the terms of the Dignity Decree. 

Rasmus Sojmark, founder & CEO of SBC, said: “Conference sessions about Italy at our international events have always been well attended, so we’re excited to be hosting an event fully dedicated to what remains one of Europe’s most important markets.

“The timing of SBC Digital Italy could hardly be better, as there are so many issues for the betting and gaming industry to address. Our speakers will provide delegates with lots of ideas for how to approach some of the sector’s major problems and position their businesses to manage the growing popularity of online gambling.” 

SBC Digital Italy delegates can also look forward to seeing the latest innovations from some of the world’s leading suppliers in the event’s interactive product display area, and to connecting with fellow attendees during the programme of networking roundtables. 

For further information about the event and to register for free, please visit the official SBC Digital Italy website.

To enquire about the remaining exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, please contact [email protected]