Sunshine, Strategy, and Handshakes: Reflections on SBC Summit Americas 2026

By: Amanda Holi

There is something irreplaceable about the energy of a live industry event, and this year’s SBC Summit Americas in Fort Lauderdale delivered.

From June 9–11, the Broward County Convention Center became the epicenter of the gaming, sports wagering, and iGaming worlds. While the South Florida sunshine was a welcome backdrop, the real heat was inside the convention center, where industry professionals gathered to discuss everything from shifting multi-jurisdictional regulations to prediction markets.

Here are my biggest takeaways from a busy, incredibly productive two days by the coast.

The Power of “In-Person”

We live and work in a digital-first world—which is fantastic for efficiency—but nothing beats the feeling of a face-to-face connection.

For me, the highlight of the trip was the chance to sit down and talk with regulators and industry professionals, and to work with clients in person. Swapping out standard video calls for live, collaborative strategy sessions completely changes the dynamic. Sitting across a real table to map out licensing requirements, untangle corporate compliance issues, or simply catch up on a personal level was a wonderful reminder of the “why” behind the work. At the end of the day, we aren’t just managing files—we’re building genuine partnerships.

Exploring the Exhibit Floor

Although not crowded, the energy on the exhibit floor was palpable this year. Walking the aisles felt like getting a front-row seat to where our industry is heading next.

• Innovation Everywhere: The floor was packed with exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge tech, platform providers, and advanced compliance systems.
• Focused Communities: The dedicated zones—including the Payment Expert and Affiliate Leaders sections—made it incredibly easy to dive deep into specialized verticals and see real-time product demonstrations.
• Collaborative Spaces: Beyond the booths, the networking lounges buzzed with cross-border ideas as operators, suppliers, and legal minds from across North and Latin America compared notes. That energy even followed us over to Leeward Market, which quickly became our absolute favorite spot to huddle up and talk strategy.

The Big Takeaway: As the regulatory landscape across multiple jurisdictions and verticals grows more complex by the day, having tech pioneers and compliance experts side-by-side on the show floor is invaluable. It completely bridges the gap between what the rules require on paper and what technology can actually achieve in practice.

Moving Forward

For me, SBC Summit Americas wasn’t about filling a pocket with random business cards; it was about realigning with the actual pulse of the market.

Heading home from Fort Lauderdale with a notebook full of ideas, fresh perspectives from industry leaders, and deeper, strengthened relationships with clients, regulators, and industry professionals makes one thing incredibly clear: the momentum in this space isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

A massive thank you to everyone who took the time to connect, chat, or share a laugh with me on the floor—you truly made my SBC unforgettable. Here’s to carrying this wonderful energy straight into the second half of the year!