1,500 industry professionals will gather in Tbilisi, Georgia next week for the second edition of SBC Summit Tbilisi. Organised in partnership with Georgia-based company, Sports Media Holdings (SMH), and supported by presenting partners EGT Digital and Amusnet Georgia, the event promises delegates unmatched opportunities to discover the latest industry innovations, expand their industry network and enrich their educational horizons.

The event’s focus on pivotal Eastern Europe and Central Asia markets, including Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Bulgaria, and Romania, along with emerging markets like Uzbekistan will provide delegates with a comprehensive exploration of these vital regions, guided by insights from esteemed local experts.

Set to take place between the 25th – 26th of June at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, the specialised summit will unify key stakeholders from leading regional and global operators, suppliers, affiliates, game developers, media organisations as well as specialists in marketing, CRM, SEO, payments and more.

Former Manchester City COO, and founder of EQ Esports & Gaming, Chris Bird, will kick off the event by delivering a keynote titled ‘Influencers, Content and Esports… You Bet! Unleashing the Power of Dynamic Strategies in the Esports Ecosystem.’ Bird will share effective strategies for leveraging influencers to drive the growth of esports and produce engaging content.

The conference agenda will serve as a pivotal educational platform for delegates seeking to expand their knowledge of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. Attendees can expect to glean vital knowledge from over 60 distinguished experts across two dedicated conference tracks. Discussions will encompass topics ranging from navigating the region’s complex regulatory and compliance restrictions to the impact of Euro 2024 on sports betting.

Additionally, the conference will spotlight the burgeoning iGaming sector within the region. Delegates will gain key insights into the iGaming landscapes of markets such as Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Georgia, and Slovenia. The agenda also includes discussions on cross-market strategies for iGaming operators, emerging market opportunities, and iGaming socioeconomic impact on local communities.

The exhibition floor will feature 30 global and regional brands presenting the latest industry-defining technologies, innovative services, products, and new game releases. Notable brands featured on the show floor include Amusnet, Aviatrix, BetConstruct, Betlive, CreedRoomz, Crocobet, Digitain, EGT Digital, Setanta Sports, VBET, Winfinity and many more.

Concluding the first core day of the event will be an exclusive Poker Tournament, sponsored by Betlive and EvenBet Gaming. Set to be held at the ATI Rooftop Restaurant at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, the tournament offers delegates the perfect opportunity to sharpen their poker skills, network with industry peers, and enjoy complimentary drinks.

In the evenings, attendees can look forward to building meaningful business relationships in scenic, lavish venues across several dedicated networking events. The first core day will conclude with the ‘Official Opening Party’ sponsored by Setanta Sports at Stamba Hotel. On the second day, an exclusive VIP dinner for C-level executives will be held at the Republic Restaurant, followed by the ‘Closing Party’ at the Republic Event Hall.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, said: “The inaugural SBC Summit Tbilisi was a tremendous success. This year’s event has built on that foundation to deliver even more. We’ve expanded networking opportunities, enriched educational experiences, and secured some incredible speakers.

“This year, we really focused on providing a comprehensive exploration of key regional markets, ensuring attendees are well-equipped to thrive in their business endeavours in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.”

Wazdan, the leading gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino gaming experiences, has cemented its market share in the regulated Romanian market after launching with its latest partner, winmasters.

The deal with the prominent online sports betting and casino platform has seen many of Wazdan’s titles go live. Among the proven titles now available to its players are Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Platinum Edition, Mighty Fish™: Blue Marlin and 36 Coins™.

Wazdan’s innovative features that have worked to revolutionise the iGaming industry and provide players with stimulating and immersive in-game experiences will also be individually promoted on winmaster’s platform, including the Hold the Jackpot™, Chance Level™ and Stick to Infnity™ mechanics.

winmasters has been licensed in Romania, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta for over a decade. It has offered world-leading sports betting and casino services. Now, it delivers an even stronger entertainment choice for bettors and slot enthusiasts due to its in-depth portfolio of sports betting and casino products.

Wazdan’s latest commercial expansion underlines its ambitions to expand its European presence further and offer an innovative gaming portfolio to a growing number of players worldwide.

Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said: “Marking another step in our growth strategy, we are delighted to go live with winmasters, another strong brand in Romania that allows us further to establish our presence in a key regulated market.

“Through our engaging boosting features, we are certain that winmasters players will enjoy our innovative gaming portfolio, and we look forward to seeing this partnership grow from strength to strength.”

Thanos Karakostas, Head of Product at winmasters, added, “Our strategic goal and commitment towards our players is to provide the best online casino experience in a modern and safe environment. Wazdan’s commitment to quality and player engagement is evident in its content, making this partnership one that perfectly aligns with our commercial aims.

“The addition of Wazdan’s extensive games portfolio to our lobby is exciting news for us and our players.”

Amazon Games announced it has opened a new game development studio in Europe, based in Bucharest, Romania. The studio expands Amazon’s commitment to developing and publishing games as it joins the ranks of the existing development teams in Orange County, Montreal, San Diego, and Seattle. The new studio will focus on supporting Amazon Games’ diverse portfolio of games now and in the future. Amazon Games is actively hiring to build out the talented team, with many active roles open now.

“Amazon Games is focused on developing and publishing great games, and we have an ambitious long-term roadmap in front of us,” said Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Games. “Expanding our internal development teams into Europe was a natural next step for us as we tackle our broad portfolio. Bucharest is known as one of the top emerging European cities for game development and we look forward to tapping into the rich talent pool.”

Amazon Games has hired industry veteran Cristian Pana to lead the studio. Cristian brings more than 20 years of experience building video games, most recently serving as the Managing Director at Ubisoft Bucharest. Cristian’s experience spans some of video games’ biggest games and franchises, including Tom Clancy’s The Division, The Crew, Far Cry, and Avatar and diverse genres, from driving games, action adventure open world games to shooter RPGs.

“I’m thrilled to join Amazon Games at a time when the team is actively building across an exciting roadmap,” said Cristian Pana, Studio Head for Amazon Games Bucharest. “I’ve built and led outstanding teams in the past and I know this area of Europe is a hot spot for some of the very best talent in gaming.”

The new studio supports Amazon Games’ vision of developing and publishing games that foster community in and around its games. The expanding portfolio from Amazon Games includes two launched live-service games, New World and Lost Ark, announced projects including Tomb Raider, The Lord of the Rings, and Throne and Liberty, as well as unannounced projects from our San Diego and Montreal studios, and the independent studio Glowmade in the UK.