TL;DR: At SBC Summit 2026, speakers agreed blockchain is becoming background infrastructure for iGaming, not hype. Stablecoins are moving beyond player payments, regulation (especially MiCA) is the biggest barrier, and investors now care more about retention than tokens.
Key Takeaways:
SBC Summit 2026. What an event! And Lisbon. What a city! My only regret was not extending my stay, as Lisbon is a beautiful, affordable destination with amazing culture and cuisine, especially for pescatarians like me. Not to mention the event was full of iGaming industry vets and legends, I could not stop bumping into friends and former interviewees from years past, a source of happiness I am forever grateful for.
Amazing city and friendships aside, the main reason why I attended the SBC Summit was to participate in the blockchain-related content as a chair and moderator. I served as chair of the Web3 Academy and the Crypto and Blockchain track at the Payment Expert Summit (a summit within the summit), and moderated the “Beyond crypto: The Wider Reach of Blockchain in Gambling” panel at the latter.
While chairing conference tracks means you’re committed to one location for the day, it’s an opportunity to absorb countless insights from speakers whom you otherwise might have missed. I took pages of notes from the academy and summit content, the highlights of which I will share with you now.
What is Web3
Neobridge’s Web3 specialist Simit Naik appropriately delivered the opening presentation for the Web3 Academy, providing insights around Web3 and the role it can play in iGaming now and in the future.
This session was important because there are many definitions of Web3 out there, let alone people who even understand what it means. According to Naik, Web1 is the “read-only” web, Web2 is the “read-write” web, and Web3 is the “owned” web.
This means that, with users at the center, there is an efficient exchange of value, forming a “peer-to-peer” economy, with open standards replacing closed systems. Blockchain is the layer that makes it all work.
Blockchain in the background
As blockchain tech matures and becomes more mainstream, I don’t think we’ll even see dedicated conference tracks on the subject. Instead, we will see operators using blockchain and blockchain-built solutions participating in panels that tackle a particular pain point. This is because blockchain will run in the background, a theme that came up repeatedly over my two days at SBC Summit.
Speaker Dereck Hoogenkamp, Chairman of Yalla Limited, made this point, as did speaker Brett Calapp, CEO & Co-Founder of Wandando.
“Blockchain becomes part of the piping, that’s the direction we are going,” Calapp said.
Stablecoins & their full potential
Everyone is talking about stablecoins, including financial institutions and enterprises. When we talk about stablecoins in iGaming, we’re often referring to a payment method for players, which is just the tip of the iceberg.
As speaker Ian Sherrington, CEO of Crownstar, pointed out, in iGaming, it’s all stablecoins now rather than ICOs or tokens.
Speaker Aaron Sanchez, Director of Industry Engagement for the MiCA Crypto Alliance, said we should think about using stablecoins for treasury management and B2B payouts. However, it’s a good idea to speak with experts like Sanchez first, as the regulations governing stablecoins can be confusing.
Regulations
Which brings me to what is holding adoption back…regulations.
According to Naik, “in gambling, crypto moves as fast as the regulator allows.” Sanchez echoed this point and emphasized how complicated the regulations can be. “The big question is, how do you regulate blockchain? We are still early,” said Calapp. Sherrington spoke about MiCA and confirmed that it has brought significant stress to the space, and many businesses are shutting down because of it.
Speaker Stefan Kovach, Co-Founder of FanCentric, flipped the convo on its head and said regulators should actually embrace blockchain, as its immutable ledger can do much of their job.
Fundraising
The fundraising panel on the Payment Expert Track was one of my favorites, featuring two investors, one lawyer, and two who are currently raising, bringing plenty of perspectives to the table.
Calapp started by saying artificial intelligence (AI) is now stealing the show from crypto and blockchain with investors. Speaker Ariel Ho Kjaer, CEO/Co-Founder of WhalePlay, agreed and said crypto is not the shiny new object anymore; rather, investors are thinking more about users and retention, not how we can raise capital with tokens. The crypto wave is over; now the focus is on a well-run platform, she said.
Speaker Amanda Usher, Partner at Woods Whur, said the due diligence of regulation in the region you are targeting is crucial, so please do your compliance homework and understand the regulatory space you want to move into.
The crypto casino marketing panel, the final session on the final day, was excellent, and it revealed golden insights for any iGaming operator, not just crypto casinos.
The main point was that crypto casinos have mastered a community feel, almost tribal in a way.
Speaker Adar Ziv, Founder of Fam, said: “In today’s world, you have to be constantly entertained; this is what the crypto brands do.” He said you must have an outstanding product as players have high standards now, thanks to Stake.
“You have to have a good brand and a reason to come back to the party,” he added.
Blockchain beyond payments
The focus of the panel I moderated was blockchain beyond payments, my favorite subject within the iGaming space, but an area that is new to most and still developing.
The opportunities we covered included provably fair games, loyalty tokens and NFT awards, on-chain records for affiliate attribution, responsible gambling initiatives, and the benefits of portable digital ID.
Final thoughts
Upon reflection on my two days at SBC Summit, absorbing blockchain-related content and insights, it’s clear that blockchain is not “hype” or “dead”; we are just early.
It’s also important for iGaming professionals to understand that not all blockchains are created equal; some are cheap, scalable, and reliable, while others are not.
iGaming has a large output and needs a cheap, scalable chain, so be sure to do your homework in this area, too—CoinGeek is a wonderful resource.
FAQs:
What is SBC Summit?
SBC Summit is a major annual gaming industry event covering iGaming, sports betting, payments, regulation, and technology. It combines a large exhibition floor with conference tracks, including a dedicated Crypto & Blockchain track in 2026.
What is Web3 in iGaming?
Web3 is the “owned” internet, where users control their own assets and data. In iGaming, it powers tools such as iGaming ID, loyalty tokens, and provably fair games, with the blockchain working behind the scenes.
Is blockchain dead in iGaming?
No. Speakers at the SBC Summit 2026 said it is neither hype nor dead, just early. It is shifting into the background infrastructure for payments, loyalty, and compliance.
How are stablecoins used in iGaming?
Mostly as a player payment method, but experts also suggest them for treasury management and B2B payouts. Consult regulatory specialists first.
How does MiCA affect crypto gambling businesses?
MiCA has added significant compliance pressure, and one speaker said many businesses are shutting down as a result. Operators should research the rules before launching.
Are investors still funding crypto casinos?
Yes, but they now favor user retention and well-run platforms over tokens. AI is also drawing attention away from crypto.
What can blockchain do in gambling beyond payments?
It can support provably fair games, loyalty tokens, affiliate attribution, responsible gambling initiatives, and portable digital ID.
Which blockchain is best for iGaming?
iGaming needs a chain that is cheap, scalable, and reliable because of its high transaction volume. Research options carefully before choosing.
Watch: Why Affiliate Marketing in iGaming Needs Blockchain
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