SBC Announces Strategic Partnership With VNLOK Ahead Of SBC Summit Europe 2027

SBC has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders (VNLOK), the trade association representing licensed online gambling operators in the Netherlands, ahead of the inaugural SBC Summit Europe in Amsterdam.

The agreement, confirmed on 19 October, will see VNLOK support the event by bringing senior executives from Dutch gambling operators into discussions with regulators, policymakers and industry representatives from across Europe.

Scheduled to take place at RAI Amsterdam from 19–21 April 2027, SBC Summit Europe aims to establish a dedicated annual meeting place for Europe's regulated gambling industry, with a particular focus on the challenges facing licensed operators.

The partnership will also provide VNLOK with opportunities to contribute to SBC Media's coverage of the Dutch gambling sector, sharing industry perspectives on taxation, licensing, player protection and the commercial sustainability of regulated markets.

Dutch Operators To Play Central Role At SBC Summit Europe

VNLOK represents several established operators in the Netherlands, including Holland Casino, Nederlandse Loterij, bet365, LeoVegas Group, ComeOn Group, FDJ UNITED and GAMING1.

Through the agreement, the association will help ensure that Dutch operators are represented in discussions addressing some of the industry's most pressing regulatory and commercial challenges.

These include gambling taxation, advertising restrictions, responsible gambling requirements and channelisation, alongside concerns surrounding competition from unlicensed operators.

SBC Founder and CEO Rasmus Sojmark said the partnership would strengthen the event's connection with the Dutch market while supporting wider cooperation across Europe.

“Our ambition is to establish Amsterdam as the annual meeting place for Europe’s regulated gaming industry, bringing together the licensed operators, regulators, policymakers and associations shaping its future,” Sojmark said.“The Netherlands is an important regulated market, and through our partnership with VNLOK, we want to ensure Dutch operators are strongly represented, and their perspectives contribute to wider European discussions on regulation, player protection and market sustainability.”

VNLOK Highlights Shared European Regulatory Challenges

The Netherlands has experienced significant changes to its regulated online gambling market, including developments surrounding advertising restrictions, taxation and measures designed to strengthen player protection.

Many of these challenges are also affecting other European jurisdictions, with regulators and licensed operators seeking to balance consumer safeguards against the risk of players moving towards illegal gambling platforms.

VNLOK Chairman Björn Fuchs said the partnership would allow Dutch operators to share their experiences while learning from developments elsewhere in Europe.

“The Dutch licensed market has a lot of experience to share, and a lot to learn from other regulated markets. SBC Summit Europe in Amsterdam gives our members a chance to do both with operators, regulators and policymakers from across Europe, in their home market,” Fuchs said.“Many of the questions we deal with, from player protection to tackling illegal supply, are the same ones other markets are working through.”

The agreement builds on SBC's existing relationships with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), which are also supporting its efforts to encourage dialogue between the gambling industry and regulatory stakeholders.

SBC Summit Europe Targets More Than 8,000 Attendees

SBC Summit Europe is expected to attract more than 8,000 attendees, including over 3,000 licensed operator representatives, alongside 250 exhibitors and sponsors and 250 industry speakers.

The event will begin on 19 April with the invitation-only SBC Leaders Regulatory Forum, providing a setting for senior industry executives, regulators and policymakers to discuss developments affecting Europe's gambling markets.

This will be followed by two days of exhibition and conference sessions, featuring four conference stages, including a dedicated European Regulation Conference.

Three specialist educational forums will also address lottery innovation, player protection and sports integrity, alongside networking opportunities designed to encourage cooperation between operators and other industry stakeholders.

The VNLOK agreement represents another step in SBC's preparations for the Amsterdam event, with the organiser seeking to establish a long-term platform for discussions surrounding the future of regulated gambling across Europe.