SBC Establishes Regulatory Advisory Board To Strengthen Global Gambling Industry Dialogue

SBC has established a Regulatory Advisory Board comprising senior gambling industry executives, former regulators and legal specialists, with the aim of strengthening dialogue between licensed operators, regulatory authorities and policymakers across international markets.

The board will be chaired by Andrew Gellatly, former Executive Director of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), and will provide strategic guidance on SBC's regulatory initiatives. Its responsibilities will include identifying emerging regulatory challenges, supporting industry discussions and helping develop opportunities for cooperation between gambling businesses and regulatory bodies.

The initiative comes as gambling markets face increasingly complex questions surrounding taxation, licensing requirements, consumer protection and illegal gambling. SBC intends to use the board's collective experience to support more informed discussions between stakeholders operating under different regulatory frameworks.

Industry Executives And Former Regulators Join Board

The Regulatory Advisory Board brings together representatives from major gambling operators, technology suppliers and legal organisations, alongside individuals with experience overseeing regulated markets.

Its members include David Foster, Group Director of International Regulatory Affairs at Entain; Yannis Xirotiris, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at Kaizen Gaming; and Jon Polanec, Vice-President of Global Risk and Market Integrity at Super.

The board also features Francesco Rodano, Head of Responsible Gaming at Allwyn; Charmaine Hogan, Global Head of Government Relations at Playtech; and Jessica Feil, Senior Vice-President and General Counsel at OpenBet.

Former regulatory officials Morten Ronde, now working in international gambling regulation and strategy at Nordic Legal, and Eleonore Para, a public affairs consultant specialising in gaming, complete the group of external advisers.

SBC CEO and Founder Rasmus Sojmark and Managing Director Andrew McCarron will also participate, while SBC Head of Legal Eve Hartley will serve as Secretary.

The combination of commercial, legal and regulatory experience is intended to provide a broad perspective on the challenges facing licensed gambling markets, particularly where different jurisdictions are adopting contrasting approaches to similar policy questions.

Board To Support Regulatory Cooperation Across Markets

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said:

“Regulation is one of the most important factors shaping the future of our industry. Across Europe, North America and other international markets, we are seeing increasingly complex discussions around taxation, licensing, player protection, illegal gambling and the sustainability of regulated markets.”

SBC plans to use the advisory board to strengthen engagement between regulators and licensed gambling businesses, creating opportunities for stakeholders to exchange expertise and examine common challenges.

The initiative will also help inform the organisation's regulatory events and discussions, with particular attention to emerging policy developments that could affect the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of regulated gambling markets.

“We want to create an environment where regulators and industry leaders can have open, informed and constructive conversations about the issues that matter,” Sojmark added.

Andrew Gellatly, Chairman of the Regulatory Advisory Board, said:

“Gaming regulation is becoming increasingly complex, with different jurisdictions facing many of the same challenges around player protection, market integrity and sustainable growth.”

He added that the board would provide an opportunity to identify emerging challenges and encourage constructive engagement between regulatory authorities and licensed operators.

Regulatory Forums Planned For Amsterdam And Toronto

One of the board's principal responsibilities will be supporting the development of SBC Leaders Regulatory Forums, a new series of events bringing together senior decision-makers from the gambling industry and regulatory community.

The first forum is scheduled to take place in Amsterdam on 19 April 2027, with approximately 350 senior representatives from Europe's regulated gambling sector expected to attend. Discussions will focus on the policy and regulatory issues affecting licensed markets, providing a dedicated setting for engagement between industry executives and regulatory specialists.

SBC is also developing a North American edition in Toronto, which is expected to attract approximately 250 senior regulatory and industry representatives from the United States and Canada. Further details of the Canadian event, including its date and programme, have not yet been confirmed.

The new advisory board builds on SBC's existing relationships with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), both of which support regulatory education and professional cooperation within the gambling industry.

Through the board and its planned forums, SBC aims to establish a more structured platform for international regulatory engagement, helping industry stakeholders address shared challenges while supporting the development of responsible and sustainable licensed gambling markets.