For gaming businesses looking towards Southeast Europe, there is more to consider than simply market growth, and in just six weeks, the inaugural SPARK (Software, Payments, Affiliates, Revenue Kickoff) 2026 will put those questions directly to the operators, affiliates and providers navigating the region, when it takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 19 – 20 October.
Day One: Product, Payments and Acquisition
Proceedings open with a keynote on the trends, regulation and strategy shaping product, payments and affiliates across the region, a timely focus given that acquiring a new player can cost several times more than retaining an existing one, with payment experience alone remaining a leading factor in operator choice. Sessions across the day will then move through retention over acquisition, live ops as a revenue engine, the evolving role of retail gaming in a digital-first market, payments as a conversion lever, and the challenge of balancing compliance with user experience across multiple jurisdictions.
Day Two: Scaling With Confidence
Confidence in scaling becomes the focus next, with an opening keynote on the shift from search engine optimisation to AI-driven answer engines. Sessions will explore the changing role of affiliates, post-SEO acquisition strategies, what’s truly working in modern iGaming operations, responsible AI in marketing under the EU AI Act, and the balance between proactive and reactive compliance, before closing out with a session on translating this year’s takeaways into lasting, resilient growth.
Speakers Weigh In
Ahead of SPARK 2026, a number of this year’s confirmed speakers shared insight into what they’ll bring to the stage.
On what Skyrocket Marketers Agency brings to the iGaming space, the company’s CEO, Andreas Ioannou, said:
“We create AI chatbots for iGaming businesses that can handle customer questions, support
players 24/7, and improve the overall player experience. Available in multiple languages and
tailored to your business needs.”
Hanna Plachkova (The Persona Lab) shared:
“So much is shifting right now – AI alone is rewriting the rules – and it’s easy to fall behind.
That’s exactly why events like SPARK matter: they’re where you catch the trends early, find
real solutions, and take back things that help your company grow. What I’m most eager to do
is help the audience make sense of the biggest insights from these two days and leave with
specific, actionable next steps.”
Retention, not acquisition, is where Henk Wolff (iGaming Consultant) believes the real money is being left on the table:
“New operators spend their entire budget acquiring players and nothing on keeping them. Then they wonder why the numbers don’t add up.
85%+ of casino revenue comes from recurring players. Not first deposits. Recurring players. And a player who hears nothing from you after signing up does not come back. He just moves on to the next operator that does talk to him.
That is the biggest leak in the industry. New operators have it. Plenty of established ones have it too.
At SPARK 2026, I’ll be showing what retention marketing actually does to an operation’s bottom line.”
For Chrysothemi Valanidou (Startwise Ltd), compliance and growth aren’t separate conversations:
“Regulation in iGaming is constantly evolving, and businesses need to do more than simply keep up, they need to understand how regulatory requirements translate into practical, sustainable business decisions. At SPARK 2026, I’m looking forward to sharing practical insights from my experience in AML, regulatory compliance and the betting industry, and discussing how businesses can approach compliance as part of their wider strategy and growth.”
Governance built in from day one, not added later, is the case Mark McGuinness (CreateFuture) plans to make at SPARK 2026:
“Compliance rarely costs performance. Retrofitting does. The teams that design governance in from the start keep shipping, while the ones bolting it on later end up unpicking systems that already work. That is the conversation I want to have at SPARK 2026.”
Secure Your Package Now
With six weeks remaining, there is still time for organisations to put their brand in front of Southeast Europe’s gaming community, connect with potential partners and build valuable relationships with key industry contacts through the available delegate, sponsorship and exhibition packages.
For sponsorship or exhibition enquiries, contact:
Lou-Mari Burnett, Chief Operating Officer, Eventus International
+27 82 907 5850
Register here: https://www.eventus-international.com/spark
19 – 20 October 2026 | Sofia, Bulgaria
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