LISBON, Portugal — The SBC Summit is underway, and it’s remarkably underscored by the presence of basketball legend Michael Jordan. As SBC Americas Editor Adam Candee reports live from Portugal's capital, the event is poised to be a significant three-day gathering focused on the evolving sports business landscape.
The keynote panel, titled "Leadership in Sports Business," features Jordan alongside Carsten Koerl, CEO of Sportradar, and DraftKings CEO Jason Robins. Together, they will explore various pressing topics, including fan engagement, innovation, leadership in the gaming industry, and the broader implications for sports.
As the summit progresses, interesting insights and discussions will be highlighted, particularly during the afternoon sessions.
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5:20 pm: It's time to wrap up Day 1, and attendees are invited to enjoy a recap video. Day 2 will kick off bright and early tomorrow.
4:50 pm: On the panel "World Cup vs Sportsbook Regulation," Bill Pascrell III of Princeton Public Affairs Group advised Kalshi and Polymarket to forgo launching iGaming products this year on their prediction markets. He asserted that prediction markets will remain viable for the foreseeable future, especially as long as Donald Trump is president.
4:30 pm: The same panel addressed the challenges of manipulation during the World Cup. Panagiotis Skyrlas, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Super Technologies, and Michael Foster, Group Head of Gaming & Commercial Strategy at FEG, identified manipulation as a significant concern for market oversight. "Those that are determined by a single person give us the biggest headaches," Skyrlas noted. Foster emphasized the need for measures that combat malicious activities without entirely restricting market access.
4:00 pm: During the "Modern Manipulation" panel, Tom Mace from Sportradar discussed the necessity of incorporating prediction markets into the current ecosystem, stating, "They are now a relevant part of the market." Khalid Ali, CEO of the International Betting Integrity Association, cautioned that many regulators worry that associating with prediction markets could endanger their licenses.
3:45 pm: The focus on betting limits continued, with Jay Balan, CISO of Super Technologies, stating that bad actors exploit knowledge of thresholds to manipulate betting markets using multiple accounts.
2:45 pm: Sportradar's CEO Carsten Koerl presented a vision for the future of sports betting, emphasizing the need for personalization: "Real-time. Personalized. Predictive. We're building technology to make it happen."
1:15 pm: Following a presentation on PlayRadar, a product designed to enhance sports betting interaction, Jordan shared his differing viewpoint as an athlete, focusing on immediate game experiences rather than analytics.
12:55 pm: DraftKings CEO Robins acknowledged that fans have long vocalized their bets to athletes, saying, "Betting may add a new dimension to that."
12:50 pm: Koerl spoke on how the balance of power is shifting, stating, "The players are becoming more important than the teams."
12:30 pm: Jordan discussed how becoming a team owner altered his view on fan engagement, citing a stronger connection today through platforms like Sportradar and DraftKings: "Now the fans are the athletes in terms of competition within the game."
12:15 pm: The keynote session is commencing with attendees eager to hear from the distinguished panel.
11:50 am: The excitement among the crowd is palpable as Jordan, Koerl, and Robins prepare for the discussion.
10:30 am: Huge news ahead as Michael Jordan, Carsten Koerl, and Jason Robins headline SBC Summit 2026, scheduled for September 29 to October 1, 2026.
Late yesterday evening: On a stroll near the conference center, Candee observed passersby excitedly reacting to signage promoting Jordan’s keynote appearance, highlighting the anticipation surrounding the event.
