SPARK 2026 to convene gaming, payments and affiliate leaders in Sofia

SPARK 2026 will debut July 9-10 in Sofia, Bulgaria, bringing together operators, payments leaders, affiliates and regulators around gaming revenue, compliance and AI-driven search. The event is positioning itself as a closed, high-value forum for decision-makers across Southeast Europe’s gaming ecosystem. Why it matters: - SPARK 2026 is designed to bring together the people shaping software, payments, affiliates and revenue in Southeast Europe’s gaming market. - The event puts strategy, technology and compliance in one room, which matters for operators trying to turn operational changes into growth. - The format targets decision-makers who can influence product, payments, acquisition and regulation. What happened: - The inaugural SPARK 2026 is set for 9-10 July in Sofia, Bulgaria. - Eventus International is hosting the event. - The program is built around keynote sessions, panels, fireside chats and networking. - Registrations are open. - More information is available in the event registration page . The details: - Day 1 includes an opening address by Kristof Szucs of Kyborg.ai on the future of gaming in Southeast Europe. - Day 1 sessions will cover product evolution, regulation and affiliate ecosystems. - Day 1 also includes fireside chats on Live Ops and dynamic player experiences. - Another Day 1 panel will focus on the modernization of the land-based gaming floor. - Additional Day 1 sessions will address payments, conversion and compliance. - Day 2 will focus on scaling with confidence. - Nicolas Monti-Potsolakis of Black Lantern Marketing will deliver a keynote on moving from traditional SEO to AIEO, or AI Engine Optimisation. - Day 2 panels will examine how affiliates are evolving from traffic brokers into strategic partners. - Day 2 strategy sessions will focus on modern iGaming operations and revenue generation. - A legal-first session will look at proactive compliance as a competitive advantage. - Speakers listed for the event include Andrei Frimescu of Game World Romania, Antony Jordan of ODDSET Sportwetten GmbH, Kristof Szucs of Kyborg.ai, Robert Brassai of Sense4Gaming, Robert Stoica of Winbet and Tasos Vasios of KIVON. - Eventus International says the event will also include many more speakers. - The audience is expected to include C-level executives, founders, product and growth leaders, payments and fintech operators, regulators, policy stakeholders, marketing and affiliate leaders, investors and ecosystem partners. - The event is being positioned as a closed environment built for meaningful conversations and business outcomes. Between the lines: - The agenda reflects how gaming events are widening beyond affiliates and acquisition to include payments, compliance, AI search and retail modernization. - The emphasis on AIEO suggests operators are already thinking about how AI-driven search could reshape discovery and marketing. - The strong focus on compliance signals that regulation is being framed as a growth issue, not just a legal one. What’s next: - SPARK 2026 will take place in less than a month from the announcement date. - Attendees who want to participate are being urged to secure seats now. - The event will unfold as a two-day forum for discussion, networking and industry insight. The bottom line: - SPARK 2026 is betting that the next phase of gaming growth in Southeast Europe will be driven by tighter alignment between technology, payments, affiliates and compliance.