Michael Jordan Headlines SBC Summit 2026 in Landmark Sports Business Keynote

The world's largest iGaming conferences continue raising the bar, and SBC Summit 2026 has just announced one of its biggest headline speakers ever. Basketball legend Michael Jordan will take the stage in Lisbon alongside Carsten Koerl , founder and CEO of Sportradar, and Jason Robins , co-founder and CEO of DraftKings.

The keynote session, titled "Leadership in Sports Business," is scheduled for 29 September , the opening day of SBC Summit 2026, and is already being described as one of the most anticipated discussions ever held at an iGaming conference.

A Rare Meeting of Sports and iGaming Leaders

While SBC Summit is well known for bringing together executives from across the online gambling industry, this year's keynote goes beyond traditional conference programming.

The discussion will unite three influential figures who have shaped modern sports from completely different perspectives:

• Michael Jordan, one of the most successful athletes and sports investors in history.
• Carsten Koerl, whose company Sportradar has become a global leader in sports data, integrity services and betting technology.
• Jason Robins, who helped transform DraftKings into one of the world's leading sportsbook and online gaming operators.

Moderated by broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher , the session will explore how sports, technology, media, fan engagement and data continue to reshape the global betting ecosystem.

Why This Matters for the iGaming Industry

The keynote isn't expected to focus solely on basketball or business leadership at SBC Summit 2026.

Instead, attendees can expect discussions around topics currently driving the future of sports betting and online gambling, including:

• the growing relationship between professional sports and sportsbook operators;
• how real-time sports data influences betting experiences;
• innovation in fan engagement and digital entertainment;
• leadership strategies for building global technology companies;
• decision-making in rapidly evolving industries.

As sports betting and iGaming continue becoming more interconnected with professional sports, conversations involving leaders from companies like Sportradar and DraftKings are likely to provide valuable insights for operators, affiliates and technology providers alike.

SBC Summit Continues to Expand

SBC Summit 2026 will once again take place in Lisbon and is expected to attract more than 40,000 professionals from across the betting, gaming, payments, affiliate marketing, technology and media sectors.

The event has grown into one of the industry's flagship conferences, bringing together casino operators, sportsbook brands, software suppliers, payment providers and affiliates from around the world for several days of networking, exhibitions and educational sessions.

Final Thoughts

The addition of Michael Jordan to this year's SBC Summit Lisbon demonstrates how closely sports, technology and online gambling have become connected.

For affiliate marketers, sportsbook operators and iGaming businesses, the keynote represents more than a celebrity appearance—it highlights the increasing influence of leadership, innovation and strategic partnerships across the global gaming industry.

With several months still remaining before the conference opens, SBC Summit 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the year's most talked-about iGaming events.