Two Months to Go: Nordic Regulators and Operators Set to Converge on Copenhagen for SNGS 2026

The Nordic gambling market rarely sits still, and this year is no exception. Finland is getting ready to switch on a licensed market. Sweden is tightening its regulatory grip. Denmark keeps sharpening its oversight, while Norway has ramped up enforcement. Add reform conversations bubbling up in Iceland and Ireland, and it becomes clear why so many people in this industry are watching the region closely.

That momentum lands right in the middle of the 8th annual Scandinavian & Nordic Gaming Show (SNGS), taking place 22–23 October at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. Regulators, operators, providers and investors will gather to work through what all this change actually means for market access, compliance, channelisation and long-term growth.

What’s on the Agenda

Day 1 | Thursday, 22 October 2026

• The Future of iGaming in Europe: Trends, Tensions, and Game-Changing Opportunities
• Regulation in Motion: UK Fees, Global Tax Shifts, and Platform Controls
• Sweden and Denmark: Two Neighbours, Two Regulatory Paths

Day 2 | Friday, 23 October 2026

• From Land-Based to Online: Sweden’s Casino Exit
• Winning Early in Finland’s New Regime
• The Nordic Vision: From Channelisation Gaps to Global Leadership

Voices from the Region

Antti Koivula, Chief Compliance Officer at Hippos ATG, will unpack Finland’s gambling reform and what its newly licensed market will mean in practice.

“I can’t wait to join the discussion and analyse the latest developments in Finland’s gambling reform alongside a great group of industry experts. With the opening of the licensed market fast approaching, there will certainly be no shortage of important topics to explore.”

Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS – The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, will weigh the Nordic regulatory model against the UK’s approach and ask whether the balance of power in Europe is about to shift.

“No jurisdiction has influenced the way Nordic gambling license markets have been regulated and developed like the UK. The UK has been a beacon of light in Europe, thanks to its balanced gambling regulation and high channelisation. Now we are faced with other signals from the UK. Despite these signals, will the UK continue to be Europe’s leading gambling market when it comes to well-balanced regulation, or do the Nordics have the opportunity to take over the leadership role? That’s what I want to talk about with my panellists.”

Marko Arpiainen, Co-Founder and CEO of LVL UP LABZ, will bring a practical operator’s lens to Finland’s 2027 market opening.

“I’ll share actionable insights on where to focus at both an operational and marketing level, including a realistic timeline for operators that haven’t yet taken major steps, and how to approach visibility, local partnerships, brand, product and customer experience ahead of the 2027 market opening.”

Uliana Korobeynikova, PR & Communications Executive, will turn the conversation toward artificial intelligence and how it’s reshaping player support.

“I look forward to discussing how practical AI tools are reshaping player support today. I’ll focus on how automated checks and behavioural monitoring help streamline daily operations without compromising on regulatory standards.”

Rounding out the Finnish contingent, Mika Kuismanen, CEO of Rahapeliala Ry, will walk attendees through the practical realities of the country’s upcoming licence market.

“The Finnish licence market will open in July 2027. In my presentation, I will go through essential practical issues, such as the regulations and guidelines of the National Police Board.”

Attend, Sponsor or Exhibit

Delegate, sponsorship and exhibition places are open for the 8th annual SNGS 2026, giving organisations a chance to raise their profile, meet the region’s gaming community face to face and build relationships with the people shaping its next chapter.

Register here: https://www.eventus-international.com/sngs

For sponsorship or exhibition enquiries, contact:

Lou-Mari Burnett, Chief Operating Officer, Eventus International

[email protected]

+27 82 907 5850