The inaugural SPARK (Software, Payments, Affiliates, Revenue Kickoff) 2026 is set to launch on 19–20 October in Sofia, Bulgaria, convening multi-sector leaders from across the iGaming value chain as the regulatory landscape across Southeast Europe continues to evolve.
Bulgaria's position as a stable, EU-regulated market has made it a strategic entry point for operators expanding across the region. SPARK 2026 is positioned at precisely that intersection, with a two-day agenda spanning live ops, payments-led conversion, affiliate strategy and compliance.
Day One: 19 October 2026
The opening day begins with a keynote by Kristof Szucs, Co-Founder & Principal of Kyborg.ai, titled Shaping the Future of Gaming in Southeast Europe: Strategy, Technology, and Growth. Further sessions will cover:
- Panel: Retail Gaming in a Digital-First World — how land-based operators are evolving to stay competitive
- Fireside Chat: Balancing Compliance and UX in Multi-Jurisdiction Markets
- Additional sessions on live ops, revenue growth and payments-led conversion strategies
Day Two: 20 October 2026
Day two opens with a keynote from Nikolas Monti-Potsolakis, CEO & Founder of Black Lantern Marketing, on SEO to AIEO: Transitioning from Ranking Websites to Becoming the Direct Answer in AI Search. The programme continues with:
- Panel: The Affiliate Power Shift: From Traffic Brokers to Strategic Partners
- Fireside Chat: Regulatory Innovation: Proactive vs Reactive Compliance
Speaker Perspective: Kristiyan Kyulyunkov, CEO, Websa Ltd
Ahead of the summit, Kristiyan Kyulyunkov outlined his strategic focus: "Our top priority at Websa is to build our brands as an authoritative and expert source of information for users. Also, we aim to understand players' needs, assist them when necessary and provide a value that can't be found elsewhere."
On audience trust versus lead quality: "You need to earn the trust of the audience by giving them value, exclusivity and a personal approach. When users find what they are looking for on your website and you show them that there is something more related to their interest, most of them continue going back to your product."
On AI and the agenda topics he is most eager to debate: "I think the trendy topics nowadays are related to the use of AI and the integration of AI into all of the spaces in our lives and businesses. I am looking forward to debates related to affiliate marketing trends, building a product and growing the product in the company of large-scale and challenging competition."
Securing a Place
A limited number of exhibitor, sponsorship and delegate packages remain. SPARK 2026 takes place 19–20 October 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Registration: eventus-international.com/spark
For sponsorship or exhibition enquiries, contact Lou-Mari Burnett, Chief Operating Officer, Eventus International: loumari@eventus-international.com
Source: Eventus International
James Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief
Member of the iGaming Pulse editorial team. Covering industry news, analysis, and B2B developments across the global iGaming sector.
