William Scott, Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Meridian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MRDN), will speak at the 2026 SBC Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, on September 29, joining a panel titled “The Africa Advantage: High Growth, Fast Regulation, Huge Potential.” The panel opens the Global & Emerging Markets Stage at 13:00 local time at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa.
The discussion comes as Africa solidifies its position as one of the fastest-growing regions in global iGaming. According to iGaming Business, the continent’s online betting and gaming market is projected to expand from $12.7 billion in 2026 to $19.4 billion by 2030. That trajectory has drawn increased attention from international operators and investors seeking new avenues for growth amid maturing European and North American markets.
Scott will be joined by Christopher Coyne, CEO of 888Africa; Jason Gibson, Chief Commercial Officer of SportPesa; Aggrey Sayi, CEO of Maybets; and Ronnie Whelan, CEO of Kingmakers. Together, they will examine how player preferences vary across African markets, which countries are expanding fastest, and how regulatory shifts are moving activity from the grey market toward licensed operators.
A central topic will be the role of mobile money platforms in player conversion. In many African markets, mobile money has become the primary conduit for online transactions, enabling operators to reach unbanked and underbanked populations. The panel will also address regulatory developments in key markets including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, and Uganda.
Meridian Holdings, headquartered in Las Vegas, operates through its B2C division led by Meridianbet Group, a sports betting and gaming operator founded in 2001 and licensed across Europe, Africa, and South America. Meridianbet maintains an established presence in several African markets, giving Scott direct experience navigating the continent’s regulatory landscape. The company’s B2B division includes game developer Expanse Studios and iGaming platform GMAG, which develop and license proprietary gaming technology globally.
“Africa represents one of the most compelling growth stories in our industry right now, and it’s an opportunity we’ve been building toward for years,” Scott said. “I’m looking forward to sharing perspective alongside operators who, like Meridian, are working directly with regulators and players across these markets and discussing what it takes to build a sustainable, compliant business as this region continues to mature.”
Scott’s remarks come as Meridian continues to expand its international footprint across 25+ regulated markets. The company’s software automatically declines gaming or redemption requests originating in the United States, in compliance with U.S. law. Its portfolio also includes RKings Competitions in the UK, MexPlay in Mexico, and Classics for a Cause in Australia.
The SBC Summit panel underscores the strategic importance of Africa to the global iGaming industry. As regulations tighten and licensed operators gain ground, the continent offers a rare combination of high growth and evolving oversight. For companies like Meridian, success will depend on local partnerships, mobile-first payment solutions, and a deep understanding of diverse regulatory regimes. For more information, visit www.meridian-holdings.com.
