SPARK 2026 Opens Today in Sofia, Spotlighting Technology, Payments and Growth
Bulgaria
The inaugural SPARK (Software, Payments, Affiliates, Revenue Kickoff) 2026 conference opened today, 19 October, at Hotel Marinela in Sofia, Bulgaria. The two-day event brings together operators, affiliate partners, technology leaders, payment specialists and regulatory experts.
The conference was opened by Robert Brassai, Principal Consultant at Sense4Gaming. The opening address, “Navigating MiCA: A Legal Roadmap for Crypto & Digital Assets in CEE,” was delivered by Konstantin Mikov, Managing Partner at Mikov & Attorneys. It focused on practical compliance, anti-money laundering integration and legal requirements for operators adopting digital assets across Central and Eastern Europe.
Day 1 Programme - 19 October 2026
Theme: Product, Payments & Acquisition
09:30 - Registration & Morning Refreshments
10:00 - Opening Remarks from the Chairperson
Robert Brassai, Principal Consultant, Sense4Gaming.
10:15 - “Navigating MiCA: A Legal Roadmap for Crypto & Digital Assets in CEE”
Opening address by Konstantin Mikov, Managing Partner, Mikov & Attorneys, covering practical compliance, AML integration and legal requirements for operators adopting digital assets.
10:45 - “Retention Over Acquisition: Are We Rethinking Growth Strategies Fast Enough?”
Roundtable moderated by Josef Weirauch, former Lead Affiliates & Partnerships EU, BitMEX.
Panellists:
- Georgi Stoianov, Senior Business Development Manager, PaymentIQ;
- Henk Wolff, Marketing & Strategic Director, iGaming Consultant;
- Nikolay Tonev, CMO, Noreeva Technology Group;
- Uliana Korobeynikova, PR & Communications Executive, iGaming.
11:45 - Networking Refreshment Break
12:15 - “Responsible AI in Marketing: Navigating the EU AI Act Without Killing Performance”
Fireside chat with:
- Georgi Kanev, Co-Founder & Partner, Kanev Lukaev Tech Law;
- Martin Georgiev, Safer Gambling Business Execution Manager, Flutter Bulgaria.
12:45 - “Retail Gaming in a Digital-First World”
A fireside chat exploring how land-based operators are evolving to stay relevant and competitive, featuring:
- Robert Brassai, Principal Consultant, Sense4Gaming;
- Robert Stoica, COO, WinBet.
13:15 - “The Nevis Online Gaming Framework: Governance, Licensing and Market Access”
Presentation by Hristo Koevski, Chief Commercial Officer, Nevis Online Gaming Authority.
13:45 - Networking Lunch Break
15:00 - “Balancing Compliance and UX in Multi-Jurisdiction Markets”
A roundtable on navigating regional regulations without frustrating players, featuring:
- Atanas Valov, Founder, Valov & Licheva;
- Liliya Tsoncheva, Attorney-at-Law, LT Law Bulgaria;
- Martin Yakimov, Partner, Head of Gambling, Velchev & Co. Law Office.
16:00 - Closing Remarks from the Chairperson
Robert Brassai, Principal Consultant, Sense4Gaming.
SPARK 2026 runs until 20 October, offering opportunities to exchange insights, build partnerships and explore sustainable growth across the industry.
Czechia
