Everything you need to know about Payment Expert's 2026 Digital Day

Earlier this week, fresh warnings around the use of synthetic identities in online fraud underscored a point many payment teams are already grappling with. The tools are getting better, faster and harder to detect, while expectations from regulators are moving in the same direction.

Over the past few months, enforcement action, consultation papers and industry reports have all pointed to the same underlying tension: payments infrastructure is being pushed to deliver speed and scale, but with controls expected to be tighter, more transparent and increasingly data-driven.

For operators in high-volume environments, this tension is already a daily reality. But it is no longer confined to sectors like iGaming. The same questions are now being asked across the wider payments industry. How do you strengthen fraud and AML controls without introducing friction? Where does AI genuinely improve decision-making, and where does it introduce new risk? And how flexible does your payments stack need to be when regulation and customer expectations can shift within months, not years?

These are the questions shaping Payment Expert’s Digital Day 2026, taking place on 15 April.

Rather than focusing on abstract trends, the sessions are built around operational realities:

Where fraud controls have failed and why.
How AI is being deployed in compliance functions beyond the headline use cases.
What “agility” really looks like inside modern payment stacks. And whether stablecoins are beginning to move from experimental to essential infrastructure.

Below is the full agenda for the day.

Agenda

10:00 BST — Payments under pressure: Tackling fraud, AML risk, and regulatory expectations

Fraud and AML risks have evolved faster than many operators’ controls. With regulators tightening expectations and fraudsters adopting more sophisticated tools such as synthetic identities and coordinated bonus abuse, the pressure on payments and compliance teams has intensified.

This session examines the most significant fraud and AML trends of the past year, the strategies that delivered real results, and the failures that led to regulatory action. Learn how to strengthen detection, streamline KYC, and build more resilient systems without compromising customer experience.

Speakers:
Ian Perrygrove, Chief Risk Officer, Kwiff
Luis Carlos Perez, AML/CT Officer – MLRO, Lottofy
Olena Demchenko, Head of AML Governance, FDJ United
Antony Jordan, Head of Payments and KYC, ODDSET

Moderator:
Rachael Kennedy, Editor, Payment Expert

11:00 BST — AI in compliance: Balancing automation with human oversight

Operators are already using AI to detect anomalies, automate decision-making, and process large volumes of transactional data. The key question is how far these systems can be trusted. This session explores where AI is delivering measurable improvements across fraud detection, AML monitoring, and operational efficiency, and where human oversight remains critical.

Speakers:
Scott Burrows, Head of Compliance, Superbet
Miguel Luis, Head of Compliance, LeBull
Alexandra Koerner, Chief Legal and Compliance, Grand Casino Baden AG
Myriah Abela, DPO and Lead Data Privacy Officer, Betsson Group
Andrea Carvalho, Head of Legal and Compliance, Entain

Moderator:
Ted Orme-Claye, Editor, SBC News

12:00 BST — Why Payment Agility Defines Digital Winners

In a fast-moving, high-volume iGaming environment, the ability to adapt quickly is becoming a defining competitive advantage. Whether launching new payment methods, entering new markets, or responding to regulatory change, agility is now directly linked to commercial performance.

This session explores how leading operators are building more flexible payment infrastructure, the cultural and technical barriers to change, and how approaches such as payment orchestration and configurable cashiers are enabling faster innovation without increasing operational risk.

Speaker:
Viktoriia Degtiarova, Chief Compliance Officer, Paysecure

14:00 BST — Beyond the buzz: How stablecoins could transform operator payments

Stablecoins moved from theory to practical infrastructure in 2025, with real-world settlement speeds and cost efficiencies becoming impossible to ignore. While consumer adoption remains niche, operators are increasingly exploring their role in treasury management, cross-border settlement, and faster payouts. This session separates hype from reality, exploring where stablecoins add genuine value and how they can complement traditional payment methods.

Speakers:
Thees Buschman, Senior Consultant, Chevron Group
Mark Grech, Co Founder and CEO, Veris.finance
Rolands Grancovskis, Group Head of Payments, TheLotter

Moderator:
Rebecca Liggero Fontana, Reporter, Producer and Host, CoinGeek

15:00 BST — Rethinking affordability: How data is transforming safer gambling

Affordability checks are becoming more precise, moving beyond estimates through open banking technology and player-consented data. These tools provide deeper insights into spending behaviour, disposable income, and early risk indicators.This session explores how data-driven affordability checks can help operators strengthen compliance, protect players, and build more sustainable gambling environments.

Speakers:
Charlotta Shelbourg, Director of Product, LeoVegas
Rahul Das, Management Consultant, Spyglass Insights
Mariola de la Piedra Quelle, Gerente de Marketing and Innovación, GELSA
Olga Gunchenkova, Director of Payments, Flutter International
Ambrose Joseph Muscat, MLRO and Compliance Manager, Esports Entertainment Malta

Moderator:
Louis Thompsett, News Editor, Payment Expert