Andre Gelfi, from the Betsson Group in Brazil, initiated this one-on-one conversation with SoloAzar, emphasizing the central importance of the Brazilian market for the company. He remarked that “I was proud to have a speaker role at the event and the opportunity to establish connections with local stakeholders and regulators during the summit” he said, adding: “Given the Brazilian focus uniqueness, the event brought together relevant key players to discuss the future of regulation in the sector. The timing of the SBC Summit Rio was suitable, as we await the details of regulation in the coming weeks, there are still issues to be clarified, and the entire regulatory framework must be defined to enable proper business and investment planning in this scenario”.

The conversation then shifted to a hot topic that was significant during the inaugural SBC Summit Rio: Brazilian market regulations. In this regard, Gelfi explained that “Betsson advocates for betting regulation because it is crucial for the safety of everyone in the ecosystem: our customers, society, operators, and investors. Betsson consistently emphasizes that betting is entertainment, not an investment. The greatest challenge lies in swiftly understanding the market and establishing local operations while building a strong value proposition, which includes the Brand”.

At this point, it’s time to ask a key question: What is your opinion on the gambling and gaming market in Brazil?

“Regulation - expected to be approved this year -, will create a new scenario in the Brazilian market. Although the betting space is already established, Brazil has reached high opportunities without regulation so far. With new laws on the horizon, we anticipate more appropriate conditions and significant changes, with greater visibility in the regulatory scenario. We are paying close attention to discussions on how the process will be implemented and expect that regulations will be related to the authorization process. It seems that aspects related to taxation, payment methods, certification of platforms and products, as well as payments, are well underway, and we hope to have news son”.

Later, Gelfi emphasized once again the topic of regulations, which was the central theme of the panel he participated in at the SBC Rio Summit, during which they discussed “the challenges and next steps on the regulatory front, which underscored the critical importance of having clear fiscal definitions. In Brazil, tax on winnings are still undefined and need clarification. We also need clarity on the gains resulting from fixed-odds betting that will be allowed, as well as the share structure and the Brazilian requirement of 20% in the law. Additionally, we explored challenges related to Responsible Gaming and Advertising. It's crucial to ensure that the market is sustainable and balanced with the needs of society and government. This will leave everyone happy and comfortable”

The presence of great soccer players representing Betsson

Furthermore, Gelfi emphasized that “it was a unique opportunity to interact with other industry leaders, share ideas, and collaborate to drive the industry forward”. He also highlighted another milestone of the event: the presence of the former football player and current Betsson ambassador, Zé Roberto, who participated in the panel on “High-Performance Strategy.” During this panel, Zé Roberto discussed and elaborated on some of the strategies he used to achieve peak performance in his professional career

To conclude, we asked Gelfi how his company views the future of the gambling industry in Latin America, and his response was very optimistic. It was also linked to the presence of elite soccer players representing Betsson. He explained this to us: “It's a very promising scenario for positive developments. Betsson is focused on expanding its presence and projects in the Latam market. Recently, we announced Paolo Guerrero as another ambassador for the region to strengthen our ties with Latin American customers. Whenever possible, we seek synergies among the countries in the region. This broad approach allows us to develop cohesive regional strategies, leveraging efficiencies and replicability opportunities across different markets. By working synergistically and harmoniously in Latin America, we avoid starting from scratch in each country, which puts us in an advantageous position in the Brazilian market and throughout the region. Betsson is up-to-date with events happening in Latin America and will be present at SiGMA Americas in São Paulo from April 23rd to 25th, and will also be attending the Copa América, which will take place on June 20th.”