Habanero: ´Appealing to a new generation of mobile-first player is crucial´

How do you evaluate the deal between Habanero and BetJuego during 2020?

Signing with BetJuego was a fantastic move for Habanero, with our company continuing to expand rapidly across Latin America.
As I’m sure my industry friends agree, BetJuego is one of Colombia’s foremost operators. It fuses best-in-class European iGaming with the flair and excitement for which the country is known, resulting in an action-packed portfolio comprising live betting, sportsbook and casino games.

Since launching a year ago, BetJuego has already cemented itself as a key player in the Colombian market. And now, thanks to us, they’re set for a further boost with the addition of almost 60 Habanero HTML5 slots and table games titles including Egyptian Dreams and Hot Hot Fruit.

The deal also granted BetJuego access to our state-of-the-art marketing and customer retention tools including customisable, high-performing tournaments, enabling us to introduce our innovative content to even more players far and wide with the very best in player-boosting engagement.

What goals does Habanero expect to achieve in 2020?

More expansion! While we’ve only been on the continent for a relatively short time, players and operators alike have proven to be real fans of our fantastic range of games and tools, and we’ve got plenty more deals in the pipeline.

Looking beyond, we will be continuing with the roll-out of our coveted portfolio across newly regulated territories on the continent, with Brazil an increasingly attractive proposition for operators as the country begins to reach that final tipping point of joining the party.
Of course, that will come with its own challenges. The diverse patchwork of regulatory requirements that exists across Latin America, along with the ever-changing and volatile political climates present in some of its countries, means that a ‘one-size-fits all’ approach is not applicable.

We’re here to help our operator partners solve that by ensuring we tailor their offerings to the demands of each market, with some of the most advanced back-end features and functionalities available in the industry.

How do you see the Latin American markets?

LatAm markets pose both exciting growth opportunities and tough, multi-faceted challenges. As it stands, much of the existing regulatory frameworks are fragmented, and in some cases, lacking licenses completely.

However, that’s all set to change soon enough. As the tide of regulation starts to arrive across more and more local markets, LatAm brims with potential for companies able to take advantage of its rapid demographic and regulatory shifts.

To those who have experience here, it’s not a surprise. When it comes to Latin America, it’s vital to bear in mind that patience is a virtue. Although regulation is on the horizon, political and bureaucratic challenges at both the local and national level mean that the path to compliance is long and complex.

It is beyond doubt, though, that those who rise to this challenge will undoubtedly reap lucrative rewards. Forecasts predict that the value of the continent’s iGaming industry is set to take off significantly in the coming years. Operators who are equipped to stake their claim on the continent with an agile and localised product offering will see a welcome boost to their market share, and with some of the best games available on the market, we’re here to help make that happen.

Who is the average type of player you expect to reach?

For anyone looking to set up shop in emerging markets in Latin America and beyond, appealing to a new generation of mobile-first player is crucial. Of course, the imperative to attract new audiences necessitates the innovation of new solutions, and today’s iGaming market is fast-becoming a home for tech-savvy players.

Acquiring and retaining this kind of customer over the long-term means providing a unique and ever-growing set of entertainment experiences, each sufficiently flexible to maximise on the opportunities presented by new technology.

As a leading provider of HTML5 slots and table games, our content is perfectly optimised for the mobile-oriented technological demands of the LatAm market. Having also capitalised on Colombia’s pioneering remote gaming regulations by partnering with one of the country’s fastest-growing operators in BetJuego, as well as Codere and Salsa, we are currently scaling up in Mexico and set to enter the City of Buenos Aires and other newly regulated markets as soon they come online. To me, it’s clear that Habanero’s product suite is perfectly adapted to LatAm’s distinct regulatory and technical conditions, and we’re very excited for the future!