"Golden Race has the capacity to start operating tomorrow in Brazil, if necessary"

GMB - With what expectations Golden Race comes to SAGSE this year and how are you seeing the show?
Javier Cicciomessere - We always come with many expectations to SAGSE. Golden Race is a company used to participate in the fairs of the Latin American market and SAGSE is one of the events required for all who work in the region. We see a very good fair, with business possibilities. We have already had contacts with businessmen from Paraguay and Brazil.

What balance do you make of this 2017 that is ending and what are your expectations for next year?
We had a very positive 2017. This year Golden Race aimed to customize our games with respect to our customers. Our games have the ability to be customized in a very practical way, so this year we do not devote as much to developing new games as we did last year, but we focus on the needs of our customers, and also to develop the new online gaming system for integrations.
In the Latin American market we have almost tripled our initial expectations that we had for this year. So we are very proud of this achievement.

Where would you place Golden Race in the game offer worldwide and in Latin America?
Golden Race is the leading operator of virtual gaming worldwide. Not only in the Latin American market. In the region, we follow the same trend we have in the rest of the world. Today, Golden Race is a reference in virtual games, where we also develop pre-recorded games, 3D and a mix of both of them. We are the only ones who make pre-recorded games with digital background. This positions us as the number one company, with the big clients working with us. All this made that the global leadership trend also extends to Latin America.

How do you envision 2018? Is it a football World Cup year. Does it influence in some way?
The World Cup is always a good thing, it is a great event. Our virtual games are almost a complement to a betting site, a casino or a sports betting house. Bearing in mind that the World Cup is in Russia and that because of the time difference not everyone will be watching the games instantly, our games can make that in those times where there is no football live, people can continue to play with other different options.

What is your vision of the process of legalization that is taking place in Brazil?
For us it is very relevant, it is the most important Latin American market by number of people and movement of money in terms of bettings, and even one of the most important in the world. We are with the expectation that it will be regulated in the short term. Golden Race only works in regulated market fulfilling all the regulations and laws of those countries. We are already having many inquiries from Brazilian entrepreneurs who are willing to work with us. In turn, we have the same consultations with the Brazilian government, since we want to work in a regulated market, with protected players and with companies that operate with our software also protected. We want the regulation to take place right now.

Did you had contact with people of the Brazilian government?
Yes, fundamentally, in the events that Clarion organizes we had the possibility to contact with, for example, the Gaming Commission of the Chamber of Senators, and other entities. We are waiting for virtual games to be included in the law , since it is one of the things we need to be able to operate legally. And also because of a question of times, since unfortunately Brazil had political ups and downs that generated delays in the approval of the law. We are hopeful and expectant that in 2018 we already have a law.

Once the regulatory framework is approved, how do you imagine the arrival of Golden Race in the Brazilian market?
Golden Race is not only ready to enter the market, but we have the operational capacity to start tomorrow, if necessary. We have offices in the region, in Colombia and Peru, so we have the infrastructure to start working in terms of servers, staff, technicians, sales department, and a team that deals with legal, tax and accounting issues to start to operate immediately.

Are you planning to settle in Brazil with own offices?
That will be our next step. We have been evaluating options already this year, so if there is a law, Golden Race will open its own offices in Brazil.

Source: Exclusivo GMB