GMB - You will be present at the BGC this month in São Paulo. Tell us about how the invitation came about, what is your expectation and how relevant is a congress like BgC for the gaming legalization process in the country?
Robinson Fernandes - This is the first time I am invited to this event. The invitation came from the organization most likely because of my militancy in the fight against money laundering on the national scene and the exercise of the presidency of the Institute of Professionals in Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (IPLD). I think that congresses such as the BgC are of huge importance as a forum for discussion and reflection on the eventual legalization of gaming in the country, reflecting on the most varied aspects, listening to diverse opinions, professionals and experts, as well as discussing the impacts , the reflexes and scope of this eventual legalization besides the mechanisms of control and prevention of money laundering, now very important in any segment of the market.
What are the key information you want to get through in your talk during the BGC?
I intend to bring information and provocations about the relevance of the prevention of money laundering and its regulation, along with related mechanisms to allow, in the case of legalization, a safe performance in line with best practices, with the guidelines of the FATF- FATF in favor of the image of the country and the containment of illicit activities in the domestic sphere, following by symmetry the other regulated areas of gaming, in addition to risk-based assessment and approach.
As president of the IPLD, tell us a little about the institute's trajectory. What does your job currently consist of and what results have you achieved?
The IPLD Institute has emerged from the perspective of synergy between market professionals and management bodies for the improvement of best practices. Currently, the institute promotes the production of knowledge about the subject and the certification of professionals in order to create a standard in this area. My job is precisely to interlocate in these actions, gathering partnerships and bringing knowledge about the subject. In this trajectory since the creation, the Institute has gained a lot of space in the market, before the Public Administration, brought knowledge, information exchange and network to the professionals opening a range of opportunities for them. Finally, it has become a forum for discussions and reflections that has impacted on the very conduct of these professionals and who knows even the market and future state actions.
Money laundering is always a theme raised against the legalization of gaming, including much discussed at the session of the CCJ that rejected PL 186/2014. As an expert on the subject, what is the evaluation of the use of this argument and what can be said against it in the legalization debate?
Money laundering is a problem and a concern in any segment, but I do not see it as an impediment to legalization of gaming. No way. We could even list impeding factors or, perhaps, not so much convenience, for what we hear in society, such as the risk of gambling addiction and the increase in some criminal practices as a result of this addiction, the difficulty of supervising the segment given the lack of reasonable structure in the country, among others. And the opposite would also have favorable arguments in the face of taxation and reduction of other crimes and corruption through legalization beyond the minimum control of what would already exists. But I would not say or agree that money laundering alone would be a reasonable argument to prevent legalization. The key is the adequate regulation and the incarceration of both the state and the players in this niche in order to properly structure itself with properly equipped and trained prevention areas, collaborating with the authorities and following the specific FATF-GAFI guidelines in addition to any regulations that might arise.
Considering the international situation on the subject, which country has the best model for combating money laundering and how can it be used as an example to create a similar one against this crime in Brazil?
It is difficult to list which country would have the best model because there is no ranking properly said in this sense with objective and fair criteria putting all on a level playing field. What we can mention are the results of the FATF-GAFI and country evaluations that go well and a listing of notes among other items besides the listing of the disabled and non-cooperating countries. In this sense, we could cite as examples of good practices Portugal, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, among others. It would be an example to be followed, mainly Portugal for the similarities with Brazil such as the language, legislation, peculiarities of the Law and even for having a legalized gaming market, along with the mechanisms of control and prevention already implemented and effectiveness verified.
Finally, what is your expectation for the Brazilian gaming market? Even with indecision in the process of legalization, do you believe that Brazil can even become one of the biggest markets in the world?
Yes, I believe that Brazil would become one of the main international markets. Without legalization it is evident that there is already a great financial movement in this field, for example with jogo do bicho, not to mention bingos, casinos and others. At the time that there was an agreement on the authorization of bingos, there was a great move. Even if it is not legalized now, the discussion will always be there and also the feeling that the country can have a promising market with a reasonable probability of completion. Ideally, if gaming is legalized with various modalities and not just a specific segment, this would make the market even more promising for those interested in ensuring control, prevention and legal security reinforcing the arguments favorable to legalization.
Source: Exclusive GMB
