GMB - Today we received the news that Clarion will organize the Online Gaming Summit Brazil. Tell us about what this event is all about.
Sergio Jardim - The idea of this event is to bring online gaming and specifically sports betting to the discussion. These two themes have been discussed in Brazil and it is possible that in a relatively short time they may be approved before other gaming modalities. So we already want to discuss these issues by bringing the people who are in the industry to attend and participate, as well as the main suppliers of these two topics.
How did you come up with the idea of organizing this event? It is a great move, we can say, right?
In fact this idea came up months ago and we talked to several suppliers in these sectors, the players of the two segments; and we found a great receptivity in doing this event in São Paulo. We will do it in the municipal stadium of Pacaembu, which is a football stadium linked with the historical patrimony of the city of São Paulo. We will have at the end of the first day -the event is on Monday and Tuesday- a guided tour of the football museum that is permanently open inside the Pacaembu stadium, which is very traditional.
This type of event has already been done in Europe, at the Standford Bridged, the stadium of Chelsea for example. However, they are regulated markets and doing so in Brazil is different. I imagine that for the coming companies it will be very curious to talk about this topic in a market that has not yet opened.
The market has not opened yet, but when it opens we are sure that it will be very big and that all the main players in the world will have an interest on working in Brazil. So we are bringing the discussion before to seize the opportunity to discuss the issue in society, with press coverage and one more important thing; it will happen in December after the elections. We want, let's put it this way, to pass these ideas on to the new deputies, governors and the future elected president of Brazil. We must discuss these things so that it can be regulated later.
What can you mention about names, speakers, famous personalities that may attend?
We’ll receive a wide range of people. Our idea is to bring the people who move the most in this market, so we will bring those operators who intend to invest in this when the market opens, because they have a lot of interest in listening. We are going to discuss the main issues: in waht stage is from the government perspective, what are the currents of thought around it, a little of what is happening in other countries of the world, which is very interesting, etc. And we have the idea to bring some sportsmen which are very well known in Brazil and that can give a more spicy climate the conversations and the event.
Tell us the exact dates and, for the companies interested on participating, how should they proceed.
It will happen on December 3rd and 4th, as I said Monday and Tuesday, and at the end of the first day we will have a cocktail followed by the visit to the Football Museum. The museum is very interesting, it is not only Brazil, there is much of the country, Pelé, Garrincha, everything we like, but there is the coverage of all the World Cups, the main Brazilian sportsmen, in three distinct thematic areas, is very interesting.
Anyone who wants to make contact with us already has the event's website (www.ogsbrazil.com.br), our office will monitor this permanently and tell how to proceed. The interested ones can also talk with Carlos Cardama (GMB Dirctor) who has worked with us to launch the event, in the organization. It is easy to get in touch with us through these two ways.
Finally, you mentioned that Brazil is getting closer to approve the regulation of sports betting. What else can you tell us about that process. What would you say to a foreign company about how Brazil is today?
I have no confidential information about that. What we know is what has been treated in recent months. So, we know there are some ways. We have two laws under way, one in the Senate and one in the House, and these two laws may be voted on. Of course, we are looking at a new congressional environment next year after presidential elections, but they can be voted on at any time. In addition, there is also the Tourism Law that is being discussed in the National Congress, in which there is also an attempt to place some references to gaming within the text of the bill; can happen or not. There are other issues, for example, involving state sports lotteries and it is also expected the trial of a lawsuit in the Federal Supreme Court to give a lot more freedom to state lotteries so they can do the same as the federal government.
And finally, there are other actions that are running on different fronts, the entities of the sector, players, are accessing the government, has had several conversations with the Ministry of Finance and the secretary who handles gaming. This has been very important, including participating in our events. I would say that there is always a possibility for the government, the Executive, to launch a provisional measure to accelerate discussion of the issue. So, there are several fronts. But we are in a moment of transition, in the middle of an electoral process, and it is difficult to imagine that anything happens after it. But by the end of the year and beginning of next year, surely this subject will be back on the agenda. Two of the candidates, for example, have already declared their support for the regulation of gaming in Brazil.
Source: GMB Exclusive
