GMB- Once again Sirplay will attend ICE show inLondon. What will the company show to the market on this occasion?
Bart Esposito - It's the fourth time to be more exact. But now Sirplay will take a completely new product for the Sportbook, which is called R-PLAY. This new version of the platform was born to compete with all the most famous B2C platforms. We will also bring a new service related to the management of utilities in the field of Back Office and Risk Manager.
What topics do you imagine will be the most relevant in this edition of the most important fair in Europe?
This year's main activities focus on three cardinal points. The first is obviously that of regulation, focused specifically on Italy, Argentina, Brazil and the United States. So many things have happened in these countries and seeing the industry's response will be an important point of the sector's increase until it reaches around a trillion Euros foreseen for 2022. The second fundamental point is technology. The cryptocurrencies, the new payment systems. On this subject we are proud to have a little competition with the Sport Book in Cryptocurrency. The third fundamental point is that linked to the bets on eSports. This will be predominant and will continue to be at least for the next 5 years, until the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Online gaming seems not to slow down its growth against the physical traditional one. Do you think this trend will deepen in 2019? Why?
The answer is affirmative, in 2019 growth will be seen. The problem is to understand to what size. The "Dignity Decree" in Italy, the reinterpretation of the "Wire Act" in the USA, and the opening of Buenos Aires and Brazil.
In addition, in terms of commercial strategies and several factors that will influence the growth of activity in 2019, the real curiosity is the technological one. Sirplay and the betting terminals themselves are looking to make entertainment more accessible although in countries where the average Internet penetration has a very low average level. But in general, we believe in the development of technology and we hope that although the institutions understand the importance of having access to the Internet always with high availability, even in remote areas. Internet consequently is synonymous with security, a concept that always has priority for us.
What balance does the company make of 2018?
Positive. 2018 was a significant year in the history of Sirplay for many reasons. That which was a trend in 2018 was anticipated by Sirplay in February of the same year, with the Bitcoin platform presented at the ICE Totally Gaming in London. Today we believe to be a factor of development in diverse economies of the world, we are sure that this year we will have many positive results.
Can you anticipate some plans or products development for 2019?
We were lucky to risk in the course of 2017 and to bet on the Cryptocurrencies, new payment systems and their commercial choices relative to some markets. This has allowed us to anticipate in 2018 and to be able to continue to be relevant in 2019. What I can anticipate is that in addition to R-PLAY, we are developing a new User Interface for SBS, our flagship software. And that we are working on a project related to mathematics, of which I would prefer not to anticipate anything.
What role does Latin America play for Sirplay?
Latin America would be for us the strawberry of the dessert. We are still today the only software provider in the gaming industry that has 2 licenses in Latin America, and we aim to continue to influence the continent, and to expand, any time the economic and financial possibility is presented.
What products / services are most successful in the region?
Sports betting and football are, will be and will remain forever the most important product in the market. The South American enthusiasm for the most beautiful and convenor sport in the world. What makes me more curious to know is Brazil's response to the legalization of gaming in the country. In particular about eSports. In Brazil, the millenial generation and generation Y go crazy for videogames and specifically for competitive eSports. And it will be interesting to see how gaming will respond to this demand.
How do you see the processes of legalization and regulation in Brazil? Especially the recent legalization of sport betting.
The numbers speak for themselves. Between August and September, the Lotteries total 600,000 reaes (US$ 160k) per sale day. In addition, Brazilians have doubled their spending on training in recent years. The economic factors are obviously accomplices. We hope that the country's economy will stabilize to meet the primary and secondary needs of the Brazilian people. To speak of the success of legalization is still hasty, but in general legalization involves stabilization and education. With respect to numbers and finances, they are quite close to the system adopted in Colombia. What for us is an advantage.
Casinos seem to be the next step in the legalization of the gaming sector in the country. Is it correct to go step by step with the opening of the activity or would it be more convenient to open the entire market?
Without the cachaça, the best caipirinha is not a caipirinha.
Source: Exclusive GMB
