GMB - Once again you are participating at ICE. What will the company showcase this year in London to the market?
Victor Arias- ICE is one of the largest and most respected iGaming events in the calendar and it attracts the biggest industry movers and shakers. It’s the perfect place to showcase Patagonia Entertainment’s progress and there will be particular focus on our outstanding omni-channel solution. Here our customers gain access to our intuitive platform which features our market-leading Video Bingo games. Patagonia’s content aggregator is also accessible and features the very best casino games to help any business grow.
What themes or topics do you imagine will be the most relevant in this edition of this traditional expo?
ICE provides the backdrop for discussions about the latest iGaming market trends and developments. This year will be no different and much of the conversation will centre on LatAm and its vast potential as regulation continues at a great pace. Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Peru represent major growth opportunities and there will be more regulation as we move through 2019.
The online gaming sector seems not to slow down its growth before the physical ... Do you consider this trend will deeper in 2019? Why?
The constant expansion and penetration of internet access for countries around the world means growth will not let up. Mobile is becoming more accessible too to provide another platform for users to enjoy casino gaming. All this is made possible thanks to the land-based success which acts as a fantastic conversion for online. Latam has a rich culture in land-based gaming and the transition to online is still in its early stages.
What balance does the company make of 2018?
The past 12 months has seen Patagonia Entertainment establish itself as the market leading iGaming technology developer, providing a customizable and mobile first solution. Patagonia’s intuitive platform features Sportsbook, Casino, Live Casino, Video Bingo, Virtual Games and E-sports. These verticals sit alongside a standout Video Bingo games studio and numerous aggregated third-party titles.
Content partnerships were a constant driving force for Patagonia throughout 2018. Patagonia’s portfolio of providers is growing all the time and some of the latest additions are Red Rake Gaming, Kiron Interactive, Vivo Gaming, Booming Games, Ezugi and P.G. Soft. The number of operators working with Patagonia is also expanding with Wplay.co, Casinoenchile.com, 1Xbet.com, Yourbet.com and Doradobet.com.
Our technology has been rolled out in regulated markets such as Colombia and Mexico with plans in place for further expansion around Europe, Africa and Asia.
A major catalyst for the expansion came when the company acquired its own platform last May. This deal confirmed the company as the leading iGaming provider for online and land-based operators throughout the regulated LatAm region.
Can you anticipate some plans, projects or product development in the folder for 2019?
Certification and regulation will act as the framework for growth in 2019. This year started on the front foot after Patagonia completed its certification for the Philippines. Asia represents a big milestone for the business, as does Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Malta and the UK. Focus will be on signing new partnerships with top-class providers and platforms around the world. Innovation and diversification always feature strongly in the company road map and 2019 will be packed with new releases and products.
What role does Latin America play for you?
Latin America has been our focus since the beginning, we started here and the company will continue growing within the region by innovating the service. Today’s regulation wave around the region gives us the chance to enhance our relationships and our efforts to work with local regulators.
What products / services are most successful in the region?
Our entire iGaming portfolio has played a role in Patagonia’s continuing success. The omni-channel approach means our products are welcome by all. Video bingos remain the business foundation, although the Patagonia service offering has greatly diversified since launch.
How do you see the processes of legalization and regulation in Brazil specifically? Especially after the recent legalization of sporting bets.
It is a great step from the biggest market in Latam. There will be a bit of delay until the regulation itself is ready and we are expecting many big participants to enter Brazil’s regulated market in the near future. Patagonia fully supports regulation and Brazil will be an important business milestone, in a very similar light to Colombia where there has been significant success. Peru and Argentina will feature strongly in our 2019 strategy too.
The casinos seem to be the next step in the legalization of gaming in Brazil. Do you consider that it would be correct to open the gaming market gradually or do it in a broad way with all the gaming modes at the same time?
Each market has its own way of proceeding depending, on its own needs and priorities. Patagonia believes online and land-based are a great marriage which can deliver huge returns for the Brazilian economy. A dedicated approach is best for legalisation to ensure everyone is on the same page and the process is completed properly at the first time of asking.
Source: Exclusive GMB
