GMB - How was NetBet presentation at CONAFUT? What topics have you covered?
María Noel Pais - Our intention was to inform the audience about the importance of the regulatory bodies for betting sites, in order to ensure the privacy of the players' data and ensure the gambling policies. In addition, our objective was also to share the current barriers for this segment to operate in an unregulated market.
We want to support the economy in the country with local investments. This interest is positive for the country, where new jobs will be generated.
Finally, we wanted to reinforce the need for such legislation to be handled with the utmost care, taking into account the opinion of companies in the industry, to ensure that we follow the good examples of successful countries. We want to have as examples markets where users and companies benefit, not those in which the government ended up spending efforts in a regulation that soon made the business unfeasible.
GMB - In those two days when so many people from the football sector visited your stand, what were their main concerns with NetBet?
María Noel Pais - The interaction that occurred in the event of football-related companies, both clubs and specialized agencies, was huge and varied. It was a surprise for good.
The most important thing to note was the interest in exploring new types of sponsorships, as are bookmakers at many of the clubs present at the event.
In addition, several presented their services. And there was a great deal of curiosity both about the product's operation and regulatory issues before the panel.
After the panel was set up, several approached to go deeper into the subject and tell us that they had no idea what it was all about regulating a gambling site and the barriers faced today.
GMB - Unlike other sites, NetBet has a strong presence on social networks. What is the strategy and goals with this constant update?
Rodrigo Aragao Antonini - We aim to get closer to our target audience and social networks are a great tool for this. Our strategy is also to publicize the brand and partnerships with currently sponsored clubs as well as future sponsorships.
GMB - NetBet was the first to enter the Brazilian market with sponsorship. How do you see the arrival of other competing companies that sponsor other teams?
Rodrigo Aragao Antonini - As the regularization scenario takes shape, new brands are sure to start sponsoring clubs. However, I see very positively that the brands start to do more marketing actions in Brazil, both sponsoring football clubs and others.
It is important to show at this moment of inflection, that there is investment interest, that has companies ready waiting to act immediately in each step that the government adopts in this theme.
GMB - On May 22 in the Congress, the Sports Commission held a public hearing for international experts from all areas invited to explain and suggest ideas for regulation. How do you see this audience? Is there any idea you would like to contribute?
María Noel Pais - I think it is important to reinforce the words of lawyer Witoldo Hendrich Jr and that has to do with what I said before of "taking the good examples so as not to make the business unfeasible". He said that sports betting sites also have other products, and these are also important to be included in regulation and can´t be left out.
Otherwise, there will continue to be a black market, where unregulated websites will kill legalized operations, which can only operate with a sports betting license.
In addition, I believe it is important that when the Ministry of Finance decides the rules and penalties, that the regulatory body created has the ability to control what was created. This is also very important for the permanence of the websites in the market.
GMB - Are there future plans that can tell us?
Rodrigo Aragao Antonini - NetBet will continue to invest in the Brazilian market with new partnerships and presence in the new media.
GMB - Have these NetBet actions in Brazilian football already been translated into better results in the number of bets made from Brazil?
Rodrigo Aragao Antonini - Certainly there was a growth, both new users and fans of the clubs, but also people who as a result of our actions, ended up feeling more sure about the seriousness of the website. This, too, I think is important to emphasize, because trust and security bring exponential growth.
This feedback has also been reflected in the partners who bring us traffic from players (affiliates). They earn a share of our revenue by referring us. For them it is very important to work safely with websites that want to remain in the market, since the reward of the efforts of their work is collected over time.
Source: Exclusive Games Magazine Brasil
