GMB - Tell us about your participation in BgC 2019..which panel will you moderate?
Robert Brassai - I am looking forward to participating on this event and will be moderating the panel titled: Examining the Opportunities and Barriers to Entry for Casinos in Brazil. The panel will discuss the major issues and questions regarding the land based casino industry’s entry into Brazil.
How do you see the gaming legalization process in Brazil? Near to materialize or even far?
The idea of legalizing and regulating games of chance has been around for quite some time in the country. The political will however came and went with different governments. It is never easy to pass a gambling bill in a relatively conservative country, so lawmakers have to weigh the benefits of tax dollars against public disapproval. The way I see it, there were many opportunities for this bill to come to existence, but the government always found something more urgent to deal with. I sincerely hope, it will get some traction during this year.
As a consultant, what would you recommend to the Government of Brazil? Opening first just casinos or the whole gaming sector?
I would certainly recommend passing a comprehensive gambling bill with a proper and transparent regulatory setup. There are plenty of examples out there in the world, they would just have to pick the model best suited for this country. Land based casinos and integrated resorts are just the top of the iceberg. Online casinos, sportsbooks and even sites offering “jogo do bicho” have been targeting Brazilian customers for years now, without the government ever cashing a penny on their traffic. Gambling is an extremely popular activity in most cultures, which has many shapes and forms. Suppressing any of these would result in underground activities and we al, know where that leads.
Do international casinos ask you about Brazil? Is there a high expectation in the market for what happens in the country?
After the Japanese opening, Brazil is the most expected new territory to open up to legal gambling. The sheer size, population and economic power of the country, coupled with the ever growing tourism industry mean a huge opportunity to both land based and online operators. Major casino companies are standing by to make their moves, once the green light is given. It will be an interesting scenario to see what kind of legislation will come to effect? Will the number of ICRs/casinos be limited by region and to how many, etc. There are too many questions pending still, but surely the interest is huge.
According to your vision, how many casinos and jobs could Brazil achieve in case of opening the market?
This very much depends on the law that will regulate this as I mentioned above. Based on population distribution and tourist numbers, to satisfy demand at least 7-10 major ICRs and 20-30 stand alone casinos could easily run profitably in Brazil. I am sure the approach will be more cautious at the beginning and the government will grant a few licenses only to major operators in return for guarantees on problem gambling, social responsibility, etc. Having said that, the latest news about plans for an unlimited number of licenses for online operators might indicate a different approach. We will find out eventually.
Do you consider that these kinds of events organized by Clarion are useful?
I certainly do. These events can be considered a huge brainstorming exercise, which is all parties (government and industry players) partake, can actually result in better regulations, better understanding of the challenges of such a move and most importantly a decision taking process on all sides based on mutual respect and comprehension of the interest and points of views of all parties involved.
BgC is Brazil's most respected gaming industry congress, providing unrivaled access to ministers, federal deputies, senators and local governors working to regulate this rapidly growing jurisdiction. With fixed odds sports betting, integrated casino resorts and privatization of lotteries under discussion in the Brazilian government, 2019 marks a true turning point in this vibrant emerging market. The event will be held at Tivoli Mofarrej in São Paulo and to register or become a Sponsor / Exhibitor, see all information on the official BgC website: www.brasiliangamingcongress.com.
Source: Exclusive Games Magazine Brasil
