“There’s a growing political support for gambling legalisation in Brazil and huge international interest”

GMB - What can you tell us about your work agenda during your stay in Brazil as Clarion’s Director of Industry Insight and Engagement?
Ewa Bakun - Clarion has been committed to the Brazilian market since 2013 when we first launched the Brazilian Gaming Congress, which has been serving both the local and international gaming community as the catalyst for working together to effect change in the local regulations. I have been involved in that process since the very beginning and am here to meet with some of the key stakeholders to understand how we can continue serving the market and help it with the development of sound regulatory frameworks by providing both education and networking opportunities.
The London and Sao Paolo teams have been cooperating for a number of years to deliver the two successful events, Brazilian Gaming Congress and the Online Gaming Summit, and I’m here too to further develop the relationship between the teams, learn better how the local team works, share  best practice and provide updates on developments in the industry globally. I’m also taking this opportunity to talk to our long-standing partners and supporters, such as Games Magazine Brasil, to express our gratitude and plan future cooperation initiatives.

How did you perceive in your visit to Brazil the environment related to the legalization of the gaming sector in the country?
While some of the divisions within the industry remain, my understanding is that there is a growing political support for the legalisation of gambling and more positive outlook, supported by the progress around the legalisation of sports betting as the first step towards the country embracing gambling. Having spoken to various interested parties both locally in Brazil and internationally, it looks like the development of regulatory frameworks for sports betting is ongoing and there is commitment on the government side to finalise it within the time framework set for two years, or perhaps even earlier.

What is your opinion about the process that is going on in the Chambers of Deputies and Senators with the gambling legalization laws? Do you believe there will be positive news this year?
I think any type of progress, and it seems like there is one every year, is positive news and as sports betting becomes regulated in the country, I think there will be more and more support for further legalisation. I don’t have crystal ball to say when this might definitively happen; what we have learnt about Brazil, having observed the evolution of regulatory discussions in the country since 2013, is that one needs to have patience and trust the political process.

After having participated in different international events organized by Clarion, how did you notice that the topic of the gaming legalization in Brazil is discussed? What expectations do you see that Brazil generates in the international market?
Over my 10 years at Clarion I have seen an incredible evolution in terms of various countries embracing the regulation of gambling: various European countries, USA, Japan, now Brazil. Although that process is usually slow, due to its political intricacies, it has been amazing to witness it happen. It’s been taking place in Brazil as well and clearly there is a huge international interest towards developments here, considering the sheer size of the country and therefore the potential it offers to international stakeholders. We are already seeing some international companies making moves for the opportunity offered by sports betting with various sports teams’ sponsorship; there is no doubt that the more verticals become regulated, the more interest we’ll be seeing for investments in the local market.

Being in permanent contact with operators and suppliers all over the world given Clarion's global reach, do you usually receive inquiries about the Brazilian market? Have you received comments from companies waiting for the legalization of the activity to invest or participate in the local market?
Considering the potential of the Brazilian gaming market, it is no surprise that there has been a huge interest in it from many of our international partners who engage with our events globally. We have certainly been seeing even more interest now as sports betting is becoming regulated. Indeed, BgC that took place in June had had a spike in registrations right before the conference due to that development. We also held recently a webinar on the affiliate market in Brazil, which was one of our top performing webinars, in terms of registrations. These are just few examples of the growing interest in information about the Brazilian market.

What are your expectations for the next edition of the OGS considering the growth of the sports betting market in Brazil?
OGS is timed perfectly for the beginning of December when we should know much more about what shape the sports betting regulation will have. The consultation process that is due to close at the end of August should inform the decisions of the Ministry of Finance by then, so it might be clearer whether there will be any chance in the taxation model, whether there will be restrictions on the number of operators and what the licensing process might look like. I expect a huge interest in OGS and a significant spike in attendance, for which the event is fully prepared, having changed the location to a much more modern and larger venue.

What news could you anticipate about the event? What can expect those who will go to the Allianz Parque SP stadium next December 9 and 10?
As I said in the previous answer, I expect we will know much more about what the licensing and regulatory framework will look like and what the timelines will be for licensing.

Once the gaming sector is legalized in Brazil, do you imagine the country as a good destination to bring the ICE brand to Latin America with a trade show?
With the recent expansion of the ICE brand to Africa, North America and Asia, I don’t think it’s a big surprise that Latin America is on our horizon too. With BgC, OGS and Juegos Miami, we are already present and engaging with all the main stakeholders, including regulators, operators, suppliers and associations and we continue our dialogue with them to understand when and where a larger show could take place. Brazil, being the biggest market in the region, is certainly one of the top contenders as a possible location, but a lot depends on the regulatory environment as we need to ensure a relevant and smooth experience for manufacturers and suppliers of a variety of gaming products.

Source: Exclusive Games Magazine Brasil