GMB – Let’s talk first about the beginning of your personal trajectory as a sports bettor. What led you to choose this activity and how did Quero Apostar come about?
Thiago Pessoa - I was studying law at UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais) when I discovered poker. I started playing frequently and studying to become a player. During this period, I decided to create a blog to tell my story (querosershark.com).
The blog grew, and advertisers began to appear. One of these advertisers was a bookmaker, and as I needed content on this aspect, I created another site focused on that, which is Queroapostar.com.
At that time I also played tennis and watched sports a lot. I started to study more and more about betting to have content on the site, and to take my chances in the bookmakers. With the management and psychological base I had in poker, I got good betting results. I dropped that first line, and today I dedicate myself entirely to betting.
I am a partner today in what is probably the largest betting group in Brazil, in addition to having released four books on the topic, and having other sources, such as sponsorship and affiliations.
As a successful bettor, what would be your mission in this market? What projects are you currently working on and expectations for the future?
My main mission is to spread the stakes in Brazil, not only as an alternative way of income, but as a business as a whole. All of this responsibly, without selling dreams.
There are many possibilities for work within the industry, not only for gamblers, but for those interested in technology, social media, marketing, etc ...
While many focused only on betting, I tried to see what was behind. Today I do not only profit from betting houses, but as I said, from sponsorships, partnerships, and our own products. Many say that queroapostar.com makes money because it sells group, but the logic for me is the opposite, we sell group because we make money. It is important to note that I did not reach where I am alone. All partners on the site made this possible.
As for expectations for the future, I hope that the ‘Apostador em Campo’ (Field Gambler) project will take me to places I haven't yet been able to visit.
I was at the 2018 football World Cup exclusively to cover the event and bet, in addition to the last Europe League final in Azerbaijan. On top of that, I went to Champions League games, NFL, NBA, Roland Garros, Libertadores, etc ... All this thanks to bets and partners like VCréditos, who buy my ideas.
Have you followed the sports betting regulation process in Brazil? What is your assessment?
I am always one of the first to update myself on these news, as it is something that directly impacts my activity, and my business.
After the recent changes in the regulations, the limitation in the number of concessions, etc., I was discouraged. But still relieved because it would certainly take at least another year for things to be decided. In the case of Brazil and such a sensitive issue in society, especially now with this pandemic, I think that the regulation will not advance anytime soon.
Even so, with the economic crisis, betting money can be seen as the salvation of clubs, which can result in a high taxation of the industry and, therefore, of the gambler. My fear is that the high taxes make the activity unfeasible, but I don't lose any more nights of sleep with it, as has already happened. My goal is to retire before that happens.
Did you participate in the public consultations that the Ministry of Finance conducted during this process? What were your suggestions? Do you believe that further consultations will be necessary?
After ABAESP's suggestions were practically ignored in the first consultation, where bettors mobilized and delivered the largest number of contributions, I was discredited.
If multiple betting houses limit winning users, and the government wants to raise as much as possible, what is the point of helping bettors who want exactly the opposite?
Honestly it seems like a pointless fight. I do not want to demerit the Association, which has made an enormous effort to be heard. My disbelief is with those who are in charge of the project, who seem to ignore those who live in this way, in this environment, and are an essential part of the ecosystem.
Sports betting companies became better known to the general public through sponsorships, mainly in football. What is the importance of this movement, both for operators and for the betting modalities? Is it a market that will grow even more?
Public awareness work doesn't just come from exposure in football clubs. Several did just that, entered the country and had no success here.
The visibility of a brand comes together with influencers from outside the betting sector, but also from within. In this, the figure of the affiliate, that person who creates content explaining the operation of the bets, becomes very important.
Having a betting house banner (usually in English) for an audience that does not understand English, is by nature suspicious, and on a subject that does not understand how it works, it does not help.
The entry of a bookmaker in Brazil must be based on marketing campaigns that may involve clubs, but they must necessarily involve people from the environment, major influencers, promotion of payment methods, etc ...
Displaying a logo by branding for an audience that does not yet know the business is often a waste of money, in my opinion.
With the coronavirus crisis and the cancellation of sportive competitions, many sites have reinvented themselves by opening bets on eSports events and even TV shows like Big Brother. What is your assessment of this attitude of the operators? Which of these current alternatives can survive and become common offers on the sites?
Operators must turn around to keep users betting, whether it's BBB or anything else. The gaming industry is first and foremost an entertainment industry. It is up to bettors to identify whether it is possible to profit from it. In my opinion it is very difficult, but I do not judge who does it.
We must not forget that the vast majority of gamblers are in the betting houses for leisure, to have fun, have emotion and feel the adrenaline of each bet. If he's betting in a healthy way, whatever it is, who am I to go against?
As for eSports, I have already made some predictions that it is the market with the greatest potential in the sector. There is a range of young people who already do online transactions, who already bet between them, and who are involved in an industry as rich as, if not more than, gambling. Every day the audience for these events increases, and if we are very interested in an event, we will obviously be interested in betting.
I have two specialists in eSports on my website, and at the moment the entire focus of the company is on promoting what they do, and on content on the subject. The offer of games allows them to make an excellent volume of bets, with samples of what works and what doesn't. Stoning is much easier, and there is a huge possibility of profit. eSports will be the pandemic's great legacy to the betting world.
Finally, what would you say to those who wish to enter this activity of sports betting aiming at the regulation that is about to arrive? What is the future of the profession?
I don't like making many long-term plans when it comes to regulation, because it costs nothing to propose a new decree, or something that vetoes it, even at the evangelical bench. Many are totally averse to betting, and when definition times comes, a lot of noise in the opposite direction will be made. And we haven't even gotten to that part yet.
To those who want to join, my advice is, mainly, in the sense of seeing bets as a long-term investment, a great income supplement. Of course, you can live on betting, but today people think first about making money, before learning. It's like entering a medical school, and two weeks later wanting to go out and operate on a tumor. There's no way. In betting, like everything in life, things take time.
The more the market matures, the more people tend to understand this, and for those who want to learn, queroapostar.com will be there to help.
Source: Exclusive GMB
