As the blog informed, in Galo (as it is commonly known Atlético-MG, which means rooster) the internal speech is that there was no interest from the club in continuing with the conversations. With the ‘Alvinegro’ of São Paulo (Corinthians), however, commercial differences prevented the settlement. At Jucesp (São Paulo Commercial Board), Galera Gaming, a company created by the group in Brazil, is registered with a capital of R$ 140 thousand (US$26k).
Galera Group, owner of Galera.bet, is headquartered in Israel and has an office in Cyprus. Its Brazilian arm has among his advisers a Neymar’s friend and a businessman who became known in his early career for his friendship with Vanderlei Luxemburgo (former coach of Brazil’s national team).
Rooster and Santos
The company's conversation with Galo took place about two months ago. According to a source at Atlético-MG, the club showed no interest in continuing negotiations to try to make Galera.bet's sponsorship viable. In Santos, however, the negotiations went further after the legal department of the club gave the go-ahead.
The proposal was also for sponsoring the shoulder blade. However, as the blog found out, the conversation broke down because Santos wanted to include a clause that would allow for termination if the club closed main sponsorship with another betting company. Those responsible for Galera.bet did not accept the condition.
In May, Santos announced sponsorship of the “Casa de Apostas” website on the same part of the jersey negotiated with Galera Group. The evaluation among the Santos leaders is that the closed contract is more profitable in relation to the negotiation that did not succeed.
In a note sent to the blog, Galera Group confirmed the conversations with Atlético-MG and Santos.
“At the moment, we are in contact with other clubs that do not conflict with current hires. And already answering one of your questions, unfortunately we did not reach an agreement with Atlético Mineiro or Santos, as we were unable to close a contract and partnership model that made sense to the group due to contractual restrictions from the institutions themselves. Another important detail, as it is a real partnership, we will not close contracts with clubs in the same location and that maintain sporting rivalry. That is why we are choosing our partners very carefully. And for this choice, and business dealings, we are counting on the advice of a group of specialists and experts of Brazilian football, which are Márcio Carmo, Ibraim Neto and João Celso,” says excerpt from the statement.
"Buddy"
João Celso, a company advisor, is known as Neymar's “buddy (“parça” in Portuguese). The friend of the PSG star is a player manager. In 2018, after scoring a goal for PSG, Neymar paid tribute to his partner by balancing a boot on his head. Then he posted pictures of the businessman balancing glasses on his forehead on a social network. Also quoted as an advisor to the company, Márcio Carmo started in football, being known for his friendship with Luxemburgo and carrying the nickname of Márcio da Kelme in reference to the name of the company for which he worked.
Name change
According to registration with Jucesp, Galera Group's subsidiary in Brazil is registered under the name Galera Gaming Jogos Eletrônicos Eireli. This is the new name of a company created as Canal 1 Participações, established in October 2018. On February 20, 2020, it changed to its current name.
When asked if the capital of R$ 140 thousand (US$26k) registered by Galera Gaming at Jucesp is not small for those who signed millionaire contracts with Corinthians and Cruzeiro, Galera Group answered the following:
“Regarding the share capital of the Brazilian Galera Gaming, as previously informed, the company is a Galera Group subsidiary in Brazil, and as such it can legally sign contracts, commercial agreements and partnerships and has all the financial support and backing of our company's investor group, Galera Group, to honor its commitments. As the sector that still awaits federal regulation, none of the products and services that Galera Gaming will develop and / or operate in Brazil will involve gambling for money.”
Also according to data available at Jucesp, Galera Gaming's corporate structure points to the Israeli Isaac Michael Abihssira, resident in Israel, as holder. The Brazilian Saul Simão Valt, residing in São Paulo, where the company is based, appears as administrator and attorney for Abihssira, signing for the company.
At Jucesp, another company is registered at the same address as the Corinthians and Cruzeiro partner. This is B.K. Mining Mining Consulting. Linked to it are Valt and Ibraim Neto.
The blog asked Galera Group if the sponsor of the two Brazilian teams works at the same address as other companies. “Currently, Galera Gaming is located on one floor of a commercial building, where there are other commercial offices. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the team is currently working on a home office system,” replied the company.
Answers
Then, in full, read the Galera Group's responses to the Blog. The statement details the partnerships with Corinthians and Cruzeiro, in addition to explaining the interest in the Brazilian market.
Below are the information requested about the Galera Group, in addition to complementary data regarding the betting market.
As you know, sports betting today represents a consolidated market of US$ 144 billion and that, every year, grows double digits. Therefore, it is one of the few global markets with a high growth potential, mainly in countries that are on the way to regulation - the case of Brazil.
It is a mature market, formed by highly efficient, professional companies, with high credibility and reputation. Many of them are publicly traded companies listed on stock exchanges. Because of this, in January 2020, executives who have already participated in consolidated companies in this market, such as William Hill, Intralot, Winner, bwin, PlayTech, Caliente and Intercasino, joined to form the Galera Group.
Galera Group is the owner of the brand galera.bet, has its headquarters in Israel and an office in Cyprus. Our company will host, operate and manage all betting platforms such as Corinthians, Cruzeiro and GaleraBet, always remotely, outside of Brazil. Our partnership with the clubs has the brand licensing format for a gaming platform, and the partnership will guarantee, in the form of royalties, foreign exchange for the clubs.
Unlike other formats commonly used all over the world, the brand that will be displayed on the jersey of the clubs will be the name chosen by the fans of the respective clubs, in votes that are already underway, and not the Galera.bet brand. This is a totally innovative marketing action in which we place the club and its fans as protagonists of the action. So there will be 3 different platforms: Corinthians, Cruzeiro and Galera.bet itself.
We believe that this format, similar to a white label, via royalties, engages the crowd and provides a safe and reliable environment for the fans of each team to bet. With that, fans of partner clubs, over 18 years old, will be able to play in modalities like football, tennis, baseball, basketball, boxing, MMA, e-Sports among others.
At this moment, we are in contact with other clubs that do not conflict with current hires. And already answering one of your questions, unfortunately we did not reach an agreement with Atlético Mineiro or Santos, as we were unable to close a contract and partnership model that made sense to the group due to the contractual restrictions of the companies themselves. institutions.
Another important detail, as it is a real partnership, we will not close contracts with clubs in the same location and that maintain sports rivalry. That is why we are choosing our partners very carefully. And for this choice, and commercial deals, we are counting on the advice of a group of specialists and experts of Brazilian football, which are Márcio Carmo, Ibraim Neto and João Celso.
Galera Group is a new company, with an extremely innovative, agile mindset, and which focuses on rising markets already regulated or in the process of regulation. As Brazil, very soon, will have its Federal Law 13,756, of December 12, 2018, regulated, the country has become the biggest “bet” of the Galera Group.
According to the Federal Official Gazette, sports betting was even included in the Federal Government's Investment Partnership Program and included in the National Privatization Plan (PND), so Brazil will soon have its activity regulated.
So, at this moment, we wanted to set foot in Brazil, creating a subsidiary of Galera Group. This Brazilian company is called Galera Gaming and is a technology and marketing startup focused on data and entertainment related to the sports market. It is essential to have a local branch, which understands the Brazilian market. This is a crucial factor for the success of our operation.
Galera Gaming has already started to develop applications in Brazil that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to calculate probabilities and statistics related to sports, in addition to social games and other Live Score services. It also has two very important pillars closely linked to the purpose of the Galera Group:
1. understand the consumption habits and behavior of the Brazilian with regard to sports and sports betting to create the best possible experience for our future users, and;
2. disseminate content related to Responsible Gambling, since as Brazil is still an immature market with regard to sports betting, the educational pillar is paramount.
As the sector is still awaiting federal regulation, none of the products and services that Galera Gaming will operate in Brazil will involve cash bets. As Galera Gaming is a subsidiary of Galera Group in Brazil, it can legally sign contracts with clubs, as it has all the financial support of our company's investor group.
Here, we can already give you relevant information: some of these investors have shares listed on the stock exchange, that is, one more reason for us to be careful and trustworthy to meet the strict compliance clauses of these companies. And for this, and other reasons such as procedures and processes, Galera Group is audited by Ernst & Young.
Regarding the other questions, not answered above, I can say that:
• Mr. Ibraim Neto does not have and never had a partnership with Mr. Edinho dos Santos (the blog had asked if he was a partner in Pelé's son)
• With regard to the Galera Group, Mr. Josh Baazov only participated in the initial scope of the project, but in March 2020 he did not actually enter into a corporate composition and therefore is not part of the Galera Group's membership (the blog obtained the information that Baazov had his name linked to the company during the negotiations with Santos and Atlético-MG)
• Mr. Valt served, from 2007 until 2010, on the board of directors of a company in the ore trading sector in Israel, which had agreements in several countries around the world. He did not participate in the company's operations and does not respond to any process.
• The event entitled Panama Papers and the others mentioned was a leak of information with all the names of companies and partners of those that were present in the country. Mr. Valt is still a partner in two perfectly documented and regulated companies in the locality.
About the share capital of the Brazilian Galera Gaming, as previously informed, the company is a Galera Group subsidiary in Brazil, and as such it can legally sign contracts, commercial agreements and partnerships and has all the financial support and backing of our company's investor group, Galera Group, to honor its commitments.
Source: Blog do Perrone - UOL
