GMB - Did the Brazilian market need a face-to-face event of this level?
Marcello Corrêa - Absolutely! As advanced as the technology that enables teleconferencing today is, personal interaction has yet to be overcome. Bringing professionals together in the same environment is essential for exchanging experiences, knowledge and, who knows, opportunities in the sector.
Can the strength of BiS and its dissemination in the media help to understand that this industry should be legalized for the benefit of the country?
I have no doubts about the positive effect of events like BiS. Although games involving betting and drawings are not new in Brazil, there is still a huge lack of knowledge about the sector, especially on the part of governments and the Public Administration. Indeed, BiS is a fundamental opportunity to try to overcome this lack of knowledge and build a healthy, competitive and prosperous market.
What topics will you cover or would like to develop on your panel?
I'm going to participate in the panel that deals with the “Regulation of lotteries in Brazil: expectations and perspectives”. And, in this sense, I would like to be able to comment, a little, on the processes of establishment of state lotteries currently underway. I have no doubt that all states will organize themselves to exploit their public lottery services, but these processes will have peculiarities in relation to the model of each one of them, the organization time and so on. Having clarity about these scenarios is essential for interested private agents to organize themselves to participate in the selection processes.
How do you analyze the growth of Brazil this year specifically in the segment where you work and specialize? What are your expectations for 2022?
I work in the Lottery of the State of Rio de Janeiro – LOTERJ, which is a public agency and, as a result, faces many challenges in exploring the public lottery services. But, despite everything, LOTERJ is increasing its turnover, even operating only physical products. It is also worth noting that the current management has released competition involving online gaming, including sports betting. Indeed, growth expectations are high for 2022. As is generally known, in mature markets, lottery modalities (in the broad sense) move around 1% of GDP. Today we are very far from that 1%. In summary: lotteries in Brazil, including LOTERJ, have great potential for expansion.
At what point do you see the local gaming market in general and its evolution in 2021 from a political and regulatory perspective?
This is a difficult question to answer, as we are at the beginning of the construction of exploration models in relation to lotteries in general, including the laws of each entity of the Federation. As for the legalization of other games involving betting and drawings, it seems that Congress is more active this year, which is very healthy. But going back to the sector I follow most closely, which is the state lotteries, I see the efforts of state governments to establish local laws in line with the lottery modalities of the Federal Union – this increases legal certainty, it is worth noting. However, one cannot lose sight of the fact that the Federal Supreme Court has ensured the competence for each state to establish the way in which it will carry out its public service. That's why I highlighted that there will be peculiarities in each of the selection processes, as well as in the normative acts that will result in regulation.
Were the results of Loterj's work this year as expected? Do you have plans in Brazil to grow and contribute more to the local market?
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 targets were not reached, but for this year, everything suggests that they will be achieved, as in the last survey, the turnover was slightly above 75% of the projected. Regarding contributions to building a lottery market, LOTERJ contributes with its history and initiatives. Just remember that if today there is a boiling state lottery market, this is due to ADPF 492 and ADPF 493, noting that the first was signed by the State of Rio de Janeiro and gestated at LOTERJ in 2017.
In the most recent discussions about gaming activity in Brazil, the main players believe that the country is closer than ever to regulation. Do you share the same opinion? Do you believe it is possible to approve all gaming verticals in Brazil during this next year?
Gambling, whether as a public service or as an economic activity, is entertainment. Empirical data are exposed in the most varied studies. In general, the sector generates jobs; its resources can be used by governments to implement public policies of a social character; and, ultimately, it drives the economy. Negative arguments, such as the use of gambling as a means of laundering money, are currently not supported, as it is enough for the Government to demand certified integrity measures. Registering bets from registered people, making payments through the banking system, using certified and audited hardware and software are examples of integrity practices. In other words: there is available technology capable of greatly reducing the risks of using the activity as vehicles for inappropriate, harmful or illegal conduct. Anyway, betting on the legalization of gambling, even partially, next year, is a bet that our governments should make.
All about the Brazilian iGaming Summit (BiS)
Due to the health crisis, several events, trade shows and congresses had to be postponed or even canceled throughout 2020 and 2021; however, with the advance of immunization across the country, things are slowly returning to normality. Thus, the Brazilian iGaming Summit (BiS) will take place at Espaço Boulevard JK, in São Paulo, on December 1st and 2nd with the strategic partnership of Games Magazine Brasil, and will be attended by investors and entrepreneurs from diferente sectors such as sports betting, communication, affiliates, lotteries and regulators. For the first time, it will take place in a hybrid model, with real-time broadcasts and big screens spread throughout the conference space.
To ensure the safety of guests, event organizers will respect all recommended health safety protocols. With this, BiS will be the return point of in-person events for the gaming sector in Brazil and a great opportunity to connect entrepreneurs of the gaming market to the country's political personalities and actors involved in the regulation process. They will discuss and analyze what will be the next steps to pass legislation for the sector, and what are the trends for the development of this market in Brazil.
For more information, enter the event's official website.
To register for the Brazilian iGaming Summit, click here.
Source: GMB
