GMB - Did the Brazilian market need to have a face-to-face event of this level?
Alexandre Tauszig - We have all been "imprisoned" for almost two years because of the pandemic. BiS comes at a time when everyone is starting to step foot on the street and nose outside. Coincidentally at the same time that the discussion about legal gambling in Brazil took on a body of great magnitude. It is the first face-to-face event in the country in our segment. We are all looking forward to it!
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?
Several soldiers have been fighting for this cause for decades. However, there was not always great attention from the media in general and from the population. Now the time is extremely ripe. The debate is on and any help is most welcome.
What topics will you cover or would like to develop on your panel?
Skilrock is an Indian company with nearly 50 years of lottery experience. We are the technological group of the Sugal & Damani Group that operates in all the states of that country, which is the second most populous in the world. In addition, for more than 10 years Skilrock expanded its borders and started to operate in several locations, today present in almost 30 different jurisdictions. With our vast experience, we have a lot to add and share with the Brazilian market. And it is a little of this experience that I intend to bring.
How do you analyze Brazil's growth this year specifically in the gaming market segment where you work and specialize? What are your expectations for 2022?
I look forward to a heated year of 2022, with many businesses, not only in Brazil, but in the entire Latin American region. The pandemic unfortunately doomed many companies in various industries. The entertainment sector in which we operate was one of those that suffered the most. Many companies have closed down. The online gaming sector managed to bring a survival to many companies and lotteries that had their main income tied to face-to-face gaming. However, many projects took place in a disorderly and unplanned way. In the "new normal" that is approaching, we expect many projects to solidify and improve what was hastily done in the last biennium. We are certainly prepared to support customers who want to benefit from our experience and technological solutions.
At what point do you see the local gaming market in general and its evolution in 2021 from a political and regulatory perspective?
As my work is not only in Brazil, but in Latin America as a whole, being Brazilian I feel very sad about our country. It is clear how other countries in the region benefit from regulated gambling. Operators, players, government and the general population. Everyone wins. Operators can work more professionally and without worrying about the legality of their business. Players have greater security, feel supported and motivated to play. The government collects more. And the population as a whole wins because the game's revenue, everywhere, has a very strong destination for charity. Here in Brazil we still have a lot to learn and evolve. But I see that we are now at an accelerated pace towards the right path, which is the path of regulation, which will be the main focus of the Brazilian iGaming Summit.
Were the results of Skilrock's work this year as expected? Do you have plans in Brazil to grow and contribute more to the local market?
Even during the pandemic, with its technology solutions Skilrock achieved good results in Asia and Africa, such as new digital lottery projects. Even in Latin America, we opened a new client in Colombia, which should start operations by the end of 2021. Skilrock is not intended to be an operator outside India, but a partner and technology provider for local operators. We are physically present in Brazil to participate in this unique moment that the industry is experiencing in the country and to offer our high technological standard services to potential customers.
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 game verticals in Brazil during this next year?
Yes. I share the same opinion. Some important moves have taken place in Brazil in recent years, such as the legalization of sports betting and the end of the discussion on state lotteries. Any change in the opposite direction would be a tremendous setback. Brazil is a country of continental dimensions. There is a huge market that lags behind other countries. Political fights and slow regulation only bring harm to the country. It's time to take advantage of the good winds that are blowing over the topic and look optimistically to the future. If politicians understand that by continuing the struggle, everyone will lose, I believe we can follow a succession of approvals, yes, in various verticals.
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
