GMB – What did WA. Technology bring as a highlight to BiS SiGMA Americas?
Phyllyp Sedicias – The first major highlight is that we’ve spent about a year and a half developing a platform made exclusively for the Brazilian market. That old idea of adapting foreign solutions is now behind us.
Today, we think differently: we are a Brazilian company with business abroad — not the other way around. That required a complete shift in mindset. We built a local team — we were among the first to do that — and it helped tremendously throughout the process.
The platform is already up and running, and the version we brought to the event includes all the improvements based on market research, both on the B2B and B2C sides. It’s an excellent product. I’m very proud of the result.
What were WA.'s specific plans for this event?
We brought this new platform to the event. We were still finalizing it at the last event, and now it’s officially ready and being presented as one of our key innovations.
What’s your view on partnerships between operators, providers, and payment companies to boost the iGaming market?
That’s directly related to the localization of the market. You can’t just import ready-made models and expect them to work here. Brazil is a continental country, with vastly different realities between the Northeast and the South, for example.
So it’s essential to have well-structured partnerships between operators, providers, payment companies, and end customers — they are the ones who provide real feedback. The whole ecosystem needs to be connected for it to work well.
How is WA. handling the rise of new technologies, especially artificial intelligence?
We created a team dedicated solely to AI in mid-2024. And honestly, the development has been amazing. We’re even slightly ahead of the market in some implementations, but we’re holding back the launch a bit because we’re really far along.
AI is transforming everything — not just in our industry, but across the board. I’m a declared enthusiast of artificial intelligence; I use it a lot in my daily life, and I see huge potential for our sector.
How do you see the convergence between sports betting, iGaming, and digital entertainment in the coming years?
In my view, those aren’t separate things. I don’t see iGaming, sports betting, and digital entertainment as distinct areas. I see it all as entertainment.
Today, our competitors aren’t just other betting platforms. They’re Netflix, YouTube, Spotify… The competition is for the audience’s attention. So it doesn’t matter whether we offer sportsbook, fantasy, casino, or any other product — it’s all entertainment.
We need to educate the market and the public to see it that way. That mindset shift will allow everything to evolve more sustainably and healthily.
How was the start of 2025 for WA. Technology? Could you share a Q1 overview and your plans for the rest of the year?
The first quarter was pretty turbulent — for everyone. Anything new causes some discomfort. But I’ve always believed that those who survive are the ones who adapt.
We’re constantly adapting, trying to understand this new market, which is also new for the government, the media, and the general public. Not long ago, something of this scale in Brazil was unthinkable.
Thank God, it’s been a good period for us. For the rest of the year, our goal is to stabilize the market, understand each area clearly, and prepare the ground for exponential growth from 2025 into 2026.
The maturity of the Brazilian market is surprising me — it’s coming faster than I expected. And we are ready for it.
Source: Exclusive GMB
