“We are interested in LOTEX and participating in the Las Vegas road show"

GMB - First of all, tell us a bit about NGT, including what is the meaning of NGT…
Bob Fernandes - First of all I want to thank Games Magazine Brasil for this interview, and I comment that it is the first reading I do every day. The acronym NGT stands for New Games Technology, and arose from a dream of creating a different company, where the focus is to create new concepts of games and also repaginate existing ones, giving them new formats and features, and always seek innovation in everything we do. Traditional is part of our company, but our focus is innovation, and we have been working hard to make our product line increasingly attractive and profitable for our customers and partners. Although we are an international company based in the United States, our Brazilian DNA does not keep us from our roots, and we have experienced professionals in both the Brazilian and international markets, with high qualification, and the mix of it is the secret of our success.

What are the main products and services that NGT offers to the global gaming market?
NGT is a company focused on the B2B business model and our products are for web, mobile and land based developments in all the games we develop. Our product portfolio includes videobingo, bingo, slots, pull tabs, scracht cards, lotto, keno, among others.

In which countries is NGT present?
Today we have partners in several countries, from the United States to Argentina, as well as Europe, and now we are targeting the African and Eastern European markets. In the online market, we have clients and partners operating in all countries that admit online gambling from the jurisdictions that license these operations.

What are the company's growth expectations for the coming years?
We are about to launch a new line of products that will surely be a great success, and with this we expect an exponential growth for the next years both on the web, as mobile and land based. markets In addition, we believe in the opening of the Brazilian market, where, with our expertise and local network, we hope to be one of the main gaming providers for the sector, as well as the privatization of Lotex (Instant Lotteries), closely followed by terms ability to create product adequacy for the specific and sensitive Brazilian market.

How does NGT see the current moment in Brazil, since only turf and lotteries are regulated?
I see the situation in Brazil as a waste of opportunity, either for the government through the collection of taxes, or the population with the generation of jobs, or for the players who will have access to the legalized and controlled game, or the entrepreneurs of the sector, who are unable to exploit and foster activity in our country. We sincerely hope that our lawmakers will be aware of and vote on one of the two projects currently being discussed in Congress, so that our activity will be open soon to be explored lawfully in our country.

How does NGT see the process of granting the Brazilian Instant Lotteries ( Lotex), which the Ministry of Finance holds together with the BNDES? Do you see them well or have criticism?
We have products with total synergy with those of Lotex, and therefore, we are closely following the bidding process, through consultants who have been helping us in this objective: In our view the driving has been totally transparent and with the well-defined objective of bringing the best possible result for our country, which is totally in line with the objective of privatization. Those responsible for the entire process, be it the SEAE team or the BNDES team, are to be congratulated for the way they have been conducting. We know that big companies that dominate the instant lottery market globally are looking closely at Lotex, but we believe companies like ours have also the chance to work.

Will NGT be present on any Road Show? Were you at the public hearing in RJ?
Yes, we’ve been represented at the Public Hearing on September 26 in Rio de Janeiro, and will be personally present at the Road Show in Las Vegas today, 02/10, during G2E, where I will be accompanied by other members of the team. I think it is important that we participate in order to take all reasonable doubts so that we can be convinced that the pros outweigh the cons, that problems such as state lotteries, competition with Caixa, and the need for specific agreements with the lottery network do not make it impossible or postpone the time for return of capital, and so that both we and our partners in this venture can decide if it is feasible to make a proposal for the acquisition of Lotex.

So NGT intends to contest in the privatization process to operate the instant lottery in Brazil…
We are working in that direction, and once it is concluded that Lotex is really viable, we will undoubtedly be in contention, associated with other companies with whom we are already in negotiations.

Brazil also discusses the regulation of bingos, casinos and other gaming activities. Does NGT have products for this market?
Yes, we are getting ready so that as soon as the Brazilian market reopens we have a specific product catalog for Brazil, and we are sure that we will be one of the main suppliers in the market.

As suppliers of B2B solutions, is your intention to act strong in the Brazilian market?
I understand that in many ways, whether it is providing just games for operators, whether online or land based, providing complete platforms, or providing equipment, we will be one of these suppliers.

Source: Exclusive GMB