GMB - What made you want to have a booth at recente BGC 2018?
Gustavo Schioppa - I guess that Clarion Gaming is the company of the sector that is having more interest to develop regulation in the Brazilian market. And we bet the company will guide us to join forces to achieve better regulation. We are trying to get the authorities and the operators to turn to the market for a proper new regulation with the largest number of operators, that will generate more entry of players and jobs. And I think this is the way: getting together, talking about what has already been done in other markets. Today, we have a great chance to join this new energy for what is called online gaming and for land-based casinos as well.
What results did Tower Group achieve by exhibiting at the event?
First, we met many old friends, some partners from other countries and from Brazil from the time when bingos were opened. Then, we find new operators, new players of the sector and new suppliers. The event was wonderful. I think we are in the starting point, the country is going through a major change and I believe it is the right time to participate in this kind of events.
From what you heard during the conference, what is your opinion about the gaming legalization process in Brazil?
It is hard to say because I am not a legal expert, but I see that they are trying to get the best regulatory framework possible through committees. We have to try to think of plurality, to have many companies that improve the offer, the condition of the player and to think of multiple businesses for many companies. No monopoly, no exclusivity. That all companies compete to be able to comply with the necessary requirements for the best possible regulation.
What are the plans of the Tower Group for its operation in Brazil once the market is legalized?
Today Tower is a company that has experience in the Latin American region, not specifically in Brazil, where we have some clients that work through our partnership abroad. But, being regulated, our universe is great. We have a database of more than 400 thousand users, we have followers in these 12 years of online gaming, we are the oldest regional company in the online market and we have many projects in Brazil, land-based and online. I believe those business will totally change oonce the market is regulted because it will be easier for players and companies. Of course we will pay taxes, happy, and many of the jobs that are created out there will be created here, in Brazil.
Tell us a little bit about Tower's trajectory here and what are your plans for the near future?
Basically, Tower is not a company that was born online. Online was a marketing tool that was created to get people to different casinos around the world. People signed up for tours and tournaments, which are our original specialty, which cost symbolically US$ 1. Basically, this business was created through a casino that was in Punta Cana, the Tower Casinos, and we developed the site as a tool. The group understood that this was the way and so we began. Soon after that, the online Tower product became so important that we decided to sell the casinos and it became our main business, which is Tower Online, which through online poker, in a 10-year partnership with 888 and today we have managed to develop our own technology, a platform with the best contents of companies from Europe and the world. Today, we are working with sports betting, casinos, live casinos, slot machine, bingo and, of course, poker.
Source: GMB Exclusive
