During the public audience that received Diputados and government and private sector representatives, GLI’s Latin American and Caribbean Director of Government Relations and Business Development Karen Marcela Sierra-Hughes presented as an impartial technical and consultancy expert. She discussed the ways GLI works with global gaming and lottery regulatory entities for the control and supervision of the industry.
Sierra-Hughes said: "We are honored and grateful for the opportunity that the
Camara de Diputados granted GLI to discuss the control and supervision
processes that are adopted by regulated gaming and lottery jurisdictions around
the world.
"We are here today not to take sides on whether gaming should be legalized in
Brazil or not,” she said. "We are here to impartially present the ways that GLI
works with gaming and lottery regulatory entities that have successfully
implemented laws and regulations as well as technical standards which allow for
the control and supervision of the industry, minimizing the risk of fraud,
money laundering, tax evasion, problem gambling, etc.
"GLI works with 475 jurisdictions around the world that adopted the
certification process – 17 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region
and more than 25 jurisdictions, Peru being the pioneer,” she continued. "The
effectiveness of the controls will depend on the strength of the technical
requirements established by the regulatory entity. Technical requirements
address player protection, accurate revenue and tax reporting, fraud and
manipulation prevention, money laundering prevention and responsible gambling
practices.”
Sierra-Hughes summarized GLI’s background, its capabilities and unique
impartial and independent position in the gaming industry as well as the
importance of a thorough laboratory accreditation process. She also discussed
the multiple controls that derive the adoption of the certification process,
including on-site inspections performed by the regulatory entity and the
authorization of importation of gaming equipment. Control and the supervision
process were also presented both for land-based and online gaming operations.
"Monitoring and control systems are a fundamental technical tool for regulators
to achieve the objective of controlling and supervising revenue and security
events,” Sierra-Hughes said. "They are tested to verify the accuracy of data
generated and appropriate communication per the technical standards established
by the regulator.”
Sierra-Hughes referenced Peru; Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Australia;
and New Zealand as examples of successful implementation of these
controls.
She concluded: "The certification process is a global
practice adopted by regulatory entities to guarantee security, integrity,
public trust and player protection. If gaming is legalized in Brazil, the
fundamental recommendation will be to establish a legal framework that is
strong and clear and create a regulatory entity with sufficient resources and
personnel, promoting its constant professionalization. The regulatory entity
must be embedded with the competency to determine gaming policies and
regulations that will allow for a prosperous gaming industry, and like other
jurisdictions, it can become one of the most regulated industries and a formal
part of the national economy.”
GLI is optimistic for the future of gaming in Brazil and will continue to offer support to gaming regulators, operators and manufacturers in the region
