GMB - With what expectations does 2021 begin, after a year to forget?
André Gelfi - I would say that 2020 was an unforgettable year. The company and our team grew, both in Brazil as well as globally: Here we went through a very important platform migration process and changed the brand. All these elements were a preparation for the construction of the Betsson brand in the Brazilian market. We are already present here, through our onshore business in partnership with the Jockey Club of Rio Grande do Sul. 2021 will be a year of hard work and expectation, in order to increase Betsson's brand awareness in the local market. In addition, we have a very ambitious project underway, which will be launched very soon.
Is Betsson better prepared than before to deal with outbreaks or the continuation of the pandemic? Will there be a change in strategy?
We follow the perspective of the beginning of 2020: we have practically the same business plan, which has already advanced a lot. Now in 2021 we will launch a new vertical in the Brazilian market, in line with our long-term commitment. The pandemic brought us challenges, of course, it made us relearn the way we work, but we did not undergo any strategic adjustment during this period.
The platform migration was an extremely important step and allowed us to strengthen our value proposition to Brazilian customers. Today, we have a greater offer and previously unpublished tools, such as the functionalities and content related to responsible gaming. Our proprietary technology meets all the requirements of the regulated markets in Europe and we have already raised these issues for possible requests from the Brazilian government. Here in Brazil our product already brings together the latest in responsible betting. It is possible to set limits on the bets that are placed and also to identify behaviors that can be considered out of control or compulsion. The Betsson Group is concerned with the sustainability of the business. We have a local team and a licensed business in Brazil. We have sporting events happening on average every five minutes and available for horse betting. We pay millions of reais in prizes monthly.
What projects / ideas is Betsson working on to launch this year?
As I mentioned above, we are working on a new project that will be launched soon. It is not a trivial project and we have a large team involved in it, both in Brazil in the areas of marketing, operations and customer service, and abroad, with the development of the product itself and its technological integration. We are excited, because in addition to being unprecedented, it is a very challenging project for the Betsson team and also for the partners involved.
Do you believe that the penetration of online gambling will increase while the land-based will maintain its limitations on public entry?
Online gambling was already a pre-pandemic reality and has shown consistent growth over the past 15 years. As in other markets, the arrival of the coronavirus has accelerated digitization as a whole and people have adopted new habits that should remain. Even with the return of face-to-face life, this custom must be maintained. Betsson already had this overwhelmingly digital vision. The company started its activities as an offline game, but today, the entire strategic focus is on online. In other words, we were already prepared for this connection with the new reality.
Do you think that this year in Brazil there will be a definite takeoff towards a regulated gambling market? Will Betsson’s presence / investment grow in the country throughout 2021?
The base scenario is that in the short / medium term the regulation of sports betting will happen. The latest public updates indicate that it should be in July this year and we are working with this perspective. This is a trend in the region - we recently obtained a license in the province of Buenos Aires, while Chile and Peru are discussing the regulation of online games. The trend of online games exists, it is in place and regulation is yet another piece of that gear. We need this regulation so that growth is not compromised. On the other hand, the authorities and governments today understand this activity as a liability for taxation, collection, and improvement of public accounts. We see a favorable macro context for regulation to happen in the short and medium term. The acquisition of Suaposta by Betsson is already part of this strategy. It was a way to accelerate the Brazilian market even before regulation.
Source: Exclusive GMB
