Caixa has been responsible for the operations of lottery games in Brazil since 1961, through the lottery division with 11 types of games: Mega-Sena, Timemania, Lotofácil, Lotomania, Dupla Sena, Quina, Lotogol, Loteca, Loteria Federal, Dia de Sorte and Super Sete.
In addition to the award to Caixa Loterias, Gaming Intelligence chose the best companies of 2021 in seven other categories. For the jury, Betcris was the best Sports betting operator and Kambi won the distinction for Sports betting supplier of the year. For its part, Betsson was the iGaming operator for 2021 and Vibra Gaming was selected in the One to watch category. Pragmatic Play won two awards: iGaming supplier of the Year and Game of the Year with ‘Gates of Olympus’.
There is no denying the fact that many lotteries around the world have endured a difficult year. Brazil’s lottery network was closed for extended periods during 2020 but enjoyed such a strong bounce back that sales for the year came in ahead of lockdown-free 2019.
For the Gaming Intelligence Awards jury, “the lottery has had to adapt and whole-heartedly embrace the internet with its Loterias Online Portal and the CAIXA Lotteries App, which have helped it to maintain strong sales growth into 2021.”
Among the reasons that led to choosing the Brazilian state-owned bank as the winner in its category, it is indicated its sales of draw-based games increased by 10.2% during the first half of the year, while sales of sports betting games were 10.8% higher. That is a commendable achievement in unprecedented times.
The Gaming Intelligence Awards 2021 highlights the most successful operators and suppliers around the world. They select eight winners in each continent – in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America.
Here the list of Latin American 2021 winners by categories:
Sports betting operator of the year: Betcris
Betcris had a spectacular year. Put simply, nobody can catch it. Its numbers are phenomenal. It launched new partnerships across Latin America and expanded into new markets. The operator has a marketing agreement with the top tier of Brazilian football that gives it prominent brand exposure at every game, and also serves as the official sports betting partner of the NFL in Latin America. It is also doing its part to promote sporting integrity in the region through its membership of the IBIA, while introducing new betting options across markets and bringing online horse racing to Ecuador with Churchill Downs’ United Tote subsidiary. Such is its impact, Betcris is pushing the entire Latin American gaming industry to higher heights. Nothing is left to chance with this operator. The rest are really playing catch-up.
Sports betting supplier of the year: Kambi
Kambi is Latin America’s leading sports betting supplier. In Mexico it has partnered with media conglomerate Televisa to supply online and retail sportsbooks to its 17 casinos. In Colombia it powers Rush Street Interactive’s Rushbet and Corredor Empresarial’s Betplay, two of the most popular online sportsbooks in one of the region’s hottest markets. These strong foundations have helped Kambi win new clients this year, such as Olimpo.bet in Peru and Casino Magic in Argentina. The company is also well positioned to step into the $2bn Brazilian market when it regulates. Regulation will be a recurring theme across Latin America in the next few years and Kambi has a fantastic track record of compliance in a region that could soon be worth $7bn. The odds are in its favour.
iGaming operator of the year: Betsson
Betsson’s growth in Latin America has been meticulously planned and perfectly executed - building share market by market. Peru is Betsson’s biggest market in Latin America and its leadership position there was reinforced this year with acquisition of Inkabet. The company also operates in Chile and Colombia under the Colbet brand, which it acquired a majority stake in last year. Its operations in Brazil are currently limited to horse racing but those regulations are due to change, and the company secured one of seven licenses to operate online in Buenos Aires this year alongside local partner Casino Victoria. Betsson’s strong growth in the region is in no small part down to its savvy marketing, which includes sponsorship of Chile’s national football team, and the 2021 Copa America, which really boosted the Betsson brand across the continent. Betsson has established strong foundations in Latin America and is being repaid by rapid growth in a region with massive potential.
iGaming supplier of the year: Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play has surged into Latin American with key partnerships in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. Its presence across Latin America has grown exponentially in the past 12 months as the region begins to reveal its tremendous commercial potential. Pragmatic Play proved its credentials with Codere in Mexico and has been asked to repeat that success in Colombia and Spain. The expanded Codere deal added to new contract wins in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela during what has been a tremendous year for the supplier. Operators are drawn to Pragmatic Play’s innovative products across verticals, from virtual sports to bingo, live casino to slots, making it a force to be reckoned with in Latin America and beyond.
Game of the year: Gates of Olympus - Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play has always excelled in creating online slots with a vibrant design coupled with extra special features. Gates of Olympus is a prime example. The Greek theme is not uncommon in slots but Pragmatic’s pay-anywhere feature adds extra spice to this player-favourite genre, while its vivid colours bring the game to life. This 6×5, high volatility videoslot has enchanted European and Latin American players alike with it maximum win potential of 5,000x and engaging gameplay, and operators in the region have been singing its praises.
One to watch: Vibra Gaming
Leander Games’ Argentine co-founders Ramiro Atucha and Marcelo Blanco returned in January last year to launch Vibra Gaming. Their aim is to provide a localised product to the nascent Latin American online gaming market and they have made great progress. Vibra was the first local company to get its RNG authorized by the City of Buenos Aires and it followed that up with GLI certification soon after. It won its first distribution deal with Latin American online casino Juega en Línea, which will showcase Vibra‘s complete catalogue of innovative slots. Its first games – The Phantom and Spin Island – caught the eye, and it has followed them up with Popeye, Spin Jones, Wild Gems and Clover Fantasy. It has also partnered with LatAm-focused platform providers Pronet Gaming, Ondiss, and Sportingtech as it looks to distribute its games across the continent. Vibra Gaming is definitely one to watch and no one would bet against Atucha and Blanco making it a success.
Lottery supplier of the year: B-Gaming
B-Gaming has had an outstanding year, winning deals to supply lottery systems to six Argentine provinces. Buenos Aires marked the biggest win for the supplier, who shone during the pandemic by enabling its lottery clients to sell electronic tickets online. Furthermore, B-Gaming provides services to BAPRO Medios de Pago in Buenos Aires province with a license from the Instituto Provincial de Loterías y Casinos (IPLyC), and supports the communication system for the official retail network.
Source: GMB
