GMB - GLI has just named you Government Relations and Business Development Executive in Brazil. What is your history in the gaming world that has qualified you for such an important position in a a market that is soon to open and is expected to be a world leader?
Valter Delfraro Júnior - First, Gildo, thank you very much for the invitation. It is a pleasure to be with you. Talking about my experience in this market, I have 15 years experience in the gaming world. When I decided to migrate from the financial market to the gaming one, my role at that time was to lead the development of a Cashless system as well as create a control system for a gaming equipment factory. Later I participated in the start up of a game development company in Spain and shortly afterwards also in the opening of this company's office in Brazil. There, I took over the software management, which included everything from game creation, design team, sounds, testing to delivery to the casino. With the passage of time and my experience, I migrated to the company's New Business area and it was from that moment on that I started to have contact with the large certification laboratories and where I found GLI. From the moment I took over the New Business area, I became responsible for certifying the games before the jurisdictions where we would send them. This is a brief summary of my story.
In other words, from being a client of a world-renowned laboratory, you become part of the GLI team to support suppliers in the Brazilian market and to discuss issues related to the regulation of gaming within the government. Is it a big challenge?
Without a doubt, for me it is a great challenge! I bring a lot of baggage from both a customer and a technical perspective, which will certainly help me to better understand the market's needs and serve them with greater excellence. With my arrival, we feel that our LATAM team is complete: we have José Carlos Figueroa, who worked as a regulator for over 20 years in Puerto Rico; George Didier, with over 15 years of experience in the gaming industry without counting our Vice President -President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Karen Sierra, who has in-depth knowledge of all sectors of the gaming industry, not just Latin America but worldwide. I was very well received by all of them and the exchange of experiences and knowledge makes me feel like a longtime member of this team.
How do you intend to develop this position in an unregulated market?
We do not consider it to be an unregulated market, because it already has some verticals that are already regulated, such as lotteries that can now also be developed through states. Regardless of this, I see it as a great opportunity to bring to Brazil, with a “Brazilian” vision, the experience, solidity and knowledge of GLI both in regulated markets and in those undergoing regulation. I am sure that with the support and experience of the Latin American and Caribbean team, together with GLI on a global level, we will reinforce the good relationship we have with regulatory bodies and government entities in Brazil and we will make available our support and the information that deserves a regulatory process. As for the industry, with my position, we hope to expand the services we already provide to the Brazilian market and create ties with new clients as we explore the market.
It is the first time that GLI appoints a professional to specifically serve the Brazilian market. This shows more than interest in the country! Is it a demonstration that regulation of the gaming sector is coming to Brazil, in the assessment of GLI?
More than this, it is a demonstration of the importance that GLI gives to our market. GLI believes in the potential of our market and having a local representative will help the company to understand the needs and movements that are happening here in real time. And this will make GLI help the market to achieve faster and more secure regulation of the gaming sector. We all know the potential that Brazil means for the region and the world.
How do you evaluate the discussions in Brazil in relation to a broad regulation of the gaming sector?
Gaming already exists in all its modalities in Brazil. This is unquestionable. Regulating is the ideal process to fight irregularity, to guarantee fair and transparent gaming, as well as protection for the consumer, the vulnerable, the prevention of money laundering and gambling. The care that we will have to take is so that in the eagerness of wanting to have everything go on with nothing. Certainly the time for regulation has come and it is now, as it will bring much more financial resources to the government and make an activity that will provide thousands of jobs official at a time when we so lack of it. Any time the government or lawmakers decide to move forward with the gaming legislation process, we'll be available and ready to help them with whatever they need.
From a technology standpoint, Brazil has already given and continues to demonstrate its high capacity and creativity, with numerous successful companies in the global market. What do you attribute so much technical and commercial capacity to in a country that does not have regulated gambling?
Gaming is in our blood, don’t you agree? For as long as I can remember, we have raffles, family gatherings to play cacheta, buraco e truco among other types of local games. Of course, all of this that I am exemplifying is much less complex if we compare it to the issue of the games we are working to regulate. But by this I mean that despite not being regulated, gaming is part of our daily lives. And surely this helps us to mature and create new things all the time.
How to show the government the seriousness of gaming activity from the point of view of a laboratory that certifies products around the world?
Just looking at the strength and size of GLI I see as a great example of the seriousness that the world takes this activity. I myself remember when I started to get involved in this market how I discovered the prejudice we had of something that the whole world already treated as just another economic activity. Like selling insurance, a cell phone plan, or a banking service. GLI certainly has a lot to show not only to the government, but also to society as a whole how the gaming activity is treated responsibly by all countries where it is regulated.
Today there are bodies such as the World Lottery Association that are dedicated to certifying companies to prove that they offer responsible gaming. Others who are extremely concerned about inhibiting the possibility of money laundering in this market. GLI is associated with all these bodies and also contributes to the development of standards that we will have to follow in order to comply with the requirements of a regulation. For those unfamiliar with the standards, they are a compilation of the technical and safety requirements of the most respected jurisdictions in the world.
It is also important to talk about all these processes without prejudice and in a natural way, which is what is already happening in Brazil. So, let's see that it is not a difficult task to do here what is already done abroad.
Technically it is very easy and possible to demonstrate all this. And from a political point of view, is it more difficult?
Without a doubt in my opinion it is technically easier to demonstrate. This is already being done. I have participated in several webinars where I see explicit examples of how the technology supports the various control systems that are already used by large providers and operators around the world. If we want to play a little bit of Poliana, who always sees the positive in everything, the delay in this regulation has put us in a very favorable situation. It will be very easy to look outside for the best. At this point it is not necessary to invent the wheel. We just need to look at the markets where there is excellence in this activity and look for the best to implement here.
For example, the GLI standards, which are public, and have always been available to be used as a reference by both federal, state and industry authorities in general. Today, more than 250 jurisdictions have either adopted the GLI standards or used them as a reference for their own regulation. As for the political issue, the whole movement that we are seeing in the Chamber and in the Senate, I see it as a big step in which, politically, the importance and necessity of regulating this activity here in Brazil is already understood.
Brazil discusses in the Chamber of Deputies the approval of a regulatory framework for gaming in the country. In your opinion, is this the correct path, of approving all verticals so that each one enters into operation according to specific maturation periods for each of the verticals ?
Regardless of which path the government decides to take to regulate gambling, any move towards regulation will be positive for our society. As I said, I believe that this is the moment. It's coming to see an activity that today already exists in hiding. From the moment we regulate, we can bring resources at a time when society so lacks. It's creating thousands of jobs for so many people in need and, most importantly, it's the most effective way to fight illegality.
How can GLI help in the debates so that the gaming activity can be established in the shortest possible time?
I reinforce that the knowledge and experience of over 30 years of GLI in more than 475 jurisdictions, in the five continents where we are present and active, can consistently guide these debates. The knowledge we have in the processes of development of laws, regulations and in the processes of certification of games and systems, training – through GLI University –, and consulting.
We have a large team of specialists in information security processes and the necessary environments to implement a robust and secure system. Furthermore, based on the knowledge acquired by GLI together with the bodies that today defend responsible gaming and money laundering, and finally, GLI wrote and participated in the publication of practically all the rules that govern regulated markets. So I have no doubts that we are the right option to help the government and entities in this entire process.
What are your final considerations as a Brazilian at the head of an international and world-renowned laboratory in the face of a country that is regulating the gaming activity?
I believe that it is time for us to take the blindfold off our eyes and see this activity and work together as an industry, as is done around the world, to have legislation that is as effective and balanced as possible so that we can then reap the fruits that it will be able to provide to our society. I assure you, Gildo, if we take this path, there is no going back and we will be on the right way!
Source: Exclusive GMB
