After participating in the panel on the gaming sector in Latin America with experts from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Peru, Montgomery stated that the debate was interesting and that Brazil was the center of attention. “Unfortunately I could not bring good news about our country. Our Latin American colleagues are ahead of us and we have to catch up and surpass them because Brazil has the potential to be the main Latin American country in the gaming sector.”
GMB – You participated in a panel on the Latin American market and once again Brazil was the focus!
Neil Montgomery – Yes. It's a pleasure to be at G2E, which is the center of gaming in the city of Las Vegas. We had a panel on Latin America, with representatives - in addition to Brazil - from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Peru. All of them are much more advanced than we are in terms of legalization and regulation of the gaming. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring good news from Brazil that the regulation, for example, of sports betting was already out. We expect the federal government to fulfill its obligation to the world to release the regulation before December 12th. And that the Senate vote on Bill 442/91, which legalizes the other verticals, so that Brazil can advance in the gaming sector in general and end the prohibitions that have existed since the 40's, thus inserting Brazil in the world.
Today it is discussed in Muslim countries the possibility of having casinos.
n other words, Brazil is falling further and further behind. I hope that after the elections, the topic will come back to the table and we will be able to advance both in the legal and legislative aspects. Our Latin American colleagues are ahead of us and we have to catch up and surpass them because Brazil has the potential to be the main Latin American country in the gaming sector.
We see the progress that other countries have had, having started much later than Brazil.
Exactly. In thepanel was discussed the situation in Peru, which two months ago issued a very modern legislation and Brazil is still waiting.
The world is waiting for advances in Brazil and we hope that our legislators can see this and finally allow a legal environment that gives security to the investor and also to the bettor. That we have a regulated and healthy environment, with responsible gambling practices, because illegal gambling does not take advantage of anyone, only those who exploit it. So we hope that Brazil can advance in the field of regulated the market.
You just mentioned the case of Peru, which ended its legislation for the sports betting sector and imposed a deadline of just six months to regulate. While we put two years extendable for two more and we are running the risk of not complying.
I hope that as everything that happens in Brazil is always at the last minute, that it will be now next month, as we have until December 12 to regulate. You published the draft of the presidential decree first hand on GMB, and we had the opportunity to see an idea of what lies ahead. We don't know if it will be exactly like what was there, but I hope the president signs the decree as soon as the second round of elections is over.
Source: Exclusive GMB
