The union of online, in-person and lottery gambling is a reality in many markets and is treated with great affection by 27th Gaming Group. The company operates in all segments through BetConnections, a betting platform developer and well-known in Brazil and Latin America, Jackpot Software, a game development studio, and Fusion, which has just expanded the line of machines available to the market at recent Global Gaming Expo. In addition, the company is a leader in the lottery market in the US state of Georgia.
GMB – You have just taken on an important responsibility of running 27th Gaming Group's business all over the world, except for the United States. Is it a big challenge?
Hugo Baungartner – Yes, a tremendous responsibility, as you said. Happy with the new challenge at 27th Gaming Group. I took position a few months ago and I'm happy because we have cool things, different solutions and a portfolio of products that complement each other. I'm in charge of all business outside the United States. I will work in Asia, Europe and Latin America, where we have some experience.
What's new for 27th Gaming Group here at the show?
Land-based game development started a year ago. It's very recent. We launched three games last year, ended up with six and for G2E we just released the latest pack of three games, including Diamond, a novelty with several progressives and all the math and philosophy of links. The response has been very interesting, especially from customers from Latin America and Asia who were at our booth and really liked what they saw. Of course, each market has its particularity and we understand and know that. All games will be certified in January so we can enter every possible market with Fusion Group Games titles.
This question of complementarity is very interesting, in which the 27th covers platform, land-based machines and online games. This gives even more responsibility to this role that you are taking on.
Exactly. Recently the group acquired a percentage of BetConnections, which is already well known in Brazil and with several clients in Latin America, to complement our line with Jackpot Software, a game development studio. We complement it with BetConnections, which has an entire platform already well integrated in the market and working for a few years, and Fusion, focused on land-based. In other words, we have solutions for all markets and soon we will have new acquisitions to further complement our offer.
And for all markets which, but Brazil. I would like you to talk specifically about this market.
We all know Brazil and it is not news to anyone how the market is currently. But we are looking very carefully at the lottery area in Brazil. It is part of my role to bring these opportunities to the Group and without being able to say much more, we are heading in that direction in the country. As for the other bills and when they will be passed, it is very difficult to say. Everyone has an opinion and a point of view. But concretely, we are keeping an eye on the lottery market in Brazil.
In fact, it is a sector in which the 27th Gaming Group has a very consolidated position in Georgia, US!
Exactly. The owner of the company has been in the lottery market for many years in the state of Georgia and is fond of that market. They have already been to Brazil to get to know the sector up close and know about the opportunities and we will see if soon we start doing something in Brazil in this line of business.
The difficult thing is the issue of state ownership. Caixa lost its monopoly, the states were unable to create their lotteries and the existing ones are still in their infancy in defining their business model and lottery modalities.
Exactly, but in my opinion this is a path of no return. It is already consolidated and logically the different states have their particularities and times. Some need to create their lotteries and others who already have, have to define what the business model will be. But I believe it is a path that has no return. Whether it will be a month or a year from now, the states will have their lotteries and it will be a way for the Brazilian people and the authorities to understand that it is a market that exists and that needs to be explored and regulated. I think the lottery, in some way, will help this gaming regulation in Brazil.
Source: Exclusive GMB
