Angelo Alberoni has a long history in the gaming and betting sector, having been a professional gambler, manager of several companies in the segment and now he has taken over as country manager Brazil at Betsson. In an exclusive conversation with GMB, he highlighted the importance of bringing together two ends of the sports betting chain in an event.
GMB – How do you evaluate an event like Bet Masters, focused on bettors, that is, the final consumer?
Angelo Alberoni – I am extremely happy. I've been on the other side, because I was a gambler. I've known Danilo Pereira for at least a decade and it's a pleasure to be here and see the amount of people attending the event. As a brand, it is important to show that Betsson is accessible to all consumers. It is a brand with almost 60 years in the market and comes with a very strong expansion plan in Brazil for 2023. For us, being here and feeling this human warmth is important to show that the market is very popular and with great potential in Brazil. And we are prepared to absorb this Brazilian demand.
And was this policy of bringing bookmakers closer to punters missing?
Yes. This is a job where there is a gap when talking about bookmaker and gambler. It looks like there are two opposing sides, where the bettor needs to beat the house and the house needs to beat the bettor. I think it's healthy competition and makes the market what it is today. This point of contact is increasingly closer between the bettor and the influencer, the target audience that is here, understands that they have to walk together. Interest is common at the end of the day, as they are influencers, gamblers and need the affiliation. And we need that capture and the empowerment and credibility that they pass on to consumers.
We have to demystify a little this relationship between operator and bettor so that we have a good environment for all parties. In the end, we want sports betting to be entertainment, fun, profession, but that it brings stability to Brazil and that we can work as a product. The bettor needs to understand our side and we need to understand the bettor's side. This communication is a little lacking, this type of event improves this relationship, and this is the great benefit of Bet Masters.
And working with a product, as you said, you need a good personality. And Betsson scored a great goal bringing Zé Roberto as the brand's global ambassador. I would like you to talk a little about this moment to Betsson here in Brazil since the global ambassador is from Tupiniquin lands.
Zé Roberto, in addition to being an athlete, is a person with values and they mix with Betsson's values. Betsson is a very traditional brand in the gambling world and very respected. And Zé Roberto, on the other hand, has always been an athlete very well regarded by everyone and he is a person of integrity. So, the marriage between Betsson and Zé Roberto was very simple, because we have common interests.
Bringing Zé Roberto to our team only shows the credibility of the brand and our desire to conquer the Brazilian market. It was very natural to associate Zé Roberto with Betsson for the Brazilian market.
And does it come at an important time, as regulation is closer?
Yes, it is important, as it shows the interest, not only of operators, but also of personalities, who are beginning to understand sports betting as a reality from a legal and regulatory point of view in Brazil. Linking our image – or looking for these Zé Roberto values – and him bringing to his personality a brand as strong as Betsson, only shows that the Brazilian market tends to grow and stabilize with clear rules that we can increasingly explore in a good way, from personalities like Zé Roberto, from football clubs, from the press – and the work that Games Magazine Brasil has been doing for a long time and brings credibility to our market. The regulation comes to ratify this strength that our industry has so strong abroad and that is now arriving on Brazilian soil.
A very rich industry!
Sure. An industry that moves billions of reais whether in Brazil or abroad. It can collaborate a lot with the Brazilian economy in tax collection and job creation. From an industry point of view, it is very positive. Brazil can only gain from regulation and the arrival of new players, from companies listed on the stock exchange, such as Betsson itself, listed on Nasdaq in Stockholm. So, all this brings credibility to our market.
Source: Exclusive GMB
