GMB – What did it mean for OpenBet to be at the Global Gaming Expo, and what are your expectations for the sports betting market in the United States?
Marc Crean – First of all, the expo has been excellent for us every year, but especially this one, we're having a great time. There are many opportunities, many markets opening up, we are closing many new contracts and it's going very well. As for Brazil, it's the most exciting market globally, especially with its imminent opening. So, we are ready to enter when the regulations come into effect. We are prepared for that.
You have developed a very consistent and robust sports betting platform. What was the development process like, and what are the product's unique features for operators?
Yes, we were the first company to enter the B2B sports betting market. We entered 27 years ago, in 1996, and had the first online sports betting platform. It took significant time to develop a robust platform on top of that. We started in England, a large and integral market with 70 million people and a passion for sports. This journey led us to create a platform that is already fully developed and established, with 25 years of experience in all major markets where we have 50% or more market share. We are ready for Brazil for that reason.
Does OpenBet already have partners in Brazil?
We have just announced the first contract with Play7. We are very excited about this partnership and have a very robust pipeline to have more partners soon. It is important to note that we never enter before regulations are in place. We are a serious company and only enter regulated markets. We are already in Brazil and will have more partners.
What are the plans for Brazil when regulations come into effect?
Our strategy is a bit different from others. We always create a local ecosystem. We know we have the best B2B sports betting platform in the world, and we have a lot of confidence in it. It's robust, with a lot of content and excellent products, but that's not enough to conquer a market. You need to have local partnerships and a local ecosystem.
We always establish a network of offices locally. The plan is to get to know the market, understand everything, and create this network, setting up offices with local staff. We already have offices in the United States, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, the UK, and Canada, where we have strategic partners. Brazil will follow the same pattern.
Are you already integrated with payment method companies?
Yes, we are already integrated and plan further integrations. This is a very important question for Brazil, given the fintech revolution that is happening. Pix was just the beginning, not the end. There could be a digital currency at any time, and there is a lot of investment in the fintech sector. It's not just about having a partner but creating an ecosystem. We are building that locally.
In fact, I live in Belo Horizonte, and within 1 km of my house, there are 10 fintech startups booming in this area. It's not about choosing one but creating a network that offers opportunities for partners.
Source: Exclusive GMB
