GMB – What were your goals for being present at SAGSE Latam?
Natalia Nogues – One of the things we try to do is to make Control and the services we provide increasingly popular. And to get closer to operators in the region to attract them to Brazil. We are looking for partnerships and conquer new customers.
Are you already looking at companies in the region to offer Control's services in Latin America?
We want that, but in the future. At the moment, the focus is on Brazil, which is the 'ball of the time'. We want to participate in this moment and take the current situation in the country to operators in the region, exchange ideas with them and clarify everything that happens in our gaming market.
In other words, is it everything that Control preaches, which is to show the global market the possibilities and the most appropriate ways to enter Brazil?
Exactly. And especially now, with this moment of regulation, everyone wants to know how to enter and what will be the requirements and best practices to operate in Brazil. We want to offer all our expertise to support operators.
There is always talk of good practice. The good companies already know this, but how can we show this to the government, which should also know these principles and that the industry follows these good practices?
This is the responsibility that we must have, as companies operating in the sector, and transmit this to the government. We need to foster even more and come together to show that we want to make things happen the right way. If we don't get close, we won't be able to do this.
How is Control seeing the issue of taxation of operators and bettors? What are you suggesting to regulators?
A nice thing when talking at events is realizing that Brazil is having a differential in terms of regulation. The government is very open to listening to companies and experienced people in the sector. We see these adjustments and some points of the regulation, and we know that it needs to be consistent and that it is good for the operator and the bettor. It will be everyone's job and if we build and talk more about license and tax value, in addition to the marketing format, we will have something forever.
A concern for operators will be the impossibility of offering, in addition to sports betting, online casino games. How do you see it? If you don't also release online gaming, will it be a barrier for more companies to come to Brazil?
It will be complicated if online casino games are blocked. Sports betting is on the crest of the wave, but companies depend on the casino vertical. We know that there is a Bill under discussion [442/91] and if there is a block to release later, it will be inefficient. The ideal would be, in this scenario, to wait for everything to come out at the same time. If there is no such possibility, let the casinos not be blocked.
There are companies that say that practically 50% of the business is in the casino vertical. How is that?
This is exactly the point. That's why I say that discussions should be held and close with the government so that it understands that sports betting is strong, but the casino is also strong in Brazil. Casino entertainment, and especially crash games, which we are seeing a boom. And that happens because this game is very easy to understand and entertain. As for sports betting, it takes a little more knowledge than a game like this.
Regulation has taken a long time. Do you think it will continue to be delayed?
It's Brazil. We can expect any scenario, but I hope it doesn't take too long. We need to take a clear and confident step. The entire mechanism behind it should support regulation.
Source: Exclusive GMB
