Games Magazine Brasil - What is your assessment of the performance and growth of your company in general in 2023? Was it as expected or did it exceed your expectations?
Rui Francisco - We had a positive 2023 as growth in the FBM® Group continued, with several reasons to celebrate along the way. We diversified the land-based and online game portfolios, launched a new cabinet, expanded our operation to new markets, and installed our games in hundreds of physical and online casinos and rooms around the world. The expectations we set for 2023 were ambitious, and we met them.
What is your assessment of the performance and growth of your company in the Brazilian market in 2023?
The Brazilian market presents two different realities. The step towards online gambling regulation opened new perspectives for FBMDS, which already had a growing operation in Brazil in 2023 and has even bigger ambitions for this market with this new scenario.
In the FBM Group, we are already prepared to respond to a possible opening of the land-based market in Brazil with a varied product offering.
Could you list the main achievements or goals achieved?
It was a busy year for the FBM Group. In the land-based market, the highlight of the first semester was the entry into the United States market. The second half of 2023 brought a significant expansion of Jin Qián Link™ in Mexico, the slots games installation in the Philippines, and two launches at G2E Las Vegas: the Auria cabinet and Reel Strike™ as a new slots’ product.
In FBMDS, the main highlight was the enormous growth we achieved in the Latin American markets with a diverse collection of video bingos. In addition, the brand opened a new category in its product portfolio by announcing its first crash game - Champion Tales - and launched several collections, such as the Top+Plus table games or the Golden Mystery slots pack.
In your sector, what themes or technological advances do you think will dominate the market in 2024? What will be the future trends?
Casino games are constantly evolving in line with player preferences and behaviors. Technology plays a fundamental role in this transformation by introducing new possibilities and engaging gaming experiences, through options such as virtual reality or augmented reality. In addition to these two trends, there is a growing use of artificial intelligence and big data for process automation, development of security mechanisms, and personalization of the player experience.
However, I believe that the success of products does not depend only on technology. Game providers must deeply study their markets of operation and their respective audiences. With knowledge about the local culture, industry players can create products capable of connecting and retaining players. This ideal gaming experience is the output of a balance between good technology and products that aggregate graphics, sounds, game mechanics, features, and payments that make the player appreciate the entertainment session and want to come back.
What is your general opinion on the regulation of the sports betting and online gaming market in Brazil?
Regulation brings benefits for all industry players. A regulated market creates a more transparent and secure environment for providers and operators while favoring player protection. The legislation of the activity is also beneficial from a social perspective, as it enhances the creation of direct and indirect jobs, as well as the increase in revenues collected by the public sector.
What are the main goals/objectives of your company for 2024 globally?
In 2024, we want to add new chapters of success and expansion to FBM's Champion legacy. We are preparing a strong start and intend to consolidate our position in the different operating markets while bringing new games to FBM and FBMDS’ portfolios.
We want to continue this sequence of launches in the land-based and online segments and have high expectations for the growth of our operations. These expectations rely on developing products with the quality, innovation, and reliability DNA that define the FBM Group in over 20 years of successful performance in the casino industry.
Source: Exclusive GMB
