GMB – Is it a source of pride that GLI was the first laboratory approved by the Brazilian government to certify products for the now regulated sports betting and online gambling market?
Karen Sierra-Hughes – It is a great pride, in fact, the work we do to be prepared and ready to answer the call from regulators to accredit laboratories is fundamental. We always say this, we dedicate resources, we dedicate people and we dedicate experience and we prepare in advance to be ready at the exact moment they call us.
Furthermore, we are sometimes asked "Well, but if we are first, second or third, what is the relevance?" The relevance is not so much for us. I think what we need to understand is that the faster we are ready and the faster we react, the more we support the regulatory entity, the jurisdiction, the operators and the suppliers, because the process will move faster by having an accredited laboratory as quickly as possible.
And what will the certification process be like for companies that are already operating in Brazil and that will have to follow the rules of the Ministry of Finance?
Well, Brazilian companies are an example. I am convinced of this. There are few countries in Latin America where we have started a regulation process with the regulator, where we have been accredited, where operators have already voluntarily advanced in many compliance processes. We had been working with suppliers, platforms, operators in Brazil for years before this happened.
And topics like responsible gaming, I always like to mention this, because the technology part is always more notable, but responsible gaming, there are companies investing in this without any requirements yet. It's really spectacular.
More than technology, is responsible gaming culture?
Correct. Responsible gaming has many components. Of course there is a technological component, but the most important is the human one. It is the human resource, not just the regulator, operator and government entities that have to collaborate so that responsible gambling programs, especially prevention, are effective and successful in a jurisdiction.
As for technology, is everything well understood by GLI about the government rules that are being established for the sector?
The truth is that all ordinances are pending, which are specifically for certification, but what was established in the law that will obviously impact regulation, we are clear, of course. Each country is different, each country decides, according to its reality, very specific conditions. In the case of Brazil, for example, the ban on cash that has now come out, and the ordinance on means of payment. In other countries it's a little difficult to say "you can't use cash", but in the case of Brazil, it's always very special. The PIX theme makes things a lot easier, we don't have this in other countries, so it makes sense that it was established this way here.
The important thing is that technology can always adapt and can be specialized in what the market demands and what the regulator considers very important as well. The government, the people behind all of this, regulating, are very open to coming together, understanding and getting to know each other to regulate responsibly as well.
What are the plans for the Brazilian market? Will you have a laboratory in Brazil?
Of course we will have a laboratory in Brazil. We all do this in a very thought out, very organized way. We are very responsible in our processes. GLI's reputation is very important to us, it's what precedes us, that's why regulators work with us, operators, suppliers work with us. So, we need to do this very well, but yes, there will be a laboratory in Brazil.
How long?
Ah, that's the same as asking me how much a certification costs. Soon, I guarantee it.
Source: GMB Exclusive
