GMB - What do you think about the recent edition of BiS SiGMA Americas?
Leonardo Baptista – It was the fourth BiS SiGMA Americas, and it is getting bigger every time. Impressive! We came to chat, to maintain relationships, but what ends up happening is that we leave with more new clients. It's really cool to see this growth of the Brazilian market, now legalized and moving towards regulation. It's really nice to see everything that's happening in the country.
Could you comment on how the Payment Methods panel you participated in went?
The panel was great, about the methods used in the country. It was a huge responsibility because it was the last event of the day and the fair, so everyone was already tired, wanting to leave, but it was super dynamic.
I thank BiS for the invitation, it was very nice. The panel was very focused on regulation and the new payment methods ordinance that just came out. The conversation was very good, and everyone has the same idea. The Brazilian sector is going to be huge, much bigger than it already is, and there won't be room for anyone illegal. There's no way, it's what we've been saying for a long time. With Pix, with the Brazilian banking solution, the illegal market will struggle a lot to operate in Brazil.
So this decision to block or prevent credit in bets, restricting to Pix, is favorable to end the gray market?
Without a doubt. Not offering credit cards is a responsibility on the part of our government because you shouldn't gamble with credit. I believe that we don't have financial maturity in Brazil to leave a credit card enabled. Therefore, in terms of rules and policies for responsible gaming, I found it super smart that the Secretariat and the government prohibit any kind of credit.
We also have the issue of money laundering prevention by blocking, initially, bank slips and crypto. I understand that crypto will be open in the future as soon as we have regulation from the Central Bank.
What are Pay4Fun's marketing strategies for this year?
A lot will happen with us still this year starting next month. We will already have our transactional account. We will practically become a bank; we just won't give credit. That will be the difference between us and the bank, having a transactional account for the player. He will be able to intervene, register the Pix key with us, make payments, have a debit card, all with Pay4Fun starting in May.
And for the second semester, we intend to make a very strong expansion of the company to LatAm markets, Peru, and Argentina.
What will be the company's next steps in Latin America?
We are looking very carefully at Peru, a regulated market, very nice. And for Argentina, which I personally see as the second largest country in Latin America, fighting very hard with Mexico, which is a gigantic sector.
I believe a lot in the Argentine market, and the country is going through a moment that reminds me a lot of Brazil years ago. So, it presents a very big opportunity, and that's where we're going to start.
Do you think the regulation process in Brazil will end this year?
Personally, I believe a lot in the agenda set by the government, in the deadlines. The government said that the payment methods ordinance would come out by the second, third week of April and it really did.
They are meeting the deadlines because they are very concerned about revenue. So, yes, I think Brazil will have the first bet.br site (the first ones) by the end of the year. Always hoping for a regulated Brazil, which I'm sure will be a great joy for all of us.
Source: Exclusive GMB
