GMB – How has the operation of Lottopar been, and what is the receptivity of Paraná to sports betting and online gaming?
Daniel Romanowski – For us, the operation is just starting. We began this project two years ago. First, we established a plan, deciding that there would be a central platform to provide information to the state government, and then we accredited the laboratories. We were the first institution in Brazil to accredit laboratories, and today we have five certified. After these two steps, we started the administrative processes for selecting operators for the various modalities.
Now, we are reaching the operational phase, which is exactly where we wanted to be, bringing the product to the public so they can enjoy this entertainment. We are very happy with the development and to be at a fair like BiS SiGMA, witnessing the size of this sector. There's no stopping it; it’s huge and will generate a lot of jobs and income.
How is the first phase of sports betting going in Paraná?
From the perspective of a public manager, we understand that companies haven't fully accelerated yet because of upcoming federal changes. They haven't yet decided whether to put their foot on the accelerator 100% or wait for what will come. Nevertheless, we have five operational companies in Paraná, but they are not yet at full power or fully marketing in the state. Our expectation is that with the progression of federal regulation, they will become more established and secure in their actions.
What are the currently planned modalities?
For instant games, we accredited B3, the São Paulo Stock Exchange. Three companies were interested, and one has completed the process and is already certified. The accreditation remains open, with two-year document review windows. This certified operator is already delivering game plans, and we are working on the operational side to have the product available in two or three months, offering scratch cards to the people of Paraná.
As for online gaming, we are working with laboratories to certify the games that will be available on the operator’s website.
Will there be other lottery modalities in the future?
The next modality is prognosis and passive. We grouped them into one block because we understand they have synergy, especially regarding draws. This project is also with B3, and the process is ongoing. We had five interested parties, and three remain. We will probably launch this in June, also through B3, for these operators in this modality.
Besides regulation, is Lottopar leveraging B3's trust and credibility to move forward the processes? Is this a strategy to ensure reliability?
Exactly. It's even a requirement from our governor that everything be done with the utmost transparency to raise the bar for good operators. For us, B3 represents that – the best selection, a good process, and a good tender. We will finalize it with B3, which provides all the reliability and transparency the sector needs. It's great to have B3 as a partner, bringing a lot of credibility to the process.
Online gaming is already a reality in Brazil and Paraná. We expect the legalization of physical casinos soon. How will Paraná prepare for this moment and manage the interest of operators who want to establish physical casinos in the state?
We are experiencing a somewhat different moment in Brazil. Normally, physical casinos come first, followed by online casinos, but the country has reversed this order somewhat. Online casinos are emerging first, paving the way for the approval of land-based casinos.
Paraná sees this very positively. Our governor, Ratinho Júnior, greatly encourages tourism, which has grown by more than 40% in Paraná during his administration. The casino will be a consolidation of this. We have, at the Triple Frontier, two very close casinos, in Paraguay and Argentina, almost within our territory. So, the activity will be very welcome, as it is a thriving and responsible industry worldwide. Some people have a different image from the movies, but it is a very safe, clean industry that we want to bring to us, to similarly bring tourism, income, jobs, and development to our state.
Source: Exclusive GMB
