GMB – The regulation for betting houses to submit their license applications has recently been released. Is EstrelaBet ready and preparing the forms?
Fellipe Fraga: We had been waiting for the regulation for a long time, and it finally arrived. Estrela is already prepared for this stage of the licensing process, with great confidence that everything will go well. We are very excited to continue our market leadership, being a reference not only for companies in Brazil but also globally, in terms of compliance and doing things the right way.
I am very confident that in the coming months we will have news and the seal on the site as one of the first Brazilian operators certified and ready to operate in the regulated and licensed market in Brazil.
Does the platform need adjustments, or is it ready based on the technical regulations?
Yes, there are still some small adjustments to be made because we were always anticipating what would be definitively decided. We are in the process of making these final adjustments. But in general, we have been preparing not only in terms of the platform but also in compliance and responsible gaming.
Everything was designed and aligned with our expectations and objectives to provide our Brazilian customers with the best betting entertainment opportunity. Fortunately, this path is shaping up to create a very healthy market that meets the requirements.
What are the future plans once everything is regulated and EstrelaBet obtains the seal?
To continue growing, demonstrating, and working towards a 100% compliant market. The struggle for proper regulation and rules will always continue. Our focus now is to curb the black market, which will try to attract customers inappropriately and outside the rules. And I don't just speak from a business perspective; the regulation is there to ensure healthy conditions for gaming and entertainment for the players.
The illegal market cannot deliver the same quality as the major companies, whether they are Brazilian or international. We expect this fight to be strong, and we hope the government will support it. I am very confident in the direction Brazil is heading, and 2024 is becoming a historic year for our industry, and this will undoubtedly continue.
You mentioned customer acquisition, and one of the tools is affiliation. How are you working with affiliates and re-educating them about proper advertising?
It's a very interesting topic because we are in a process of educating and attracting affiliates and influencers into our industry. Two years ago, we were at this same fair, but it was a very different context. There was no Gambling Brasil yet, only Afiliados Brasil. It was us and two other operations. Today, it has grown. We had BiS SiGMA in São Paulo, as well as another fair in Rio de Janeiro in March. There are three in quick succession, reflecting the industry's growth.
Affiliates are also largely responsible for this growth. We are now working on how they should adopt the correct way of communicating, attracting customers by conveying the truth. Gaming is entertainment, healthy and fun. It's a cultural adaptation process. This is happening, and the responses are very positive. The way to attract new customers should be healthy, so they understand it is something to enjoy, not a means to get rich. The path to enrichment is normal work, not gaming. Gaming is for fun, and EstrelaBet always wants to offer the best toy and entertainment option for adults.
Are the affiliates understanding EstrelaBet's "toy"?
It’s very nice to see this evolution and even the affiliates’ knowledge. These digital marketing folks were already very successful and relevant in communicating other markets in the digital space; now they have embraced iGaming and understand our industry very well. Today, they come to us speaking a different language, and it's very rewarding to see this growth in market knowledge. They have been and will continue to be a very strong arm for customer acquisition in our industry.
Is EstrelaBet shining within a constellation called Brazil?
The shine never stops. We continue to seek relevance nationally, and our dream of becoming global is still alive, but we are very certain of our work, what we have done correctly, and being recognized by international partners and affiliates with the seriousness that EstrelaBet aims to uphold. This continues with full strength.
Source: Exclusive GMB
