GMB - Konami iGaming sector has just presented itself in Brazil. What attracted the company to this emerging regulated market?
Eduardo Aching - As a newly regulated market, Brazil holds tremendous opportunity. The establishment of gaming standards, regulations, and licensing in the country created a pathway for Konami to be able to participate in the market. The market’s size, scope, conditions, and reach are in alignment with what we would hope to see for an emerging regulated market.
You are certainly keeping track of the developments in iGaming regulation in Brazil. Based on Konami’s global experience, are the pathways suitable for the company to establish itself in the country?
From what we have observed to date, the pathways are suitable and achievable. Working closely with our iGaming customers, online players in Brazil may likely be legally wagering on a Konami slot from their mobile device in less than six months. And we hope to reach more Brazilian iGaming partners not long after.
Brazil is a major consumer of Konami’s entertainment products, particularly the eFootball line, which has been an absolute success in the country. Is Brazil significant for the company’s global results?
Brazil is a major market on the world stage. Its entry into regulated gaming has very significant potential for the global gaming industry. For Konami, we are fortunate to have an existing brand presence in Brazil through highly popular consumer entertainment by the digital entertainment division of KONAMI GROUP CORP.
The Konami brand carries strong recognition in Brazil, and is associated with high-quality products and exceptional content. As the division of KONAMI GROUP responsible for casino games and technology, Konami Gaming aims to expand that reputation to our casino gaming offering in Brazil.
What are the main products Konami plans to offer in Brazil for the online iGaming segment?
Konami’s iGaming offering has the distinct attraction of being part of the Konami brand, which has a recognizable presence in the Brazil market. Another differentiating characteristic, from a consumer perspective, is that Konami online slots are the same slots they find in Las Vegas and any worldclass gaming destination they visit. For over 20 years, our slot games have been enjoyed by players at their favorite land-based casinos, and Konami slots continue to reach people in hundreds of regulated casino markets worldwide.
Konami’s entry into the Brazilian iGaming sector will make a long list of player-favorite slots available for deployment via online for-wager sites. To help achieve robust digital distribution, Konami has its own remote gaming server (RGS), which integrates with most popular back-end systems used by today's online gaming operators. Through our RGS, online operators can tap into time-tested game performance, with robust HTML5 delivery—compatible across smartphones, tablets, and desktop devices.
How is Konami seeking local partners for its effective entry into Brazil?
My team and I have already begun to build relationships with Brazilian iGaming operators. It is very important to Konami that we make our content available to new operator customers in Brazil that might be interested.
Not all customers will be new. Konami has existing relationships with major global iGaming operators that are also on schedule for entry to the Brazilian iGaming sector. We are working closely with these existing iGaming customers to expand our partnership relationship to Brazil, and cooperatively support successful market launch with a great mix of content in 2025.
Brazil is still discussing the legalization of gambling. Does Konami expect to be a major player in the land-based market when it opens?
Yes, we have been following the market very closely. At Konami, we believe there is significant opportunity in the legalization of land-based gaming in Brazil, and our goal is to become one of the market’s major providers. Considering the company’s global industry background, diverse entertainment offering, innovative technology offering, strong brand presence, and customer relationship focus, Konami has a solid foundation to become a top player in Brazil’s land-based market.
Once again, Konami will participate in the G2E in Las Vegas. What will be the company’s novelties at the event, and what goals do they aim to achieve with the visit of hundreds of Brazilian entrepreneurs to Konami’s booth in search of business opportunities?
Konami’s G2E 2024 display includes three key areas: iGaming, SYNKROS casino systems, and traditional land-based gaming, including Class III, Class II, VLT, and historical horse racing. Guests will encounter new developments across all these areas.
In iGaming, Konami continues to expand its popular slot content online, with record titles for omni-channel distribution including K-Pow! Pig, Dragon’s Law Fortune, and many more.
In the SYNKROS area, we’re celebrating the G2E debut of an all-in-one, digital drink ordering system called SYNKROS Drink System, along with a high-demand innovations spanning facial recognition, cashless wagering, artificial intelligence, mobile technology, multi-site capabilities, comprehensive anti-money laundering (AML) systems, system-delivered jackpot progressives, and anti-money laundering compliance.
And in the traditional land-based gaming sector, Konami is showcasing its most creative DIMENSION content to date, with standout series such as Bingo Frenzy Stampede—celebrating its world debut at this year’s G2E event.
We look forward to the opportunity to connect with Brazilian representatives at G2E, to build connections and demonstrate the latest ways Konami is advancing future gaming industry technology and entertainment.
Does Konami intend to establish a business unit in Brazil?
We are evaluating how the market develops to help determine, and should reach a decision in due time.
In addition to serving as Konami Gaming’s head of international gaming operations and iGaming, I also have a strong personal connection to Brazil. I was born and raised in Brazil. Though I speak several different languages, Portuguese is my first language.
As Brazil is pursuing its first regulated entry into online and land-based gaming, Konami Gaming’s leadership has a close understanding of the market and culture, to be able to cooperatively support successful long-term growth and development nationwide.
Source: Exclusive GMB
