What does it mean to you to have arrived at a company as important as Betcris?
Both professionally and personally, it represents being part of the largest sports betting company in Latin America. Betcris is present in over 17 countries, mostly in LatAm. Being able to participate in an operation of this scale is something that motivates me to be constantly seeking to improve and, of course, learn from an incredible team with experienced, energetic professionals.
What will your main responsibilities be and what growth possibilities do you see for the company in the country?
I am the Operations Manager in Brazil and will have the privilege of working with people like JD Duarte, Gabriel Nuñez del Arco, Fernando Garita, Carlos Soto and many others. Specifically, regarding Brazil, Betcris will position itself as one of the leaders in the sports betting segment, following the brand’s DNA, which dominates markets such as Ecuador, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. After all, we are the only brand made for Latin America and that really understands the Latin American customer, including the Brazilian public.
How did sporting events like the Copa America and the Eurocup boost the amount of bets, as well as increase revenue for operators in the sector?
In relation to the global sports betting market, these two events, together with the Soccer World Cup, are the main channels of sports betting in the years that they are held. While national and continental club championships are suspended, football fans turn their attention to these national team competitions, causing the betting volume to rise considerably. Football, in most markets, with the exception of the USA, is responsible for more than 70% of the betting volume and, in these events, the percentage can even exceed 90% in the months tournaments take place.
With all the passion for sports and betting in Brazil, and just over a year before the start of the FIFA Soccer World Cup in Qatar, are you optimistic about the progress of online gambling and sports betting regulations in Brazil? How do you imagine the dynamics and evolution of the market in the coming years?
I believe that the regulation is under final stages of adjustment and, within the period established by Law 13.756/18, we will have our market regulated before the end of 2022. Regarding the dynamics and evolution of the market, Brazil is a continental country and as such, it offers immense opportunities for an interesting number of companies. Hence, I believe that, in the coming years, the country should mature from a marketing point of view, but mainly in relation to the culture of sports betting, which will place Brazil among the top five players in the world.
How will Betcris work on two main issues: responsible gaming and player education?
These are two central points for our brand. Education is something that needs to be better spread by brands. Betcris, which is recognized worldwide for generating opportunities and being trustable for its customers, understands that the Brazilian consumer needs to be educated in relation to the sports betting product. For this, our content platform will have an area dedicated to consumer education, where consumers can learn everything, in a simple and objective way, about online sports betting. When it comes to Responsible Gaming, Betcris supports Gambling Therapy, a non-profit association that helps people with gambling-related problems. Our brand provides entertainment in a funny way and, at all times, we seek to inform players that each game must be considered responsibly, without affecting the lives of our clients at a personal level.
What are the key future challenges for Betcris in Brazil?
Despite not being regulated, Brazil is an extremely competitive market. Currently, top global brands are present there, sponsoring football clubs and investing in media properties, both on television and online media. With this scenario, Betcris will position itself intelligently, identifying the best opportunities so that we can show the Brazilian customer our quality products; solutions the rest of Latin American players already know about. Users, partners and the entire industry are aware that Betcris is the world leader when it comes to sports betting, generating safe and fast entertainment, and that it presents an infinite range of possibilities in online gaming globally.
What novelties and projects is your company preparing for the short term?
There will be lots of news, but we will keep it that way for now. Betcris is booming and Brazil is one of the main targets for next year. Our brand enters the markets with the objective of leading the sports betting segment and, with Brazil, it will be no different. We are NFL and MLB official sponsors for Latin America, with the exception of Brazil, as well as sponsors of Ecuadorian and Mexican Soccer National teams. In Brazil, this profile focused on sports, especially football, will also be noticed, but for now, we will leave the surprises ready to be announced in the future.