The company just announced great financial results for Q3 2023. What does this mean in terms of supporting operations and your daily work?
It shows that we are on the right track in terms of executing on our strategy and vision to become the leading digital sports media group. It also enables us to continue investing in our brands and in the development of engaging content across digital platforms which will grow our audience.
One recent news that shocked the industry was Better Collective’s purchase of Playmaker Capital. How is it now positioned in South America, considering the strength of that firm’s brands, such as Futbol Sites?
It is an operation I am truly excited about. Upon closing of the transaction, we expect to become the market leader in South America, with the largest audience across our sports media brands. The acquisition goes well in line with our strategy to obtain powerful national brands with a loyal audience. Adding Futbol Sites and their complete portfolio of brands to Better Collective will give us a much robust position in South America, and will enable us to create strong value for our partners.
In parallel, Better Collective continues to advance in Brazil, after acquiring local sports media platform Torcedores.com and opening a second office in that country in Rio de Janeiro, which joins the one in Sao Paulo. What strategy are you developing, then, for this gigantic market?
We are using the same “playbook” that we have successfully applied in Europe and in the U.S. in previous years. For us to be the market leader in any country or region, we need to have local talent and a local organization to execute on our strategy. On the business side, we use various methods to grow our position in the region, including entering media partnerships with some of the leading media across the region, as well as acquiring popular media brands.
An online gaming market with great development quarter by quarter is Portugal, where Better Collective also has an office. What do you think the Brazilian market can learn from the Portuguese in terms of thorough regulation, a competitive sector, and taking care of bettors?
We fundamentally believe that betting is a form of entertainment and should be regulated in a manner that ensures a competitive market for the sportsbooks and hence more choices for the bettors. At the same time, it must create a safe environment for users.
The company has a vision of becoming the leading digital sports media group worldwide. What plans do you have for the future to continue along the path of growth and accompany the evolution of iGaming and sports betting regulatory processes in South America?
Our strategy is to grow both our endemic and non-endemic (non-gambling partners) revenues in the region. With the acquisition of Playmaker Capital, we open a lot of non-endemic business opportunities. This goes well in line with our strategy and vision, and will lower the risks in the market as we activate more revenue streams and become less dependent on iGaming regulation. Upon closing the Playmaker Capital deal, we will have a strong focus on integration to realize the many synergies we see on the region.