As a key global network solutions provider, how is the company currently positioned in the Latin American market?
Latin America is a huge region and one that is incredibly exciting for the global online gambling industry, with lots of opportunities on the table. Continent 8 has been significantly growing its presence in LatAm over the past few years, initially launching in Colombia in 2020 and with further rollouts in countries such as Puerto Rico and Peru. Our current roadmap will see us expand into Argentina and Brazil next, but we closely follow developments in all markets within the region and can adjust our plans accordingly. This is only possible because we are an agile company, with the resources at hand and the processes in place to quickly and easily adapt to the ever-changing nature of the regulatory landscape, not only in LatAm, but also in North America and Europe.
Considering the great expansion of sports betting and online gambling in LatAm over the last years, why do you think your company is the ideal partner for operators in that region? What demands are they having and how can your company meet their needs?
Continent 8 is the go-to provider for managed hosting, connectivity and security solutions. We have a global connected network spanning 85+ locations across four continents; in this, we are unrivalled. We also have over 20 years of experience delivering solutions to the iGaming market. We know the industry inside out, and that means in Continent 8 you have a company you can trust. In fact, as an example, some of the biggest iGaming brands in the world rely on us, and in Latin America, this includes Betcris, Boldt S.A., Playtech and Slots Del Sol S.A., just to name a few. Due to the scale and scope of the region, a one size fits all approach simply does not work. Although there are similarities in markets across LatAm, each has its own culture and way of doing things, so a localized approach is required. This covers technology, distance to customers, regulation, infrastructure needs and more. As I’ve said, we are agile and flexible, so we can meet the varying demands by operators and suppliers in the region.
How to be innovative and develop new solutions in such a competitive environment?
Our company was born as a specialist in technology for the gaming industry, and innovation is part of our DNA. We are constantly developing and enhancing our solutions, whether that be because of regulatory changes or the ever-evolving marketplace. A good example is our Secure solutions. We have continued to strengthen our cybersecurity products to meet the rising threat and prevalence of cyber-attacks that we have seen over the last years. Another example is our recently launched Gaming Exchange, a powerful private Internet and exclusive community exchange for iGaming businesses. It allows them to connect faster and more securely than via the standard Internet, with no need for additional configuration. It means Continent 8 customers can connect directly to other Continent 8 customers via an MPLS Layer 3 VPN across our private backbone network rather than route over the public Internet.
Continent 8 Technologies has recently participated in different summits and conferences around the world, and has also received awards and nominations for its HQ services as a provider. In this sense, the company will be Silver Sponsor at the G&M News’ dinner in Peru tomorrow, on June 14th. Why is so important for Continent 8 to have a direct contact with operators and show its solutions in this type of events?
It has been an incredibly busy time for us from an events perspective, and after almost two years of limited travel due to the pandemic, it’s great to be back out seeing our customers and partners face-to-face. We are a customer-centric business, and we go to great lengths to ensure that existing customers receive the best possible experience and that the solutions we provide meet their individual needs and requirements. Therefore, it is incredibly important for us to have direct contact with all actors of this industry in each country they are based on. We are thrilled to be working with G&M News and hosting a private dinner with IT Managers in Peru ahead of the Peru Gaming Show. It’s going to be a fantastic event.
How do you envision your business growing in Latin America over the next two years? What opportunities do you foresee in this region, taking into account real technological and regulatory challenges in some countries of that continent?
I believe there are more opportunities than challenges when it comes to Latin America. Yes, regulation can be difficult. We are no stranger to regulation. We are more than happy to share our experience and knowledge with iGaming regulators across the globe, and work with them to ensure that our solutions are fully compliant. Continent 8 has ambitious plans for the region, so it is an exciting time for us. We can contribute deploying our well proven technology, certificated processes, establishing facilities, expanding our network with the lowest latency and providing strong cyber security control. This is all supported by a regional team that includes both English and Spanish speakers. We are at the service of customers and very happy to be able to meet them again in Peru.