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Latin America – The New Frontier of iGaming

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Latin America – The New Frontier of iGaming

 

It’s been four years since Colombia became the first country in Latin America to establish a local licensing regime for online gaming, unlocking the potential of an entire continent. Since then, several countries in the region have followed suit while others are still exploring the possibility to regulate igaming.

As the trailblazer in the region, Colombia has done an excellent job of creating a market where licensed operators are allowed to thrive. Players have access to a wide product offering, including both sports betting and online casino games, and are safeguarded by sound player protection measures. The challenge for any regulated jurisdiction is to strike that balance between establishing attractive market conditions while introducing necessary regulatory measures that are not too stringent or cumbersome to scare away operators and content suppliers. It goes without saying that to have a well-regulated market, you need to appeal to operators targeting the country while offering players the products they desire in order to keep the black market to a minimum and ensure maximum protection of consumers.

Colombia’s success also lies in the approach of its gaming regulator, Coljuegos, to engage with industry stakeholders and respond to their concerns. A perfect example is its recent quick response to the challenges arising from the COVID-19 outbreak when the regulator introduced a series of measures to help steer the gaming industry through the crisis. No regulation is perfect, however, and in Colombia, the requirement for operators to store data locally has proved challenging. Nevertheless, the market’s legislation sets a benchmark for other countries in Latin America looking to regulate internet gambling.

Greentube entered the Colombian market in 2019 and we have been quick to gain market share, now partnering with four operators in the country and seeing great interest in our content. For Greentube, it has been a learning curve, having experience in multiple European markets, and entering a completely new region that differs in many ways. Most importantly for us, players in Colombia have a preference for table games and video bingo in addition to the traditional slot games which are popular in most European markets. The bulk of our content portfolio in Europe is based on our classic titles, known from land-based venues, and fruit games. Yet in Colombia, although iconic slots like Sizzling Hot deluxe, Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe, and Apollo – God of the Sun are part of the favourites, other games like Royal Crown Roulette, Royal Crown Blackjack, and 1-2-3 Bingo are topping the list.

After making a strong entrance in Colombia, we were thrilled to also have launched in Paraguay this spring with local operator Il Palazzo. Being on the doorstep of Argentina and Brazil, the region’s two biggest economies, the market offers huge potential for growth both within the country and beyond its borders. Our land-based content has for many years proven successful with local players and so we expect our online adaptions will be equally popular. Paraguay is an important step in our South American strategy, and we are looking forward to expanding our business there as a means for further international growth.

Greentube is also keeping a close eye on the developments in several other countries in Latin America where discussions around regulating online casino gaming are taking place. Our next pending market entry is Mexico where we have struck a deal with the leading local operator. Greentube’s strategy is to operate only in regulated markets, which ensures we act in a legal and compliant matter but moreover, gives us an advantage when establishing new partnerships. As most major operators choose to be active only in legal markets, they prefer to cooperate with suppliers that also comply with the regulation. Equally important before entering any market is the growth potential; the strategic fit of our product and the availability of established distribution channels and platform providers. From our experience and based on the popularity of our games in the region’s land-based casino segments, we believe that Latin America has the potential to become one of our core regions and we continue to explore every opportunity with great excitement.

 

Written by: Markus Antl – Head of Sales and Key Account Management at Greentube

Cryptocurrency

BitLine Enhances Onboarding Experience in Collaboration with Jumio: Simplified KYC for Casino Patrons

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This collaboration emphasizes convenience, security and regulatory compliance

Through the BitLine app, users can seamlessly transact with up to US$10 million in casino chips 24/7

BitLine, a pioneering provider in the integration of digital assets for direct access to casino chips, proudly announces a strategic alliance with Jumio, an industry leader renowned for its comprehensive know-your-customer (KYC) solutions.

This partnership marks a significant milestone as BitLine streamlines its onboarding process for casino patrons, ensuring a seamless and secure journey into the realm of digital asset-based payments for gaming.

The collaboration between BitLine and Jumio signifies a commitment to delivering unparalleled convenience while upholding the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance. By leveraging Jumio’s advanced technology, BitLine reinforces its dedication to building trust among users and offering a frictionless experience for individuals seeking access to casino chips via digital assets.

Richard Jones, the Chief Executive Officer for BitLine by Ibanera, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating: “Trust and compliance are the cornerstones of every successful casino venture. At BitLine, our vision to innovate this industry through digital assets hinges on maintaining trust and adherence to regulations. Our collaboration with Jumio represents a monumental stride towards achieving this vision, ensuring that casino patrons transact securely and confidently through our platform.”

Echoing this sentiment, Robert E Prigge, the Chief Executive Officer for Jumio, commented: “The evolving landscape of digital assets presents endless possibilities and BitLine’s innovative approach has reshaped the casino industry. By eliminating withdrawal limitations and expanding accessibility, BitLine has ushered in a new era of gaming. We are thrilled to contribute to BitLine’s journey by providing essential elements of security and compliance.”

BitLine by Ibanera grants cryptocurrency owners unprecedented access to up to US$10 million in casino chips, 24/7/365, serving as a conduit for liquidity on the casino floor. Through the intuitive BitLine app, casino enthusiasts worldwide can initiate transactions within minutes, leveraging their digital assets to unlock funds effortlessly.

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Latest News

Sportradar Names New CFO, Craig Felenstein

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Sportradar Names New CFO, Craig Felenstein

 

Sportradar Group AG today announced that Craig Felenstein has been named Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective June 1, 2024. Felenstein joins the Company from Lindblad Expeditions where he most recently served as Chief Financial Officer. He will report directly to Sportradar Chief Executive Officer Carsten Koerl.

Felenstein brings nearly 30 years of senior finance and operating experience for US publicly listed companies across the media, entertainment, experiential and digital content industries to his new position at Sportradar. Most recently, Felenstein served as Chief Financial Officer at Lindblad Expeditions, a global leader in expedition cruises and adventure travel, where he oversaw the company’s global finance organization, as well their corporate development, information technology and human resources functions. In his role as Sportradar’s Chief Financial Officer, Felenstein will lead the company’s global finance, accounting and investor relations functions. Felenstein has a unique blend of financial rigor and operational insight and will partner with the rest of the executive leadership team to advance the company’s key strategic initiatives and grow the business while maintaining strong relationships with the investment community. He will be based in New York.

Carsten Koerl, CEO, Sportradar said: “With Craig’s deep international experience and successful track record building finance organizations as a CFO at US listed public companies, I am confident that he will be a strong addition to our team. His track record of helping drive financial strategy and building shareholder value will be instrumental to our continued success. We want to express our deep gratitude to Ger Griffin for his meaningful contributions to Sportradar during a transformational growth period for our Company.”

Prior to his tenure at Lindblad, Felenstein served as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Strategic Finance at Shutterstock where he oversaw all interaction with the investment community while leading the financial planning and analysis and corporate development functions. Prior to Shutterstock, he served in various management roles at Discovery Communications, LLC, including Executive Vice President of Investor Relations. At the same time, he was a member of the executive team for several of Discovery’s businesses including serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Digital, Chief Financial Officer of US Network Revenue and Chief Financial Officer of Animal Planet.  Prior to Discovery Communications, he held senior positions at News Corporation, Viacom Inc., and Arthur Andersen & Co.

Felenstein said: “Sportradar has built an impressive leadership position in the rapidly growing global sports technology market and the Company is ideally situated to deliver sustained growth given their strong content portfolio, unmatched product offerings and commitment to industry innovation.  I am excited to work with Carsten and the entire Sportradar team, as well as the Board of Directors, to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities ahead and deliver additional value to our clients, partners and shareholders.”

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Compliance Updates

Brazil’s Ministry of Finance Appoints Régis Dudena as Secretary of Prizes and Betting

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Regis Dudena, a seasoned lawyer with expertise in Public and Regulatory Law, has been appointed as the new Secretary of Prizes and Betting at the Ministry of Finance in Brazil. Dudena’s appointment ordinance is signed by Rui Costa, Minister of the Civil House.

The new secretary had already been visiting the Ministry of Finance and getting closer to the entire group at the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting, until then led by Simone Vicentini, deputy secretary.

The appointment of the lawyer is attributed to the Executive Secretary of Finance, Dario Durigan. Dario and Dudena worked together at Palácio do Planalto during Dilma Rousseff’s government.

Both worked in the Legal Affairs secretariat of the Civil House. Dudena’s name is linked to other names on the left. He has good relations with Edinho Silva (PT), mayor of Araraquara (SP).

The SPA started operating two months ago. Since then, it had been without a permanent boss. Lawyer José Francisco Manssur, special advisor to the Ministry of Finance who coordinated the regulation of sports betting from the beginning, was the most likely to take on the position. But he was exonerated under pressure from Centrão politicians.

Bets representatives welcomed the name Régis Dudena.

From the beginning, the SPA was under the responsibility of Simone Vicentini, appointed as deputy secretary. Since then, it has edited the ordinances that defined requirements for laboratory accreditation and the sector’s regulatory policy.

Under her supervision, three laboratories have already been approved, GLI, eCogra, and BMM. Last week, the ordinance establishing the rules for payment transactions to be complied with by sports betting and online gaming operators was also published.

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