Latin America
Brace Yourselves: Curaçao’s New Gambling Law Is at the Door!
Curaçao is approaching the finishing line of their online gambling reform, with the new law being sent to the parliament earlier this week. Markus Björk at Slotsoo has been in touch with both the Ministry of Finance and several Curaçao operators to find out how they feel about this big change. Do European license providers have a reason to feel threatened by Curaçao casinos 2.0?
LOK Now Just Waiting for Parliament Approval
On December 19th, Curaçao’s Ministry of Finance informed that the new law has been officially submitted to the parliament. The National Ordinance for Games of Chance, commonly referred to as LOK (Landsverordening op de kansspelen), is expected to come into effect in the first half of 2024.
Finance Minister Javier Silvania, the front figure of the reform, shares his excitement about this historical moment:
“We are very happy to reach this final stage. The submission of the LOK to Parliament is not just a procedural step, but a leap towards transformative progress.”
No More Master Licenses or Middle Men
The current setup of the Curaçao casino license is very unique, with four master license holders being in charge of giving licenses to individual casino operators and ensuring their compliance to the regulations.
This has resulted in big quality differences, and if you were to ask ten EU players how they feel about Curaçao casinos you would get very varied replies. Another critique with the current system is that most of the financial gain goes to the four master license holders, while the island of Curaçao is left with light pockets.
LOK will put an end to master licenses and middle men and require all licenses to be applied directly from Curaçao’s Gaming Control Board. This means more uniformed quality and better control. The new law will also require gambling companies to have physical presence on the island, creating new job opportunities for the locals.
The Curaçao casinos we interviewed all welcome the new setup. Spinwise (Tsars Casino) sees some hurdles, but says it will be worth it in the long run:
“The prohibition of sublicensing by master licensees introduces a new financial dynamic for individual companies, albeit with associated fees. While adaptation to the new framework may pose short-term challenges, the long-term benefits are expected to outweigh these initial obstacles.”
The Curaçao License Will Remain Tax Free
1. No tax on winnings
2. No restrictions on player nationality
3. Strong regulatory framework
Keeping the Balance Is Crucial for Success
Finance Minister Javier Silvania shares that they had a very inclusive approach when drafting the new law. They consulted all the stakeholders to make sure LOK will consider different perspectives and not just serve one group. The country of Curaçao, its citizens, the gambling industry, and the players should all benefit from the reform.
Many license jurisdictions that go through a re-regulation fall into the trap of legislating too much, without the government listening to the industry or the players enough. This leads to fewer license holders and lower channelization rates, as both the operators and the players search for more attractive solutions from other countries.
We wish Curaçao good luck with their new start in 2024!
Compliance Updates
WA.Technology receives accreditation to enter Peru’s gaming market
WA.Technology, the award-winning B2B solutions provider, is excited to announce its entry into the rapidly expanding Peruvian gaming market after receiving the necessary certifications from the country’s gambling regulator, Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo (MINCETUR).
Already recognised as the most sought-after B2B solutions provider for LatAm, the award-winning provider is now bringing its iGaming expertise to operators across Peru, having already partnered with the majority of the continent’s biggest brands.
In total, WA.Technology offers its LatAm partners a full spectrum of iGaming solutions via its WA.Platform, WA.Sports, WA.Casino, WA.Fantasy, WA.Affiliates and WA.Lottery verticals.
With WA.Technology boasting multiple regional offices across the continent, the provider has now stated a firm commitment to ensuring that its Peru operator partners will be given the best of its technology to gain local market share.
These include its latest lottery platform, with players able to access more than 70 of the world’s biggest lottery formats, Highly popular Lottery games from the USA will also be available, such as Powerball and Megamillions, reaching in excess of $1bn.
In addition, local operators will be able to harness WA.Technology’s latest Fantasy Sports and its US-inspired Pick’Em Play Props offering, which is being rolled out imminently to big-name operators across the continent.
Designed for players to unleash their sporting expertise across Daily Fantasy Sports and Free-to-Play predictor games, both represent a tried and tested acquisition tool for LatAm operators to boost engagement, retention and cross-selling opportunities.
Local partners will also be able to access WA.Technology’s latest WA.Affiliates vertical, designed to transform LatAm operators’ player-focused marketing and customer acquisition strategies.
Featuring affiliate tracking features, performance tracking software, and the option to introduce gamification, WA.Affiliates represents an unparalleled acquisition tool for operators to reach new audiences and drive traffic back to casinos and sportsbooks.
Commenting on the company’s launch in Peru, Axel Antillon, Regional Director LatAm at WA.Technology, said: “Peru represents a significant opportunity for WA.Technology; we are very excited to be embarking on this new journey! The country’s growing appetite for gaming and entertainment-led experiences aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver LatAm’s best gaming products.
“By entering the Peruvian market, we’re able to support local operators in enhancing their player experience, improving operational efficiency, and ultimately, growing their business. We look forward to becoming a trusted partner to the region’s operators as we establish a long-term presence here.”
Since regulations were introduced in October 2023, Peru has been pinpointed as one of LatAm’s major growth markets by industry experts.
Reports project the market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% between 2023 and 2031, largely driven by increased digital adoption and growing demand for online entertainment.
MINCETUR, Peru’s regulator, estimates that approximately Sol3.8 billion (€1bn) in bets was placed in 2022, with online gaming and sports betting estimated to produce Sol162m (€40.6m) a year in taxes for the state.
eSports
Community Gaming Joins Forces with Moonton as Official Esports Partner for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Community Gaming (CG), the leading esports platform for automated tournament payouts and sponsor of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s professional league for the Latin America Region, MPL LATAM, now supports developing esports communities in Latin America in collaboration with Moonton.
This partnership is a significant boost to CG’s existing advantages associated with its grant program, a partner-backed initiative to provide organizers with economic resources based on the performance and growth of their local gaming communities. Tournament organizers can apply to receive platform support, prizes, in-game currency, items, and tournament professional assistance including “Tournament Mode,” a special setting on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang that grants organizers enhanced features, such as unlocking all available skins in the game for players to fully enjoy a complete and unique MLBB pro tournament experience.
Wei Xu, regional esports operation manager at Moonton, said: “We are excited to announce the partnership with Community Gaming. Community Gaming is the most accepted esports platform in our community in Latin America. We hope this partnership brings new experiences to the players.”
As MPL comes to its end this year, CG will also be collaborating with MLBB professional teams for a flash $4000 prize tournament set to enhance the visibility of the company’s services. This event marks a pivotal moment set to highlight CG’s preparedness to impact the professional MLBB scene.
Community Gaming and Moonton are no strangers to mutual cooperation. In the past both companies have partnered to develop the Dawn of Heroes Series, a set of events in 2021 and 2022 that offered qualifying slots to MLBB’s Signature Competition, Liga LATAM. The companies have also worked together on Peru’s University Tournament INTERU 2023 and currently Community Gaming hosts significant activity of MLBB Tournaments from over 12 countries on a monthly basis.
Latest News
SOFTSWISS Becomes Headline Partner for NEXT.io Elite Retreat LatAm
SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience providing innovative iGaming solutions, announces its headline partnership on the Elite Retreat LatAm, an exclusive event organised by NEXT.io, the world’s leading iGaming community. This partnership underscores SOFTSWISS’ commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the rapidly growing Latin American iGaming market.
The invite-only retreat is scheduled to take place from 24 to 26 November 2024 at the luxurious Secrets Maroma resort in Cancún, Mexico. The Elite Retreat LatAm will bring together 100 top decision-makers from leading operators and suppliers in the iGaming industry, offering an unparalleled opportunity for focused networking and strategic discussions in one of the Caribbean’s most stunning locations.
Max Trafimovich, CCO at SOFTSWISS, shares: “Latin America represents a key growth area for SOFTSWISS, and our ongoing certification efforts in Brazil are a testament to our long-term commitment to the region. We believe that events like the Elite Retreat LatAm provide a unique platform for exchanging valuable insights and fostering meaningful partnerships. With NEXT.io as a trusted partner, we are confident that this retreat will set the stage for significant advancements in the Latin American iGaming market.”
Notable attendees will include key figures such as the GM LatAm of Stake, the CEO of Logrand, the Director of Caliente, the President of AEIJA, the CEO of Apuesta Gana, the CEO of Coolbet, the Director of Doradobet, among others.
Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder & Managing Director at NEXT.io, adds: “We are delighted to welcome SOFTSWISS as our headline partner for the Elite Retreat Cancún. SOFTSWISS’ pioneering role in the iGaming industry makes the company the perfect partner for this event. Together, we are creating an environment where the future of gaming in Latin America can be shaped by its leading minds.”
The retreat will feature two full days of networking and entertainment, allowing attendees to forge strategic connections and explore the latest trends and opportunities in the Latin American iGaming sector.
This collaboration with NEXT.io aligns with SOFTSWISS’ strategic focus on Latin America, following initiatives such as appointing the Formula 1 star Rubens Barrichello as Non-Executive Director for SOFTSWISS in LatAm and the ongoing process of receiving a certification in Brazil for its Casino Platform and Sportsbook.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.
About NEXT.io
NEXT.io is the World’s iGaming Community, renowned for its in-depth coverage, expert analysis, and industry-leading events. Through a portfolio of high-impact events such as NEXT Summit: New York and NEXT Summit: Valletta, and Elite Retreats, NEXT.io is committed to driving innovation and fostering a global community of iGaming professionals.
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