iGaming Daily

Fernando Noodt (00:03.515)
Responsible gaming

Fernando Noodt (00:10.841)
Responsible gambling is key to a healthy gaming market, and while the industry may sometimes be looked down upon, it works hard to maintain a healthy environment for everyone involved. Welcome to iGaming Daily, in a very special episode celebrating International Responsible Gambling Day. I am Fernando Nott, Senior Business Journalist for SBC Noticias and your host for today's episode, and I am joined today again by the boss.

Lucia Gando, SBC Noticias Editor. Lucia, how are you today?

Lucía (00:43.021)
Hello Fer, I'm very good, how are you?

Fernando Noodt (00:45.851)
Yeah, I'm very good. Very excited to be back on iGaming Daily and also very excited to be again together with Ricardo Assis, editor for SBC Noticias Brazil. Ricardo, how are you?

Ricardo Assis (00:59.117)
Hey Fer, really well. Sorry. Hey Fer, I'm feeling really well and I'm really excited for the SBC Summit Rio that's coming just next week.

Fernando Noodt (01:11.537)
Yes, very, very excited to be back in Rio next week, but we will talk about it later. So let's not jump ahead of things, but let's jump and thank OptiMove, the number one CRM marketing solution for the iGaming market and sponsor of iGaming Daily. So thank you very much OptiMove. And speaking of being responsible and Responsible Gaming Week, International Responsible Gaming Week is here.

And of course, developing a healthy industry, like I said, is key to every part of the industry, like to actually build on a healthy industry. And several countries are commemorating this week and the Responsible Gambling Day, which was actually on February the 17th, we are commemorating, of course, the whole week,

Lucía (02:03.063)
Yes, it's a week of celebration, commemoration actually in Latam especially. We have several activities in Argentina, Colombia, also Spain. As you said, it's an international day, but I think it is more highlighted in Latam. So we are expecting regulators, operators and everybody in the industry to do certain

activities, advertising, just generating conscience about this issue. We know that here in Latam, the responsible gambling policies are very active, but it is still a very challenging market to work on due to the amount of illegal platforms and...

the challenges between sponsors, sponsorships and whatever. So it's a week where everybody just pays attention to this and we work together to promote it.

Fernando Noodt (03:16.64)
Yeah, it's pretty much like anything else, right? We just passed Valentine's Day and of course I had a nice dinner with my girlfriend, but that doesn't mean that is the only day I'm going to have dinner with her and going to prove my affection to her, but it's like a special day to commemorate that. And it's the same with International Responsible Gambling Day. Companies or responsible companies actually enforce measures and work towards developing a healthy industry.

all throughout the year, but this week it's important to like make emphasis or emphasize on that and remember people that it's something to be aware of and to work on and to continue to build on what's already been built before. But like you said, it is a very important topic in Latin America especially, but it's actually something that was originally set

by a European organization, by the European Gaming Embedding Association that back in 2008 said February 17 as the International Responsible Gaming Day backed by UNESCO. It is course something to do with information like the World Health Organization says 1.2 % of the world's adult population suffers

from gaming related disorders. So it is very important to go over this and to emphasize on the importance of responsible gaming. And of course, it is very important that it's backed internationally. That is not only something that has to do with one market, with one regulator, with one set of companies from a region. Like it's important that it's a broad thing and it's international because...

That way we can better foster innovation around responsible gambling worldwide. And as the industry grows, of course, more people are impacted by it. And not always operators are actually responsible around it. Like you already mentioned, we know most serious companies actually have and comply with the responsible gaming practices, but many others don't. And they have like very aggressive tactics, very aggressive advert.

Fernando Noodt (05:30.338)
advertising and they don't even pay taxes in the markets they target. it's essential to have these types of events like Responsible Gambling Day, Responsible Gambling Week. So consumers are given the information they need to differentiate operators, safe operators to the unsafe operators, let's call them, and also identify potentially compulsive behaviors to prevent

from further developing them or to actually target or address these issues. But the main focus in the industry right now at this point of time is actually Brazil. We're going to have a SVC Summit Rio next week. And it's actually a very good timing because Brazil is just booming, right? With the new licensing scheme and everything. And not only are they working around responsible gambling, but they are also like around this whole day.

commemorating and working towards of course Responsible Gamera Ricardo.

Ricardo Assis (06:32.033)
Yeah, but here in Brazil it's not a very big day. In the end of December, the Caixa Lottery, the Federal Lottery of Brazil, did a week regarding responsible gambling. But this is a main focus of the new regulation. We have a law ordinance that was published in July of 2024 that is regarding responsible gambling. And it's a really strict law ordinance that...

It inhibits welcome bonuses and advertising to people that are under 18. So it's really strict. It's really aiming to this responsible gambling issue. And the companies as well are looking into it. If you look into the commercials that are being aired in the last six months or so, they are geared to responsible

gambling, Batch Nacional, Super Batch and other big companies are doing TV commercials talking a lot in depth about responsible gambling. So this is something that is being really focused by the big companies here.

Fernando Noodt (07:47.608)
Yeah, I think it's a very important thing to do that because if not, some people tend to like look down upon the industry and to...

Fernando Noodt (08:00.069)
criticize the industry and think it's all evil and of course gaming has its externalities but operators, regulators, serious company in the industry is aware of these externalities and is continuously working to address them and to prevent them and to reduce the impact that this type of behavior may have. So I think it's very important that they are aware of that and they work

on this issue, like the lottery of the city of Buenos Aires did, the lottery of the city of Buenos Aires, Lotba, which has just, which is pushing actually a very big initiative, which is called Hablar is Ganar. What is that about Luis? Hablar is Ganar would be to win, to talk is to win. So what is that about?

Lucía (08:52.697)
Yes, as you said, like to speak is to win or something like that. It is focused on talking about responsible gambling, especially among parents of teenagers. We know in Argentina there's been a great debate on whether sports betting and high gaming sectors are aiming at young people because it's nowadays like there's this belief of

betting and gambling is a way of getting a lot of money and avoiding to work in the regular market. it's important for the government to generate these spaces of conversation with young people and their parents to explain what gambling really is. It's just an entertainment way of connecting among

grown-ups. the campaign is focused on that, on speaking about responsible gambling, speaking about the consequences of illegal gambling and teenagers participating in these kind of activities. So yes, the focus is on that. We know Lodba was the first regulator to show and share

what the activities for this year are going to be. But we know that all regulators in Argentina usually do several campaigns during this week and the whole month, actually. We've seen historical buildings lighten up with green light. The color green is related to responsible gambling campaigns, marketing campaigns. So we're expecting a lot of...

activities and that stuff in the whole country. But yes, Lodva already shared that to speak is to win campaign is going to be active this week and they are planning a lot of further conversations and advertisements about this.

Fernando Noodt (11:06.437)
And of course you can read all about this type of initiatives and more in on SBC Noticias. So make sure you subscribe to the newsletter, go to SBCNoticias.com and go to the newsletter button and go click there, enter your email letters and make sure you subscribe to SBC Noticias newsletter to learn more about this. And of course also to the SBC Noticias Brazil newsletter, which is SBCNoticias.com slash BR. So like Brazil, B R.

and go find that newsletter as well. But we have given you a lot to think about, a lot to chew. So go get a glass of water. We will do a very brief break here and we'll be right back to speak about SBC Summit Rio.

Lucía (11:51.673)
Did you do the OptiMove advertisement?

Fernando Noodt (11:55.39)
Yes, I did. Okay. And we are back with iGamingDaily and an episode to commemorate the International Responsible Gambling Week. Let's recall that International Responsible Gambling Day was February the 17th. And of course, the Latam industry is very aware of this, is trying to raise more awareness actually.

and to educate the population. But we have been talking about, of course, the industry pushing this type of initiatives to be pushing for responsible gambling. But there has also been some initiatives by lawmakers, for example, in Argentina, that rather than push for responsible gambling, they are actually trying to restrict gaming and its communications like this proposed bill Argentina passed or passed like halfway.

late in 2024.

Lucía (12:55.961)
Yes, the Chamber of Deputies approve it, but it still has to be addressed by the Senate, so it's not official yet. We then have to wait if the president is going to approve it or not. But the bill is focused on the prohibition of advertisement among the industry. It's similar to what Spain went through during the pandemic. It's the bill, if it's approved,

It's not going to allow any kind of sponsorship between sports betting companies and sport clubs or athletes in particular. It's it will be it would be the first regulation addressing the figure of influencers in Argentina. It would be the first time they are mentioned in a law and it's going to ban

all kind of activities among sports betting companies and influencers so it would be a great issue if that's the case we know that influencers are right now the main characters in advertisement about the industry so yes among with the sponsorships it's going to be big and also gaming companies will be banned to do any kind of

publicity in all media, internet, TV, radio, in general, the streets or wherever. So yes, it's going to be super similar to what Spain went through. And we know it failed there in Spain. Nowadays they change it back because it was very harmful for the regulated industry and very

productive for the illegal gaming sites that gained a lot of new players and whatever because people chose to go to them rather than to be limited in in legal platforms.

Fernando Noodt (15:13.964)
Yeah, I think this type of push probably ends up favoring that, like the illegal segment, mostly or only legal companies are the ones that actually get to promote and to sponsor actually sports teams and organizations. So I think it's very important that this is regulated but not prohibited so the consumers can still be aware of

which is which, right? Of course we have the domain, the .bet.ayer domain for regulated sites in Argentina, but these types of bands actually tend to be more harmful than helpful. But I know I said we would speak about SBC Summit Rio, bear with me, we'll be right to that. But first, Ricardo, what do you think about this type of push and the likelihood, how likely are they to...

to actually be enforced in Brazil, how likely do you think lawmakers will go down this road?

Ricardo Assis (16:21.55)
So in Brazil there is a similar bill that is in the Senate at this moment. It's not to vote yet. It doesn't have even a date, but it's in the same parameters as Argentina. It's to ban all kinds of advertising in radio, internet, television, sponsorships. It's really similar in that regard. And I think if this goes through, it's something that will only benefit the legal market because this is the differential that this

companies have the differential is to be able to sponsor to sponsor teams to to do campaigns on television on the internet and stuff like that and if they take this off it will take off a huge how can I put it a sorry incentivo

Fernando Noodt (17:11.117)
Yeah, like a window, like, yes.

Ricardo Assis (17:13.174)
Yeah, it's a huge window that they have to put their products to be seen. And this is something that would be really harmful for the industry in general, because this is the start of the industry. The companies are paying a huge amount of money to be able to do this. with like two or three months of the regulated market, if they go through with this and change all the rules, I think there is a chance of a

Fernando Noodt (17:28.827)
Yes.

Ricardo Assis (17:43.168)
companies pulling back and getting out of the country. So we have to wait and see. I don't think that this is going to go through because it's not the time to do that, to push anything in that regard because as I said in the beginning of the market you have to be a little bit more lenient. You have to be... how can I put it? Not lenient. You have to... sorry.

Let me change it. I think in the beginning of the market you have to be a little bit more careful what restrictions you put through in the market because some of these restrictions can take the companies off. So let's wait and see but I don't think this is going to go through.

Fernando Noodt (18:13.583)
more careful.

Fernando Noodt (18:31.367)
Yeah, there's a lot to discuss there. So make sure again you subscribe to our newsletters, both SPC Noticias and SPC Noticias Brazil, because there will be news about this in the coming weeks and months, of course. But like I said, let's talk about SPC Summit Rio. Of course, there is a recent iGaming Daily episode on SPC Summit Rio hosted by the great Tado C and with Isadora Marcanchi and Lucia Mourinho from their relationships team. So go listen to that.

after you finish this episode but are you guys ready for this event? We need to talk ourselves about it because we weren't in the last episode they discussed it so are you guys ready?

Lucía (19:12.013)
I am ready. I'm very happy to be back in Rio next week. The first edition of the event was amazing. It was actually one of my favorite SVC events ever. So this one is going to be almost like 300 % bigger than last year. We are expecting 15,000 attendees. So yes, it's going to be very exciting.

And I just want to remind the public that SBC in their under their sorry, I just want to remind the public that SBC under the agreement with CBLIE, the regulator organization of LATAM, we are offering, sorry, again.

So I just want to also remind the public that SBC and CBLIE are offering special benefits from attendees that sign up under CBLIE membership. just looking forward to meet all the regulators and operators that are in CBLIE.

Fernando Noodt (20:30.482)
What about you Ricardo?

Ricardo Assis (20:32.593)
Yeah, I'm really excited. This is going to be my first ICBC Summit in Rio, my second event because I went to Miami and it was really nice. And this tends to be four or five times bigger, I think, because we're aiming at, as Lou said, 15,000 people. So it's huge. And I'm really excited because this is going to be the first event after the market went live here in Brazil. So it's a really important moment.

we'll be able to see the first reactions of the operators and affiliates in this newly regulated market and I think there's a lot of important stuff that we need to discuss and this is the perfect place for it.

Fernando Noodt (21:18.79)
And of course everyone gets excited about size, but what are you guys most excited about the event?

Lucía (21:28.385)
Well, it's going to be interesting the conference side as always SPC plans great debates on the hottest topics about Latam in general, but Brazil of course, but I'm looking forward to learn more how Brazil is going to adapt to the Latam workflow of the industry. So really looking forward to that. We have a keynote with Bebeto, one of the Brazilian biggest

stars and also looking forward to my first infinity parties so I know we have big figures from the techno music industry in Brazil so yeah looking forward to that.

Ricardo Assis (22:17.167)
Yeah, I'm really excited for talking with affiliates here in Brazil because we're having a lot of changes in this market with more responsibility to the operators and I want to talk to them to see how the operators are changing the briefs and how the affiliates are changing their approach as well. And also I'm excited to talk with Carolina Yumi who is the Deputy Secretary of Prize Embedding in the Ministry of Finance.

and I'll be able to interview her and talk about the regulated market, probably get some figures of what the government are aiming to get to... How can I put it? So... I don't know how to put it.

Lucía (23:07.277)
What say?

Fernando Noodt (23:07.71)
I don't know.

Ricardo Assis (23:09.133)
It's like the money that the government will get from the market. From taxes, yeah, tax money, yeah, sorry, I'll go back. And probably I'll, in this talk I will be able to, in this talk with Carolina, I will be able to ask her about the aim that the government has in revenue from tax money from the operators and I think it will be a really, really nice talk with some representatives.

Lucía (23:13.229)
font.

Fernando Noodt (23:13.771)
like that's

Fernando Noodt (23:39.193)
All that next week from the 25th to the 27th of February at Rio Centro, SBC Summit Rio 2025. You can meet SBC Media at booth B910. You can find it on the bottom right corner of the floor plan if you are looking at the floor plan actually. And that's all for today. Thank you very much guys. Thank you very much Enei McDonald for producing this episode. Everyone out there make sure you...

follow iGamingDaily on TikTok. Now we are on TikTok, iGaming underscore daily underscore podcast, or just search for iGamingDaily. You will find us and to you, we'll meet you in the next one. Goodbye.