In this exclusive interview with Games Magazine Brasil, Jessica Feil, VP of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance at OpenBet, discusses the operations of the sports betting technology provider in Brazil, following the recent partnership with Grupo Silvio Santos, one of the country's largest conglomerates. She shares insights from OpenBet's exclusive event, where a new white paper on Brazil was launched, discussing essential tools for success in one of the most promising regulated markets in recent years.
Games Magazine Brasil – Recently, you hosted one of the most important events of the year for the Brazilian market, focused on compliance and regulation, with experts from major companies in the sector. What can you tell us about this meeting and its impact?
Jessica Feil –
Our exclusive event was an opportunity to bring together industry experts from OpenBet, H2 Gambling Compliance, GLI, FAS Lawyers, and brmkt.co to discuss the Brazilian scenario after regulatory changes.
We analyzed the current landscape in Brazil and the future growth forecast, with data from H2GC, and shared insights about the essential tools for success and what is necessary to thrive in the market with increasing competition. Our white paper on Brazil was a key point, generating discussions about the main concerns of operators and, more importantly, reinforcing the need for comprehensive player protection measures and technology that can adapt to local needs.
At the event, the company introduced the OpenBet Locator, a key product for geolocation and fraud prevention. How would you describe it and why is it essential for any regulated operator?
The OpenBet Locator™ is our proprietary geolocation technology, designed to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, especially in the USA and Brazil. It accurately determines a player's location, allowing operators to prevent unauthorized access from outside licensed jurisdictions and address risks at the source.
Built on the infrastructure of Amazon Web Services (AWS), the OpenBet Locator™ is a low-latency solution that allows operators to locate and monitor customers with the confidence of being in compliance with target market regulations.
The technology includes flexible geofencing management with high-precision location tracking, in addition to detecting frauds, such as location spoofing and VPN use. We know that easy setup is vital for our partners, especially those looking to launch in new and complex markets, and therefore we prioritize delivering a service that simplifies workflows.
What is the importance of Brazil for OpenBet? What services do you offer in this market?
Brazil is undoubtedly one of the most awaited market openings in recent years, and OpenBet has identified it as a potential growth area. Its large population of passionate sports fans, stable economic and technological development, and government support for the regulation of sports betting make this a key market. OpenBet is ready to leverage over 25 years of experience to support operators of all sizes in this new jurisdiction.
Our complete ecosystem of products includes a powerful and reliable sports betting engine, which offers unmatched scalability and can process over 100,000 bets per minute at peak times. Operators need to have confidence that their platform has high availability and can adapt to market demands. Otherwise, they risk being overtaken by a wave of competitors. Our offering also includes risk management and trading, data and content, as well as compliance tools.
Responsible Gaming is at the heart of the Brazilian market opening. OpenBet's Neccton technology is powered by AI and informed by the latest academic research to ensure that operators can create a safe betting environment. The technology offers real-time player behavior monitoring with integrated communications, such as pop-ups, limit-setting functions, and personalized feedback, which are scientifically proven to be effective.
The Responsible Gaming and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) tools from Neccton constitute a first-class solution that combines with compliance consulting to provide complete and ready-to-use player protection.
What is the current presence of OpenBet in the Brazilian market? Which companies are you working with?
OpenBet has been preparing for many years to position itself as a specialist in the Brazilian market. Therefore, we are confident that our offering is ready to meet the needs of operators. We are currently in advanced negotiations with several operators who are preparing to launch their operations as soon as the regulated market in Brazil is inaugurated.
We are proud to have recently launched a new sports betting brand in partnership with Grupo Silvio Santos (GSS), one of Brazil's largest conglomerates. With a solid tradition in providing robust and reliable technology for betting, content, and trading services, OpenBet was chosen by Todos Querem Jogos (TQJ) to power its betting and gaming platform due to our strong global reputation and focus on responsible gaming.
We are also proud that our products and services will now be at the center of TQJ's new offering, providing unparalleled experiences to engage and entertain their players. Last year, we also partnered with Play7.bet to power its new offering in Brazil.
Are there plans to create more jobs and expand in this market?
Having a local presence is extremely important to establish close partnerships with key industry stakeholders. We continue to work to fully understand the nuances and needs of Brazil and be available to offer superior customer service in local languages.
What is your assessment of the new regulations? Have you had meetings with the authorities of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting to offer the expertise and knowledge of OpenBet to the Brazilian government?
The regulatory framework in Brazil is quite different from surrounding countries. It is a modern regime that adopts many of the most successful policies from mature markets around the world, but adapts well to the current context of betting and gaming. This puts the market in a strong position from the start, as operators can focus on generating strong revenues and providing superior service, instead of trying to fit into outdated regulations. OpenBet maintains ongoing and respectful relations with regulators in various global markets where it operates, which allows us to stay updated on the latest developments.
OpenBet recently published a comprehensive white paper on the regulated online betting and gaming market in Brazil, with exclusive data and projections provided by H2 Gambling Capital. Could you highlight the 3 or 4 most relevant points, in your opinion?
Player protection was a key focus of our white paper on Brazil. We have invested heavily in our protection area over the past year, and this continues to be a priority. In Brazil, the market's focus on responsible gaming aligns perfectly with our commitment to protecting players. From a survey conducted by Hibou, we know that 16% of respondents reported financial problems related to gaming, and with other controversies affecting sports betting in the country in recent years, it is essential that operators gain the trust of players and regulators.
Similarly, according to Ordinance No. 722, geolocation compliance is at the center of the regulated ecosystem in Brazil. There is a requirement for operators to integrate location detection and fraud prevention technologies into their platforms, to combat location spoofing, money laundering, and the financing of terrorism. We are committed to the shared goal of promoting safer gaming and geolocation compliance, and both Neccton and the OpenBet Locator™ are ready to offer superior software to achieve this goal.
Another important focus of the white paper is the high player load projected for the Brazilian market. This market is projected to be one of the largest in the world, with 39 million active player accounts by the end of 2026, representing 9% of the adult population of the country. Therefore, operators need to ensure that their technology is robust and scalable.
At OpenBet, we have 100% uptime during all major sports events, and remain flexible to meet the needs of our partners. Additionally, larger transaction volumes present significant risks, but our Trading Management Services (MTS) allow operators to delegate the operational responsibility of their trading and risk management to a team of over 100 expert traders, ensuring peace of mind.
Importantly, we guide readers on what is necessary to secure a competitive edge. We know that 113 license applications have already been made, and authorizations will begin to be issued from November 2024. In addition to scalability and reliability, operators need to leverage local content as an important differentiator. The content must be adapted to regulatory requirements and state preferences. Our industry-leading BetBuilder is one of the best ways to offer the widest sports coverage in the market, with coverage of more than 11 sports, 12,000 selections, and billions of different combinations. This key engagement tool offers an unmatched margin of 22% across all sports.
Why will the scalability of sports betting platforms be a critical operational challenge in Brazil?
The Brazilian market looks promising and is being widely discussed in the industry, but the individual bet values of players are expected to be much lower compared to other global markets. In 2026, the gross gaming revenue (GGR) online per adult in Brazil is projected at US$ 34, according to data from H2GC. In comparison, this value is US$ 592 in New Jersey (USA), US$ 163 in the UK, and US$ 211 in Australia. This means that operators will need to handle a larger volume of players to generate significant revenues.
Additionally, the cost of player acquisition is estimated at around US$ 63, which, although relatively low, will still require operators to struggle to retain players and prevent them from migrating to competitors. A reliable, intuitive, and fast platform will be essential to avoid frictions and player loss.
The H2GC also suggests that the Brazilian online betting market should reach US$ 10 billion in GGR by 2029. Can we define it as one of the most important and lucrative markets in the world?
Only time will tell how the Brazilian market will evolve. Brazil is among the largest new countries to regulate the sector in recent years, and it is predicted to become one of the most important territories for key stakeholders. Regulatory and operational costs will likely have some impact on market growth, but we believe it can position itself among the largest markets in the world in terms of size.
At which international industry events will OpenBet experts be present?
Members of the OpenBet team will be present at SBC Latinoamérica, which will take place in Miami from October 29 to 31 of this year.
Source: Exclusive GMB
