Axel Antillón, Regional Director for Latin America at WA.Technology and newly appointed President of the New Technologies Commission of AIEJA, talks about the evolution of the gaming industry in Mexico.
Interview.- Axel Antillón, regional director of WA.Technology for Latin America and newly appointed president of the New Technologies Commission of AIEJA, shares his vision on the gaming industry in Mexico.
From fighting unlicensed operators and promoting safer gaming environments to fostering the integration of land-based and online platforms, Antillón outlines his strategic plans for growth and collaboration and discusses how he plans to work with regulators.
Congratulations on your appointment at AIEJA. How has it been?
Thank you very much – I am very excited to take on this new responsibility of working with AIEJA – Association of Permit Holders and Suppliers of the Entertainment and Betting Games Industry in Mexico! As you may know, I have over two decades of experience in creating, directing, and managing various igaming projects within the Mexican market.
However, Mexico has been more than a workplace for me; it has been my second home for many, many years. So I feel absolutely honored to be appointed president of the New Technologies Commission of AIEJA. Thanks to all the work we have done, I have forged a solid reputation as an expert in the Mexican market and I am honored to represent such a fantastic country through this organization.
The position arose during an exhibition in Colombia, where the AIEJA team proposed me to chair a new Technology Commission, as they thought I would fit well due to my experience in information and communication technologies. Of course, I gladly accepted.
With the increase in online betting, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee for Mexican operators in the digital space?
Mexico has been regulated for quite some time and has undoubtedly consolidated its position as a leader in the global igaming space. Market regulations have allowed the country to offer a safe and entertaining environment for players to enjoy a wide range of gaming products, from sports betting to casino.
For many reasons in recent years, specifically since the global pandemic, online gaming has continued to gain ground, mainly due to the rapid advancement of mobile data, the adoption of smartphones, and greater acceptance of online gaming by the public.
Of course, the key challenge facing operators in Mexico is, without a doubt, the imminent threat posed by the black market and the inferior operational practices that arise from the unregulated market. Offshore brands do not offer the necessary levels of player protection required, which means that players are at greater risk of suffering harm related to gaming.
It is essential that we do everything possible as an organization to reverse this trend. The sector - operators, suppliers, affiliates, and regulator - must work closely together to combat unlicensed operators and ensure that players can enjoy gaming products safely and regulated.
And how do you plan to address these challenges from your position at AIEJA?
As president of the New Technologies Commission, my task will be to provide AIEJA members and other external stakeholders with the necessary tools to grow. I will bring my vision on the technical criteria, knowledge, and tools necessary to implement best practices across the Mexican gaming sector.
This will involve supporting members on the most effective ways to combat the threat of the unregulated market through the analysis of new trends in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and business intelligence. As we have covered, this will be an incredibly important priority for us and an area where I will dedicate much of my efforts.
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How do you plan to work with government bodies and regulators to ensure that the licensing process for gambling operators in Mexico is transparent and efficient?
The work that AIEJA does, as a private organization, seeks to unite all stakeholders in the Mexican gaming industry for the benefit of the sector as a whole. The trade association continuously pressures the government to promote best practices across the gaming industry.
AIEJA works with national and international operators to ensure they offer the best possible experience to players. We also work to promote both laws and possible law reforms that are fair to all parties involved and aim to combat illegal operators. All these approaches will not only serve to improve the process, but also, I have no doubt, ensure that the process is more transparent and effective over time. I am incredibly proud to represent such a prestigious body. We intend to really make a difference.
What measures do you consider necessary for physical casinos and online platforms to coexist and thrive in the gaming ecosystem in Mexico?
The needs and preferences of a growing market, added to the new trends that have emerged in recent years, have dictated the guidelines for coexistence between land-based and online operators.
Increasingly, players throughout Mexico have embraced new technologies, which means that the number of online players has increased. However, retail has also maintained its popularity among many bettors.
For both online and retail betting to coexist in harmony, it is necessary for there to be a synergy between their platforms. Operators must focus on offering a streamlined omnichannel solution that familiarizes players with their brand across multiple different channels. With this connected experience, both physical and electronic commerce will continue to complement each other.
What long-term impact do you expect your involvement in AIEJA to have on the gaming landscape in Mexico?
My main goal is to help modernize the gaming industry in Mexico, and there is no doubt that I am very excited to be able to contribute to this! I look forward to sharing my knowledge of the industry and bringing together people from across the sector through forums and debates to identify the best way to shape the gaming space in Mexico.
The association aims to develop a tool to improve the global tracking system, especially in the nascent Brazilian market.
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) announced a major update to the technological platform that supports its global integrity monitoring network. This upgrade will provide IBIA and its growing members with access to advanced tools designed to secure regulated betting markets, protect consumers, and maintain the integrity of sporting events worldwide.
The technological update, developed in partnership with Bluehouse Technology, was specifically tailored to meet the operational needs of IBIA. It simplifies the process of identifying and reporting suspicious betting activities, allowing for a quicker and more efficient response to potential threats to integrity. The platform update is part of IBIA's ongoing commitment to invest in technological resources to combat betting-related manipulation.
The new platform enhances the ability to monitor suspicious activities, improve data analysis, and share actionable information with key stakeholders. This includes access to specific monitoring and alert data streams for key stakeholders, such as gaming regulatory authorities, which significantly improves the interaction and cooperation that supports important investigative activities. This enhanced collaboration will play a key role in supporting investigations and reinforcing confidence in the integrity of global betting markets.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “The new IBIA integrity technology platform provides enhanced functionality and greatly improves our ability to analyze customer account-level data from our members, which cover more than USD 300,000m in annual betting transactions, to identify and report suspicious betting activity. The update allows us to provide a technological platform that keeps up with the integrity requirements of our growing association and the scope and scale of the market data we receive in our broader intelligence network. It will be a key pillar in our ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of sporting events and regulated sports betting markets worldwide.”
The launch of the new platform comes just before the opening of the sports betting market in Brazil, which according to H2 Gambling Capital will reach USD 34,000m in sports betting revenue by 2028, and IBIA members represent more than 70 percent of the market. IBIA and the Ministry of Finance of Brazil recently signed a cooperation agreement on integrity that will allow sharing information about suspicious betting activities related to Brazilian sport.
Khalid Ali commented in this regard: “The update of the IBIA monitoring and alert platform is particularly timely given the imminent launch of regulated sports betting in Brazil. We are confident that this tool will provide the best support to our new members and partners, including Brazilian authorities and sports bodies, to protect the market and sporting events”.
See also: Sport integrity in Brazil: debate between the Ministry of Sports, IBIA, ANJL, and the COB
For her part, Sharmila Pillai, director of Bluehouse Technology, explained: “We are excited to have worked closely with IBIA to develop this new monitoring and alert platform. Our team worked hard to ensure that the project was completed on time and within budget, and we are pleased that it has passed a rigorous independent security audit conducted by a leading testing and certification company.”
