Aposta Ganha is expected to hold up to 10% of the market share in the licensed gambling market in Brazil after obtaining the first batch of licenses and gaining a first-mover advantage.
Aposta Ganha announced that its gambling license has been approved by the Bonus and Betting Office (SPA), paving the way for the operator to enter the legal gambling market in Brazil in January.
As a local operator, the company is proud to be one of the first in the country to obtain a license.
Aposta Ganha's Chief Business Officer Hugo Baungartner described it as "a big step," which reinforced the operator's belief that the upcoming regulated industry in Brazil will support and protect players and stakeholders.
"We are really excited to have received this approval, which again proves that we are a truly Brazilian group that believes in the market. As a Brazilian group, we have always been committed to creating the best products for Brazil, which is why we were one of the first to apply and get approved," Baungartner told iGB.
If operators wish to obtain a license before the launch of the legal market, they must submit their license applications by August 20. So far, 113 operators have submitted their license applications.
Subsequently, the Brazilian government announced in September that from October 1, the Ministry of Finance will begin to suspend the operations of operators who have not yet applied for a gambling license.
Only operators who have submitted applications and are already active in the Brazilian market will be able to operate during the transition period from October 1 to December 31.
"First come, first served"
The approval of the license gives Aposta Ganha a first-mover advantage in Brazil, and Baungartner believes that about 40 operators will be authorized before the launch of the legal market.
In an interview with iGB, Baungartner quoted a Brazilian proverb, meaning "first come, first served," and noted that Aposta Ganha is fully capable of taking the lead over competitors who have not yet been licensed.
"Based on my experience in the gaming industry, we believe that those who enter a regulated environment first or launch specific types of games first will have an advantage in the market," Baungartner explained.
Regarding how Aposta Ganha plans to retain its existing customer base and attract new bettors, Baungartner believes that transparency with consumers and the SPA will lay the foundation for the company's success.
"We will ensure that bettors complete the migration smoothly, and of course, the simplest process is to comply with every requirement of the SPA.
"I think the best strategy is to ensure that the entire process is very clear and informative for them, so they can fully understand what is happening. This is the best tool we can manage," he said.
Earlier this week, the publication of Regulatory Decree 1,875 outlined how to transfer player data and funds to licensed operators before the launch of the legal market.
Companies wishing to migrate player data to their authorized operations must formally apply by December 13 and need player approval for authorization. This process can only be performed by operators active during the transition period.
The next steps for Aposta Ganha
However, Baungartner emphasized that Aposta Ganha still has some steps to complete to be ready for the grand launch on January 1.
For example, Aposta Ganha still needs to pay the license fee of 30 million Brazilian Reais (4 million pounds/4.8 million euros/5 million dollars) stipulated by Regulatory Decree No. 827 issued in May.
Additionally, the company must prove the source of the money when paying the license fee. Baungartner stated that this is not a problem for Aposta Ganha's case.
"For some people, proving the source of the money is complicated," Baungartner added. "We fully comply with the regulations, and we will send them (the required fees) because this is an important step."
Although Baungartner is confident in Aposta Ganha's plans to launch its authorized platform on the day of release, the company will initially not be able to offer a full product range because many cooperative game providers have not yet received full certification.
"The content at the beginning will be somewhat different, because some providers have not yet completed the certification of their games," Baungartner added.
"Therefore, we will launch some games in January, and over the following months, we will add more and more games."
Rei do Pitaco and Superbet are two other companies that were licensed in Brazil this week.
