That’s a wrap on SBC Summit Rio! 🇧🇷For more insights on the Brazilian market, check out last month's edition of Global Gaming Insider magazine. Click here to read.
Panelists agree that the market leaders today won't necessarily be still here in 10 years. Only the companies who keep up with tech and offer the best customer service will survive.
*Also worth noting that licences were issued to operators for 5 years.
We are at a panel titled Money Moves: VC & M&A Driving the Next Wave of Growth
Tiago Gomes:
Learning how to navigate in the Brazilian landscape is really important for foreign operators. Finding the right advisors is key if you want to do business in Brazil.
Neil Montgomery:
The legal uncertainty is a major issue. One year after the regulated market opened up, the rules are already different.
Wesley Cardia:
A lot of people thought that Brazil’s regulation will be soft - it is exactly the opposite. Everybody must be aware of all the rules.
Ivo Doroteia:
You need to have a foot on the ground and have the right partners next to you.
Foreign companies are finding it hard to evaluate which local operators it is worth investing in - they have to evaluate who has the best database, who has the tech, etc
We’re at a panel on scaling betting giants, featuring senior executives from 1xBet, VBet Brazil, Estelar Bet, Altenar and Novibet. Overall all panelists agreed that we will most likely see a lot of consolidation in the market and that to really stand out you need a strong brand identity (a benefit that foreign operators with global operations have).
Below are some interesting quotes.
Dinos Stranomitis (Altenar):
In 5 years there will probably be just 10 operators here.
When it comes to this market, make the correct decision, not the easy decision.
Simon Westbury (1xBet):
We’re are moving away from the honeymoon period in the Brazilian market into now discussing sponsorship bans and higher taxation. The challenges at the moment are about really engaging with the regulator and working on educating players so that they are aware of the threats of the illegal market.
Local operators know the players from Day 1. International operators think they do, but that’s not always the case. However, what international operators have is the product quality.
Ruben Tovmasyan (VBet Brazil):
There are 80 operators here, all with different strategies but the one thing everyone can agree on is that to be successful here, you must be embedded in sports(in particular soccer).
Sebastian Salazar (Estelar Bet):
Processing millions of transactions an hour is the biggest challenge for an event like the World Cup - for both operators and payments providers.
Nobody knows how to create a unicorn business. We need to understand where we can make a difference and create a product and focus on the problem we can solve with our product.
Carlos Freitas (Novibet)
Brazil is still a new market. Today being here is about much more than marketing spend, it’s about product strategy and building a sustainable business.
Day 1 of the show is in full swing and the energy on the show floor is undeniable.
We caught up with SBC’s Senior Marketing Director, Dennis Algreen, to get his first impressions and a glimpse of what more we can expect as SBC Summit Rio continues.
Next panel is on Building Brazil’s Regulated Digital Infrastructure.
Below are a few remarks from the panelists:
2025 was a very intense year for operators - many deadlines, demands and very negative public opinion without much knowledge about who was complying with the rules and who wasn’t.
Regulation is made to protect bettors and build a safe structure for all especially end-consumers.
Player safety won’t be the result of a single piece of technology.
We wish to bring more suppliers (game providers, platforms, KYC providers, etc) and ensure that they supply their products to legal operators only.
It’s very difficult for the regulator to fight the illegal market alone. It’s all about collaboration - between operators, suppliers, financial institutions and the regulator.
Our interpretation is that if you want to work in sports predictions, you will have to apply for a licence and participate in the regulated market.
Correa Cardoso:
SPA has been studying and analysed prediction markets. We are having conversations already, we have been approached by several players in that space already. We’re being diligent with this subject as necessary.
Remarks from Giovanni Rocco of the Ministry of Sport:
All the problems we face in the sector come from having an unregulated market for so long previously.
Brazilians like to play by nature and gambling was a fever here even before regulation. Betting is in the blood of Brazilians and it can’t be stopped.
Our responsibility is to fight match-fixing and protect the integrity of sports. We are thinking about putting a structure in place to monitor odds even in the illegal market as that is the only way to protect this integrity.
We’ve made huge progress in just one year. Despite of all the challenges we can look at it from a perspective of a glass half full. Our goal is to improve the market and make it sustainable while fighting the illegal market,
says Andre Gelfi, Co-Founder of the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming and MD for Brazil at Betsson.
2025 was a year during which we had to do good things and we have to remember the efforts that were made for us to be here now.
2025 was the fist time we could have actual data on the market, the first time we can start to protect players, to fight money laundering, to look into who has permission to be here and who doesn't," highlights Daniele Correa Cardoso of the Ministerio da Fazenda.
We caught up with regular Global Gaming Insider contributor and renowned gaming lawyer Neil Montgomery, who shared his outlook for Brazil’s gaming market in the year ahead and reflected on the first year of the country’s legal market.
Our guest interview in this week's GGI Friday is with Aidan Brain, VP of Conference Production at SBC, who tells us more about what we can expect from next week's event. Click here to read.
🌴Rio de Janeiro is more than an event host city. It is an experience. Below is your quick guide to Cidade Maravilhosa before we all head there next week!
Must see icons 📸Christ the Redeemer is one of the Seven Wonders of the World for good reason. Before heading up Corcovado, check the live webcams and local weather apps as the statue is often wrapped in cloud. Sugarloaf Mountain is another essential stop, especially at sunset when the coastline begins to glow. On the way up, Morro da Urca hosts sunset DJ sessions that are well worth timing your visit for. Do not miss Escadaria Selarón either. The colourful mosaic steps are one of Rio’s most photographed landmarks and featured in the video for Beautiful by Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg.
Beach culture 🏖️Copacabana and Ipanema are far more than stretches of sand. Think sunrise workouts, beach football, ice cold coconut water and effortless Rio energy from morning to dusk.
Local flavour 🍹Indulge in a traditional churrasco, grab pão de queijo between meetings and make sure to try a proper caipirinha.
Samba do Brasil 💃Samba, street music and spontaneous celebration are woven into daily life. For a true local experience, head to Pedra do Sal in the Saúde neighbourhood on Monday night. Often described as the birthplace of samba, it hosts a free and lively roda de samba that begins around 6 to 8pm and carries on into the early hours. Expect crowds, dancing and pure Rio atmosphere.
⚽Brazilian football legend and 2002 FIFA World Cup champion Ronaldinho Gaúcho will be part of SBC Summit Rio, appearing alongside GRUPO OTG, OTG Partners and R10 Score.
SBC has teamed up with the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) as a strategic partner ahead ofSBC Summit Rio.
IBJR, founded in 2023 and representing leading betting operators, focuses on building a fair, sustainable and responsible betting ecosystem in Brazil’s newly regulated market, including fighting the illegal sector.
The partnership highlights responsible gaming, compliance and market governance at the summit, ensuring these issues are embedded throughout the event.
SBC has appointed InsightPlay.ai as its Official AI Solutions Partner for attendee support at SBC Summit Rio, launching a strategic collaboration aimed at elevating the live event experience through advanced conversational AI.
As part of the partnership, InsightPlay.ai will introduce “Bruna,” an AI-powered Event Concierge that will deliver real-time guidance and support to attendees both in the lead-up to and during the event.
This year's SBC Summit Rio will close in spectacular fashion as Brazilian EDM star Öwnboss takes the stage at the second edition of INFINITY Rio. He will be joined by British house DJ Marc Vedo for a high energy night of music and celebration.
Held on Thursday, March 5 at Riocentro, INFINITY Rio marks the grand finale of the event, giving attendees one last chance to connect, reflect on the week’s successes and celebrate together. 🎉
♠️ SBC is hosting an exclusive Poker Tournament, sponsored by global fintech broker ATFX, during SBC Summit Rio. The tournament will be held at the Rio Beach Club on Tuesday, 3 March (during the Official Opening Party) from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM for a winner-takes-all showdown featuring senior executives and decision-makers from across the Brazilian gaming sector.
Only 100 players will claim a seat so register via the event's official website today if you haven't done so already.
The officials shaping Brazil’s betting framework join SBC Summit Rio!
As the country's regulated betting market continues to take shape, those writing and enforcing the rules will address the industry directly at SBC Summit Rio.
The event organizers have confirmed that senior representatives from Brazil’s key government bodies, regulatory institutions and authorities, will be present at the summit. Visitors can expect representatives from:
Ministério da Fazenda (Ministry of Finance)
Secretaria de Prêmios e Apostas (SPA); Secretariat of Prizes and Betting
Ministério do Esporte (Brazilian Ministry of Sport)
Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ); Superior Court of Justice
Serviço Federal de Processamento de Dados (Serpro); federal government technology agency
Polícia Federal (Brazilian Federal Police)
Conselho de Controle de Atividades Financeiras ( COAF) (Council for Financial Activities Control)
Secretaria de Esportes do Município do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro City Sports Secretariat)
Conselho Nacional de Autorregulamentação Publicitária (CONAR); Brazil Advertising Self-Regulation Council
Comissão de Jogos Lotéricos OAB/RJ (Lottery/Gaming Commission)
SBC Summit Rio will spotlight how brands can build sustainable growth through strong leadership, influencer partnerships and responsible advertising.
Opening the Leadership Stage on 4 March, Chris Kypriotis, former Global VP and CEO of Nike Brazil, will deliver a keynote on building culturally relevant, high performance brands. Drawing on his experience leading Nike Brazil past US$1bn in revenue and through major global events such as the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics, he will share a framework for moving beyond product focused marketing to create lasting cultural impact. He will also host a hands on workshop exploring how to build and scale performance driven teams in competitive environments.
Creator partnerships will be another key focus. Brazilian gaming star Aruan Felix, who reaches more than 7 million followers, will headline a session on operator and influencer collaborations, offering practical advice on selecting the right partners and building authentic, compliant campaigns.
The programme will also tackle advertising standards in Brazil. A panel featuring leaders from Meta, CONAR, and Propane will break down what is and is not permitted for betting brands, giving delegates clear guidance on how to create engaging campaigns while meeting regulatory expectations.
SBC has unveiled a strategic partnership with the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) for SBC Summit Rio, placing one of Brazil’s most prominent industry organisations at the centre of the country’s premier event for the betting and gaming sector.
The agreement comes ahead of SBC Summit Rio, which is expected to attract more than 15,000 delegates from Brazil and major international sports betting and gaming markets, bringing together operators, suppliers, regulators, and investors in one place.
The partnership will also extend beyond SBC Summit Rio, continuing across other major SBC events with a strong Brazilian presence, including SBC Summit Americas and SBC Summit in Lisbon.
Julian Perry