Representatives of leading gaming testing company Gaming Laboratories International participated in a December 13 public presentation before the Camara de Diputados of Brazil, the lower house of the National Congress of Brazil, as the lawmakers consider gaming legislation.
During the presentation, titled “Legal Framework for Games of Chance in Brazil,” GLI Latin American and Caribbean Director of Government Relations and Business Development Karen Marcela Sierra-Hughes presented as an impartial technical and consultancy expert. She discussed the ways GLI works with global gaming and lottery regulatory entities for the control and supervision of the industry.
Sierra-Hughes said, “We are honored and grateful for the opportunity that the Camara de Diputados granted GLI to discuss the control and supervision processes that are adopted by regulated gaming and lottery jurisdictions around the world.
“We are here today not to take sides on whether gaming should be legalized in Brazil or not,” she said. “We are here to impartially present the ways that GLI works with gaming and lottery regulatory entities that have successfully implemented laws and regulations as well as technical standards which allow for the control and supervision of the industry, minimizing the risk of fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, problem gambling, etc.
“GLI works with 475 jurisdictions around the world that adopted the certification process—17 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region and more than 25 jurisdictions, Peru being the pioneer,” she continued. “The effectiveness of the controls will depend on the strength of the technical requirements established by the regulatory entity. Technical requirements address player protection, accurate revenue and tax reporting, fraud and manipulation prevention, money laundering prevention and responsible gambling practices.”
Sierra-Hughes summarized GLI’s background, its capabilities and unique impartial and independent position in the gaming industry as well as the importance of a thorough laboratory accreditation process. She also discussed the multiple controls that derive the adoption of the certification process, including on-site inspections performed by the regulatory entity and the authorization of importation of gaming equipment. Control and the supervision process were also presented both for land-based and online gaming operations.
“Monitoring and control systems are a fundamental technical tool for regulators to achieve the objective of controlling and supervising revenue and security events,” Sierra-Hughes said. “They are tested to verify the accuracy of data generated and appropriate communication per the technical standards established by the regulator.”
Sierra-Hughes referenced Peru, Colombia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand as examples of successful implementation of these controls.
She concluded, “The certification process is a global practice adopted by regulatory entities to guarantee security, integrity, public trust and player protection. If gaming is legalized in Brazil, the fundamental recommendation will be to establish a legal framework that is strong and clear and create a regulatory entity with sufficient resources and personnel, promoting its constant professionalization. The regulatory entity must be embedded with the competency to determine gaming policies and regulations that will allow for a prosperous gaming industry, and like other jurisdictions, it can become one of the most regulated industries and a formal part of the national economy.”
