Study: Municipal Betting Could Add $2 Billion to Brazil’s Federal Revenue
The firm Leme Consultores has released a study estimating municipal betting could add BRL11.6 billion ($2 billion) a year to the federal government’s revenue.
Commissioned by the National Association of Municipal and State Lotteries, the study analyzed the economic impact of municipal betting as debates continue in Brazil over its constitutionality.
The Solidarity Party filed a motion to suspend municipal lotteries in March, though Supreme Federal Court Minister Nunes Marques denied the request, with municipal lotteries allowed to continue operations until a final ruling from the STF.
Leme Consultores’ study found around BRL8 billion of the BRL12 billion total could come from smaller companies that are unable to meet the high barriers of entry for a federal license.
Peru Regulator Claims to Have Cut Illegal Online Gambling Supply by 40 percent
The Peru Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) says its enforcement efforts have led to a 40 percent drop in illegal gambling on digital platforms and apps.
Mincetur, the body regulating Peru’s gambling market, shared an update on its website May 2, more than a year after Law No 31557 regulating online betting and gaming took effect.
The authority claims progress in tackling the black market, estimating it has eliminated 15 percent of illegal platforms and slashed illegal online gambling supply by 40 percent.
According to Mincetur, its General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines authority has “intensified its oversight, closing illegal establishments and promoting coordinated actions to reduce the presence of clandestine platforms.”
Flutter CEO Upbeat on Brazil Despite Q1 Revenue Hit
Despite KYC friction leading to Q1 losses for Flutter in Brazil, CEO Peter Jackson sees the NSX Group acquisition as a step toward sustained growth.
Flutter experienced a 44 percent decline in Brazil revenue year-on-year in Q1, driven by KYC bottlenecks in its Betfair business during the first three months of the regulated betting market.
However, Jackson expects closure this month on the deal to acquire an initial 56 percent stake in NSX Group, owner of the Brazil-facing Betnacional brand, placing Flutter in “an enhanced competitive position, in a fast-growing newly regulated market.”
“Combining a strong local management team, localized proprietary technology and a local hero brand in Betnacional, alongside our existing Betfair Brazil business and Flutter Edge capabilities will position us for success in this very exciting market,” Jackson said on the post-results analyst call.
Betano Announces Long-Term Principal Partnership with River Plate
Kaizen Gaming has agreed a deal for its Betano brand to become the main and front-of-shirt partner for Argentinian soccer team River Plate.
Betano, which launched in Argentina last year, will become the club’s partner from the current season, and Kaizen Gaming Chief Commercial Officer Julio Iglesias believes the deal aligns two organizations with similar outlooks.
“As soon as we started speaking with the club, we knew we had found a partner who shared our values and relentless drive to raise the bar and set the highest standards in everything they do,” Iglesias said.
River Plate President Jorge Brito added: “With this partnership, we continue to grow, break new ground, and we’re excited to welcome Betano to the River Plate family.”
Colombian Regulator to Request ISPs to Block Illegal Sites
The Colombian gambling regulator Coljuegos will send direct requests to Internet Service Providers to block illegal gambling sites, as part of its strengthening of efforts to fight the black market.
So far, Coljuegos has issued close to 26,600 blocking orders to unlicensed betting sites, with the regulator’s President Marco Emilio Hincapié explaining the new procedures will hopefully lead to sites being blocked quicker.
“We will no longer have to submit requests to different entities; instead, we will be able to order blocks directly from internet providers,” Hincapié said.
“In addition to fighting illegal operators, our goal is to protect resources for peace and health, as well as provide greater safeguards for the 14 authorized operators in the country.”
