Phyllyp Sedicias: Localisation Will Define The Market Leaders in Brazil - with Gaming Americas

WA.Technology's Country Director for Brazil, Phyllyp Sedicias, recently spoke to Gaming Americas about the future of iGaming in the country.

Localisation has become somewhat of a buzzword across the iGaming industry as of late. But for Phyllyp Sedicias, Country Director for Brazil at WA.Technology, localisation will be the key battleground for operators looking to stand out from the crowd in Brazil.

Brazil has, without a doubt, become one of the most exciting territories for gambling companies to expand their international footprint. And it’s easy to see why. 

Boasting a population of more than 212 million people, combined with high rates of mobile and internet adoption and a strong cultural acceptance of gambling, it’s safe to say that the jewel in LatAm’s crown presents a shining opportunity.

With the regulated market expected to officially launch on 1 January, questions are starting to arise over player behaviours, trends, and how best to cater to the unique requirements of this market. We’re here to solve that.

From the types of products you offer to the way in which you engage with bettors, there are plenty of considerations that must be made before taking your first steps into this nascent market. If you want to make the best possible first impressions with players – you need unmatched personalisation and expertise. This is where knowledge of the local market and a strong B2B platform provider comes in handy – and it’s what we’re ready to be the best at as Brazil goes live.

Local Knowledge

In short, WA.Technology prides itself on being one of the few B2B gambling providers with extensive local expertise in the Brazilian market. We have a team of more than 50 people based out of our two offices in Recife, all of whom have considerable experience in the iGaming space.

Among our team leaders in Brazil is our Director of Regulatory Affairs, who supports us in staying one step ahead of any legislative developments. In fact, we’re one of the few providers with a director dedicated solely to navigating Brazilian regulation, which puts us in an incredibly strong position to support our partners looking to enter this burgeoning market.

Having boots on the ground has a number of benefits. It gives us first-hand experience of the pain points and challenges that our partners might face, giving us a unique insight into how to adapt our product suite accordingly. 

To give you an example, the topic of payment methods is one that many operators speak to us about. And our advice? Go local!

For those who have been following the Brazilian market closely, you might be aware of the growing popularity of Pix. Created by Banco Central do Brasil, Pix is an instant payment ecosystem that enables players to send or receive payment transfers via their mobile device in a matter of seconds. 

In recent years, it has become the payment method of choice for many Brazilians, with many favouring this over more traditional e-wallets and other digital payment methods. So, for gambling operators, integrating Pix into your platform is no longer a convenience – it’s a necessity. 

As a platform provider, we see potential in offering a localised, mobile-friendly solution incorporating local payment methods and innovations specific to that market. For us, this is what sets us apart from other providers on the market. 

We have been tapping into our team’s extensive expertise in the iGaming experience, especially in the LatAm market, and working hard to bring that knowledge and expertise to operators across Brazil.

We’re not just localising payments, either. Localisation has shaped every element of our platform. At WA.Technology, we offer custom solutions that meet each customer's specific needs. We want to avoid the “carte blanche” approach that you sometimes see from big-brand providers; instead, each of our solutions is tailored to the unique requirements of our operators. This is an area we excel at better than anyone else, and it’s fast making us the partner of choice for the regulated market.

What we offer is designed to make brands the best they can be. For those looking to enter Brazil, we have specifically adapted our portfolio to include products centred around popular verticals, such as sports, plus solutions that help operators drive acquisition and retention. These two areas will be major battlegrounds as more companies flood the market.

Having established solid partnerships with eight leading local operators already, WA.Technology has been working closely with our partners to understand the key player trends and products that can help operators scale their business within the Brazilian market. If you want the best, we’re here to deliver.

Driving Acquisition

So, what do you need to stand out as an operator brand? With influencer marketing now off the table in Brazil following the government’s recent ban on X, formerly known as Twitter, you will need to focus your attention on affiliate marketing. However, navigating the world of affiliation can sound quite tricky from the outset.

Developed specifically for the Brazilian iGaming market, our WA.Affiliates solution will be particularly crucial for operators looking to gain an edge over the competition, and it’s easily the best available.

Equipped with affiliate tracking software, performance updates, and an integrated wallet, we firmly believe this will boost operators’ capabilities to interact with new players and enable sportsbooks and casinos to optimise their performance and drive long-term growth.   

For many operators looking to enter Brazil, it might be an easy option to simply roll out a standard sportsbook or casino platform that offers a range of markets. This sounds great from the outset, but it will make it incredibly difficult to stand out from the floods of other operators offering similar, if not identical, products.

Of course, it goes without saying that Brazil is known for its inherent love of sports. You just have to look at the support for football teams across the country to see this in action.  However, the challenge with traditional sports is that they are subject to rigid calendars, with only a handful of games taking place each week. As a result, players must wait several hours, if not days or weeks, between fixtures to place a bet. For operators, this makes it very difficult to maintain a strong engagement with sports bettors. It’s all about instant entertainment, and we’re here to deliver.

Again, it’s all about localisation – and WA.Technology is the solution to this problem. Specifically designed for bettors to test their sporting knowledge in a fun, engaging environment, WA.Fantasy is a tried and tested acquisition tool for both sportsbooks and casinos to cross-sell fantasy games to players and boost engagement and retention.  

Featuring a range of Fantasy Sports, Pick’Em Player Props, and free-to-play predictor games, all designed for Brazil, WA.Fantasy gives players the chance to create teams, leagues, and private contests to add an additional element of competition and gamification to their gambling experience.  

What’s Next for Brazil?

While we still await further news on how the Brazilian market will pan out, one thing is for certain: WA.Technology is here to support our partners during every step of their expansion journey - especially if they’re serious about becoming an industry leader.  

Our full spectrum of iGaming solutions puts us in an unmatched position to capitalise on the growth opportunities that the Brazilian market presents and enables us to drive our partners’ businesses to new heights as the region continues to evolve. We’re here to make our big brand partners the best out there, and if you’re serious about being the best, make sure to give us a call. 

Read the full interview on Gaming Americas.

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WA.Technology is committed to Responsible Gaming practices. Read our Responsible Gaming Statement to learn more.

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