WA.Technology's Renzo Escalante, Regional Marketing Manager for LATAM,  Exclusive Interview with iGaming Future

WA.Technology is renowned for its local market knowledge in Brazil. What do you think will be some of the biggest differences in this market compared to other Latam countries, in regard to platform or product requirements?

We’re proud of our leadership – Brazil is the largest market in Latam, and we’re excited to see it regulated. Looking at industry figures, data from H2Gambling Capital estimates the offshore market to have been worth $2.6bn in 2023. This is before the market has been regulated, with the latest projections now for it to reach as high as $4.37bn by 2028.

There are certainly going to be disparities, compared to, say, Colombia’s regulation – which saw swift implementation via ColJuegos back in 2016. In contrast, the Brazilian market is set to go live by the end of the year, with much of the regulatory environment still to be defined. Consequently, operators will have wholly different platform and product requirements regarding both flexibility and knowledge of local regulation, rather than being able to deploy off-the-shelf products.

Given our local expertise, WA.Technology will be a major solution to this problem. iGaming is a great example of how important this flexibility will be. I anticipate we’ll see different verticals approved over time, so operators will need a platform partner that can instantly adapt and evolve as new elements become available. Given our extensive understanding of the market, this is an area where we’ll be able to have an edge over other suppliers.

Why is Brazil such an important market for WA.Technology? What do you think will be the biggest growth drivers for this market going forward?

We’re proud to be considered one of Latam’s most trusted iGaming providers. Brazil has a population that is fast closing in on a quarter of a billion people with a huge passion for sport and gaming – that rapidly expanding population will fuel major growth.

In terms of what’s going to make that happen, alongside population, is Brazil’s fast-growing middleclass and increasing smartphone and 4G and 5G penetration. The potential is huge, given the ever-growing population of sports fans, their ever-increasing disposable income and the rate of tech adoption.

Last but not least, I'll touch on payments. Pix Payments has been a major catalyst in the transformation of the market – and it will continue to be a driver of growth. The introduction of Pix during the pandemic enabled the shift from offline Boleto payments to Pix’s fast, more secure experience online. Pix currently dominates the market, with 4.21bn transactions in 2023 alone, which gives you an idea of the scale we're dealing with and how much of a growth driver it will continue to be.  

WA.Technology is the main sponsor of a new podcast aimed at the gaming sector. It will soon be launched in the Latin American market and hosted by its regional marketing manager in Latam. What are your expectations for the podcast? Where can we listen to it?

That’s a great question – we’re very excited about it! WA.Technology is always looking to add value to both the market and our customers, so we wanted to do something special that could contribute to the fantastic global gaming community.

Set to launch on the 10 September, listeners can follow the program by subscribing for free via the new YouTube channel, Gambling Master. 

Launched and hosted by our Latam Marketing Manager, Renzo Escalante, our aim is to provide real value to all listeners, whether investors, operators, suppliers, or anyone looking to learn more about the continent.

We’ve got some really special focuses lined up, and the podcast will cover multiple topics, ranging from strategic marketing of various verticals to detailed guides and analysis of individual markets and regulatory environments.

We’re also prepping a series within the podcast called 'Gambling Masters,' which we’re really looking forward to. This series will see us speak with the leading movers and shakers on the continent. We hope that their insights, and indeed success stories, can inspire the audience.

SBC Summit, one of the biggest gaming shows in the world, will take place in Lisbon for the first time this September. WA.Technology is excited to be exhibiting at this show. What do attendees have to look forward to?

I’m sure it’s going to bean excellent show. Anyone looking to become the best in their market should stop by our stand, C155!

Of course, everything is centred around our fully customisable and scalable WA.Platform, which saw some really exciting upgrades in 2024. We’ll have a whole host of demo stations on our stand where visitors will be able to engage with our entire product range, including WA.Fantasy, WA.Sports, WA.Casino, WA.Lottery, and WA.Affiliates.

On what’s new, we'll showcase fresh new features for WA.Sports and WA.Fantasy, including our integrated real-time sportsbook bet ticker, which offers some of the most advanced insights and analytics available for live betting markets. Operators can also look forward to our new range of fantasy sports experiences, with a revamped user interface and even more advanced customisation options.

Last but not least, WA.Affiliates will also have plenty to showcase, offering a next-generation iGaming-specific affiliate management product that will greatly enhance affiliate engagement. Guests can take a deep dive into its standout features - which we’re excited to show off. These include a streamlined, intuitive interface, gamification features, real-time optimisation capabilities for immediate adaptability, and integrated user-tracking for detailed performance analytics.