WA.Technology’s Regional Director Latam, Axel Antillon, Focus Gaming News Exclusive Interview 

Axel Antillon, WA.Technology’s Regional Director Latam, spoke to Focus Gaming News in an exclusive interview reflecting on the company’s presence at SBC Summit and sharing his thoughts on the company’s achievements so far this year.

We are already in the Q3 of this year. What are the company’s greatest achievements so far, and what are your main goals for the rest of the year?

We have had a tremendous year so far – we have pushed the boundaries of innovation with our full spectrum of iGaming solutions, and we’re now seen as the most sought-after B2B provider across major LatAm markets, which I’m incredibly proud of!  

As you can imagine, it’s tricky to pick just one achievement. Although, without a doubt the major highlight is that exact ability to establish and maintain our dominance as the go-to B2B provider for LatAm operators. We strive to deliver the best possible experience for our partners by drawing on our team’s wealth of local market knowledge and using those insights to tailor our portfolio of cutting-edge iGaming solutions to operators’ individual needs. The fact that the platform and iGaming solutions provider of choice for the biggest brands on the continent is undoubtedly a testament to this.

As we edge closer to 2025, there is one market that will be a major focus for WA.Technology: Brazil. We know that Brazil is brimming with opportunities for growth, and we are excited to enter once the regulated market launches on 1 January 2025. We already have local teams on the ground there – with a level of local expertise and understanding that no other B2B provider can match.

In your view, what was the stand-out moment for WA.Technology at the recent SBC Summit in Lisbon?

Great question! The WA.Technology team attended SBC Summit in full force, where we showcased our full spectrum of iGaming solutions to operators looking to make their mark in Africa, Brazil, and Latin America.

We had plenty of stand-out moments during the event. During the day, each of our team had jam-packed schedules with meetings, both with current partners and potential new business partners. During these meetings, we were able to showcase our newly upgraded WA.Affiliates and WA.Fantasy solutions, which have been designed specifically to help operators drive acquisition and retention in highly competitive markets, as well as our full spectrum of cutting-edge iGaming solutions.

Our team showed off their extensive expertise in the iGaming industry and how their collective experience has enabled WA.Technology to tailor our solutions to the unique requirements of markets across Latin America and Brazil, giving our partners a full roster of tools to gain an edge over the competition. If you’re attending SBC Summit Latinoamerica in a few weeks, visit stand B20, where you’ll be able to hear a lot more about our LatAm plans!

Looking back at SBC Lisbon, our WA.Lottery solution took centre stage during the event, and with good reason. Representing a high-performing acquisition tool for all partners, WA.Lottery gives players access to more than 70 of the world’s biggest lottery formats, including weekly prizes of $100m across all LatAm and Brazilian draws.  Top-rated Lottery games from the USA, such as Powerball and Megamillions, are also available, with jackpots reaching in excess of $1bn.  

Of course, away from the show, we’d also have to mention the spectacular WA.Technology party on the Wednesday night! This was THE party of the week – with fantastic music and a stunning venue in the heart of Lisbon’s botanical gardens, making for the perfect opportunity to catch up with the creme de la creme of the iGaming industry, truly a night to remember!  Our team did an exceptional job organising this party, and I think it’s safe to say that everyone who made it onto the exclusive VIP guestlist had such a fantastic time.

SBC Summit Latinoamerica is only a few weeks away, where you will be exhibiting at stand B20. What are your expectations in terms of meeting with clients and potential deals?

During the SBC Summit Latinoamerica, we want to showcase to everyone the reason why WA.Technology is the go-to B2B provider for the Latin American market. We’re very proud to be the best and plan to expand that even more! At stand B20, we will showcase our product strength and our team’s knowledge of the region.

WA.Technology is the only platform and solutions provider on the market that can deliver the levels of personalisation and localisation needed to dominate in markets such as LatAm and Brazil. We understand the needs of each market and, more importantly, how to help our partners gain a competitive edge. No other provider can achieve this as we can.

We will be sharing how our local, round-the-clock technical support, dedicated account management teams and our full range of managed services across both sportsbook and casino, customised to each country, enable us to deliver unparalleled expertise that provides our partners with a platform to achieve exceptional results.

In your view, what makes a successful partnership, and what are some of the most crucial factors you look for when choosing your partner?

Without a doubt, I think the most important thing to understand is that no two partnerships are the same. Each will have its own unique set of goals and requirements; as a result, you need to take an individual approach to each and every partnership.

All of our partnerships are built on a strong foundation of collaboration. We work very closely with each and every operator in our network to fully understand their unique needs and personalise our products accordingly. For example, a sportsbook-only operator won’t want to be sifting through casino content.

We also work tirelessly to remove the technical burden for our partners. We have developed our platform and solutions in a way that new products can be added via a single integration, meaning operators don’t have to spend weeks sifting through various administrative tasks. We deliver streamlined, stand-out products and solutions quickly and easily.

WA.Technology is present all around the world. How important are customisation and flexibility to ensure your offer adapts to different regions, regulations, and interests?

Personalisation and flexibility are at the heart of everything that WA.Technology does. We fully understand that each market presents its own unique set of challenges – and sometimes, operators may have to pivot their strategies to ensure they remain compliant with local regulations.

Latin America is a great example of why personalisation and flexibility are key. The continent is filled with a wide array of cultures, regulatory frameworks, and languages – this all translates to differences in what players enjoy. Players in Mexico might strongly prefer betting markets on local soccer teams, whereas those in Brazil may enjoy live casino. Tailoring your product suite to cater to your players’ needs will be the key to player engagement and retention.

This is an approach that has largely shaped our African strategy, too. Localisation is essential to success in Africa and is a big part of what we offer – language, website design, and even products. WA.Technology works alongside our partners to ensure that we optimise our products to suit the various different technical requirements of each market. It is a collaborative process, and we believe it puts us in a strong position to deliver solid growth for our partners.

What do you think will be the keys to making a difference in the industry in the current landscape?

Again - personalisation, personalisation, personalisation! This will be the factor that defines who is and isn’t a market leader in LatAm. It has become a key battleground for the industry in recent years; as players demand more unique, entertainment-led experiences, we can only expect it to become even more important.

To meet this growing demand for more bespoke experiences, WA.Technology can offer betting markets tailored to local audiences – be it markets on local football leagues or specific products that are popular in that market.

By understanding what is popular with players and adapting their offering accordingly, operators can better engage with their audience and ultimately boost engagement. No other B2B provider in LatAm can do it like WA.Technology can.

Another key factor will be the growing influence of local payment methods. Players ultimately need access to methods that allow them to deposit and withdraw their winnings in a currency available; if operators fail to provide that, players will spend with your competitor instead.

This is particularly important in Brazil, for example, where PIX Payments are absolutely dominant. Of course, throughout LatAm, operators need a provider that can adapt to the differing mobile networks and payment gateways– which means that you need to have different fintech ecosystems in each market. Fortunately, we offer all this and more. Come by stand B20 at SBC Summit Latinoamerica in Miami to discover how we can take your business to new heights!

Read the full interview on Focus Gaming News.

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