Mateo Lenoble, Kambi's director for Latin America, expressed serious concerns in an exclusive interview with iGaming Business regarding the Brazilian government's ban on betting operators. He argues that this prohibition not only hinders progress but also erodes confidence in the country's betting environment.
Lenoble noted that even if betting activities were to resume soon, the legal ambiguity surrounding this ban would persist, creating ongoing challenges. He emphasized that the lack of clear regulations poses significant risks to the integrity of sports, stressing that effective oversight and stringent rules are essential in combating illegal gambling and match-fixing.
"Without a regulated environment, bettors often turn to underground platforms, which undermines the ability of the government and regulators to maintain control over sports integrity," Lenoble explained.
When asked about how the ban affects Kambi's growth in Brazil, Lenoble confirmed its impact, stating, "This certainly affects us, as we only work in regulated markets. The provisional measure that banned betting in Brazil disrupts our ongoing projects within the country."
Regarding potential legal uncertainties in the future, he stated, "During the SBC Summit in Lisbon, I discussed the prospects of betting operators returning. Brazil represents an incredibly attractive market, one of the largest globally. Kambi would welcome a return under a new regulatory framework, supporting partners wishing to enter or re-enter the Brazilian market. However, I believe the uncertainty will continue for quite some time. If regulatory violations occurred once, they could easily happen again."
Despite Kambi having a limited number of partner operators in Brazil, Lenoble considers these relationships essential. "We have key clients that utilized our comprehensive sports betting platform before the ban. They're feeling the effects of this provisional measure, and we are actively supporting them until a resolution is reached. Some are particularly hard hit as they operate solely in Brazil, while others have more flexibility operating in different jurisdictions. We are committed to investing in the Brazilian market, but the timeline remains uncertain."
When prompted about the relationship between the ban on betting and match-fixing, Lenoble reiterated the importance of a regulated market: "A regulated environment is crucial in combating match-fixing and safeguarding the integrity of sports. This is why we advocate for regulation; without it, tackling such issues becomes exceedingly difficult."
He also highlighted Kambi's commitments to integrity, mentioning, "We maintain partnerships aimed at preventing match-fixing and are members of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). We have our own integrity department dedicated to ensuring our clients provide the safest sports betting options."
As the discussion turned to the consequences of illegal gambling, Lenoble summarized: "As I mentioned, clear regulations significantly enhance the fight against illegal gambling. Without a regulated environment, both the government and regulatory bodies lose oversight capabilities, diminishing safeguards necessary for sport integrity. This scenario indeed risks compromising sports integrity.
