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Relax Gaming boosts team with key promotion amid plans to boost Italian footprint

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Relax Gaming has established a strong footprint in regulated markets around the world, and Italy is no exception. The Italian market holds plenty of promise for the brand and following on from Money Train 4’s exclusive launch in the country, there is great scope to provide immersive gaming experiences for players.

Relax’s New Director of Italy, Gianluca Crimaldi explains how the industry’s leading game studio and platform provider will continue to make its mark.

 

First off, congratulations on your promotion to Director of Italy! Can you talk us a bit through your role at Relax and your immediate priorities?

Thank you! My role will be focusing on building on our brand’s already well-established presence in one of Europe’s biggest markets. We debuted in Italy back in April 2022, and in many ways we’ve got a wealth of opportunity to capitalise on.

While I can’t say too much just yet, our development roadmap up until Q3 2024 is incredibly exciting – which I know is going to be very exciting for our Italian players, and I’m confident t that we have plenty of titles coming up  that will resonate incredibly well with local players – our key mission here is to provide a platform for engagement that not only drives differentiation, but also entices land-based players to give the world of online a try for the first time. This is important in Italy especially, given much of the market is still composed of retail.

 

Taking a look at Relax’s recent performance in Italy since your market entry in April 2022, what’s Relax’s current position on the market and what opportunities do you see?

Thanks to our hard-work and some really strong launches, including the Money Train series and Dream Drop Jackpots, which has created 11 millionaires in just over a year, we’ve established a very strong reputation here already. We’ve seen huge player spikes during our key releases, and as a result, excellent player retention as we look to truly drive differentiation. While I believe we were always confident we’d make our mark here when we debuted in April 2022, I can safely say these numbers exceeded even our optimistic expectations. Italian players really love what we have to offer.

On opportunities, as we’ve already mentioned, Italy has one of the largest demographics of retail-based players in Europe, so there is huge potential for expanding one’s player base, and we’re planning to innovate even more in the year ahead to ensure that Italian audiences have access to the best that our content portfolio has to offer.

 

Particularly notable was your major coup in bringing Money Train 4 exclusively to StarCasino ahead of the game’s international launch – does this highlight the focus Relax has on the Italian market?

That was certainly a fantastic move for us! Money Train 4 was our key release of 2023, and the anticipation from operators and players alike was incredible. To be able to go live in Italy with StarCasino, a day before the official launch speaks volumes on the importance we place on the Italian market, as well as the value we place with our major partners.

We have seen a great appetite for our content in Italy, and this was the latest step in ensuring we continue to make our mark here. This also highlights the emphasis we have on ensuring we can provide something truly special for operators to engage and excite their players. Greatness always comes from a team effort – and seeing such amazing results in a short period of time is a testament to everyone’s hard work.

 

On to the macro viewpoint – what’s your take on Italy’s iGaming performance in recent years and how have trends been shaped post-2020?

Italy is viewed as a complex market, mainly due to the regulatory processes and knowledge that is required to navigate these hurdles. Once these are overcome, there are high rewards and huge opportunities. It’s all about identifying opportunities and challenges – and then providing the solution.

I have been fortunate enough to work across many markets, and this will be incredibly useful in ensuring differentiation and originality with content which is a key to succeeding in Italy. As we’ve already touched on, the Italian market has been somewhat sceptical about online casino over last decade. This is due to both the country’s social culture and retail betting heritage – both of which make Italy truly unique. In line with that, the transition to the online sector has been far slower than other areas of the continent, especially when compared to the UK and Scandinavia. This is changing fast however, and in the last year, we’ve seen adoption accelerate exponentially across the country, with more players than ever enjoying online entertainment as well as the superior engagement it offers compared to retail.

 

Continuing with the land-based market, which still takes up about 80%+ of player demographics, as one of the industry’s major suppliers, how is Relax helping operators convert land-based players to the exciting world of online?

It’s certainly what makes Italy unique. There are long-standing brands that have established reputations in the retail space, and they will continue to have their customers. Relax prides itself on producing a diversified content portfolio that engages all players, and this is a key in ensuring growth in the online sector. I see this transition as a natural development in line with changing player demographics – especially when it comes to the smartphone generation.

Of course, a country with such a rich retail heritage will similarly demand content online, which means players will unquestionably be more attracted to more classic titles in comparison to other markets like the UK and Scandinavia. Just as we’ve seen with these two markets in the 2010s, once players begin to expand their range of gaming online, and once they start to engage with your own content, you’ll no doubt see a greater uptick across a more modern range of titles – especially with the likes of our Money Train series! At Relax we pride ourselves in offering a different something for everyone, and I have no doubt that with our fantastic titles, we will see continued exponential growth in online adoption – which we are looking forward to being a key part of!

Brasil

Fernando Carvalho define una nueva era para los mercados de predicción en Brasil con VoxFi

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La expansión global de los mercados de predicción está comenzando a redefinir la forma en que los usuarios interactúan con la información, la probabilidad y el engagement digital.

Ubicadas en la intersección entre finanzas, tecnología y datos de comportamiento, estas plataformas están ganando tracción como una forma estructurada de transformar la inteligencia colectiva en pronósticos medibles sobre eventos futuros.

En Brasil, este segmento emergente aún se encuentra en una etapa inicial, pero la combinación de una audiencia digital altamente comprometida, la reciente evolución regulatoria en sectores adyacentes como fintech y cripto, y la búsqueda constante de nuevos modelos de engagement dentro del iGaming, crea un entorno fértil para el crecimiento.

Es en este contexto que VoxFi se posiciona como uno de los primeros actores estructurados dentro del ecosistema local.

La semana pasada, durante BiS SiGMA South America 2026 en São Paulo, la empresa presentó oficialmente su solución white label, diseñada para permitir que terceros integren mercados de predicción directamente en sus propios sitios web y aplicaciones.

VoxFi también participó en el panel “Forecasting or Gambling? The Fine Line Between Prediction Markets and Bets”, donde el CEO y cofundador Fernando Carvalho analizó los límites entre los modelos de predicción emergentes y las estructuras tradicionales de apuestas.

Además, la compañía fue seleccionada como una de las seis finalistas del Startup Pitch Competition del evento, reforzando su posicionamiento como un actor innovador en el sector.

La empresa, una plataforma brasileña enfocada en contratos de predicción basados en eventos, ha desarrollado una solución white label que permite a otras compañías integrar mercados de predicción directamente en sus propios entornos digitales.

A través de conectividad vía API, empresas de distintos sectores, desde medios y entretenimiento hasta telecomunicaciones, pueden ofrecer experiencias de predicción personalizadas bajo su propia marca, aprovechando la infraestructura, el marco de compliance y los mecanismos de liquidez de VoxFi.

A diferencia de los modelos tradicionales de apuestas, VoxFi opera bajo una lógica peer to peer, donde los usuarios negocian contratos binarios, sí o no, basados en resultados futuros.

El precio de estos contratos refleja probabilidades percibidas, creando un entorno dinámico que se asemeja más a los mercados financieros que a las estructuras de juego convencionales.

Todos los mercados pasan por un proceso interno de curaduría y validación, con criterios de resolución claramente definidos, estándares de compliance y sistemas de monitoreo.

La plataforma también incorpora prácticas del mercado financiero como KYC obligatorio, monitoreo de transacciones y segregación de cuentas por evento, reforzando su posicionamiento como un ecosistema estructurado y responsable.

Fundada por Fernando Carvalho, conocido por su rol en el desarrollo del mercado de criptoactivos en Brasil a través de QR Capital, y Luis Felipe Carvalho, emprendedor fintech detrás de NG.CASH, VoxFi combina experiencia en innovación financiera con un producto diseñado para escalar y alinearse con la regulación.

En esta entrevista exclusiva, el CEO Fernando Carvalho explica las razones detrás de su entrada en un segmento aún poco comprendido, el posicionamiento estratégico de VoxFi y lo que viene para los mercados de predicción en Brasil.

El mercado de predicción aún no es ampliamente comprendido en Brasil. ¿Qué los llevó a apostar por este sector?
Fernando Carvalho
– Elegimos construir VoxFi porque los mercados de predicción son una de las formas más eficientes de transformar información dispersa en probabilidades sobre el futuro.

Agregan conocimiento colectivo de manera estructurada y transparente.

Observamos avances regulatorios importantes en Estados Unidos entre 2024 y 2025, lo que indicó que este modelo comenzaría a escalar globalmente.

Vimos un escenario similar al inicio del mercado cripto, un sector nuevo que requiere educación, gobernanza sólida y desarrollo gradual para alcanzar escala.

¿Dónde está la línea entre mercados de predicción y apuestas?
La diferencia es estructural. En los mercados de predicción, los usuarios negocian entre sí a través de un libro de órdenes y los precios reflejan probabilidades percibidas.

En las apuestas tradicionales, existe una casa que define las cuotas y asume el riesgo. Aquí no hay casa, hay mercado.

VoxFi entra con un enfoque B2B. ¿Qué oportunidad identificaron?
El iGaming está atravesando una transformación en Brasil y los operadores buscan nuevas formas de engagement.

Nuestra solución permite integrar mercados de predicción como una capa adicional de contenido vía API, mientras los socios mantienen su identidad de marca.

¿Compiten con operadores de apuestas?
No. Complementamos el ecosistema. Evitamos deliberadamente temas deportivos para no competir directamente y ampliar el abanico de contenidos.

¿Brasil está atrasado en este segmento?
No. Está en una etapa inicial, pero con características ideales, una audiencia digital altamente comprometida y una creciente familiaridad con instrumentos financieros más sofisticados.

¿Cómo funciona el modelo de ingresos?
Es similar al de plataformas de trading, cobramos comisiones sobre transacciones o sobre la liquidación de contratos.

En el modelo B2B también generamos ingresos a través de fees de implementación y acuerdos de revenue share. Es un modelo altamente escalable.

¿Quiénes son los principales interesados hoy?
Hay tres grupos principales, operadores de iGaming, empresas de medios y entretenimiento, y plataformas digitales con grandes audiencias.

¿Cómo se construye liquidez en un mercado nuevo?
Inicialmente mediante un market maker interno para garantizar condiciones eficientes de negociación. Al mismo tiempo, estamos desarrollando infraestructura para integrar market makers externos a medida que el ecosistema crece.

¿Por qué evitar temas como deportes y elecciones?
Es una decisión estratégica para alinearnos con la regulación actual y evitar conflictos con organismos como CVM, SPA y TSE.

¿Brasil está cerca de regular los mercados de predicción?
La discusión recién está comenzando a tomar fuerza. El principal riesgo es una clasificación incorrecta como apuestas tradicionales o como derivados financieros.

¿Qué define el éxito en los próximos seis meses?
El crecimiento de la base de usuarios, el volumen negociado y la activación de integraciones white label con socios estratégicos.

A futuro, ¿será un complemento del iGaming o una categoría propia?
En el corto plazo lo vemos como un complemento natural del iGaming, agregando nuevas capas de contenido y engagement.

A largo plazo, creemos que puede convertirse en una categoría digital propia, una nueva capa de internet enfocada en la predicción de eventos futuros.

The post Fernando Carvalho define una nueva era para los mercados de predicción en Brasil con VoxFi appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Fernando Carvalho outlines new era for prediction markets in Brazil with VoxFi white label technology

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The global expansion of prediction markets is beginning to reshape how users interact with information, probability, and digital engagement.

Positioned at the intersection of finance, technology, and behavioral data, these platforms are gaining traction as a structured way to transform collective intelligence into measurable forecasts about future events.

In Brazil, this emerging segment is still in its early stages, but the combination of a highly engaged digital audience, recent regulatory evolution in adjacent sectors such as fintech and crypto, and the constant search for new engagement models within iGaming creates a fertile environment for growth.

It is within this context that VoxFi is positioning itself as one of the first structured players in the local ecosystem.

Last week, during BiS SiGMA South America 2026 in São Paulo, the company officially presented its white-label solution, designed to allow third-party businesses to integrate prediction markets directly into their own websites and applications.

VoxFi also took part in the panel “Forecasting or Gambling? The Fine Line Between Prediction Markets and Bets,” where CEO and co-founder Fernando Carvalho discussed the boundaries between emerging prediction models and traditional betting structures.

In addition, the company was selected as one of the six finalists in the event’s Startup Pitch Competition, reinforcing its positioning as an innovative player in the space.

The company, a Brazilian platform focused on event-based prediction contracts, has introduced a white-label solution that allows third-party companies to integrate prediction markets directly into their own digital environments.

Through API connectivity, businesses across sectors, from media and entertainment to telecom,  can offer customized prediction experiences under their own branding, leveraging VoxFi’s infrastructure, compliance framework, and liquidity mechanisms.

Unlike traditional betting models, VoxFi operates on a peer-to-peer logic, where users trade binary contracts (“yes” or “no”) based on future outcomes.

The pricing of these contracts reflects perceived probabilities, creating a dynamic environment that resembles financial markets more than conventional gambling structures.

All markets undergo internal curation and validation, with clearly defined resolution criteria, compliance standards, and monitoring systems.

The platform also incorporates financial-market practices such as mandatory KYC, transaction monitoring, and event-based account segregation, reinforcing its positioning as a structured and responsible ecosystem.

Founded by Fernando Carvalho, known for his role in advancing the crypto asset market in Brazil through QR Capital, and Luis Felipe Carvalho, a fintech entrepreneur behind NG.CASH, VoxFi combines experience in financial innovation with a product designed for scalability and regulatory alignment.

In this exclusive interview, CEO Fernando Carvalho explains the rationale behind entering a still-misunderstood segment, the strategic positioning of VoxFi, and what lies ahead for prediction markets in Brazil.

The prediction market is still not widely understood in Brazil. What led you to invest in this sector?
Fernando Carvalho – We chose to build VoxFi because prediction markets are one of the most efficient ways to transform dispersed information into probabilities about the future.

They aggregate collective knowledge in a structured and transparent way. We observed important regulatory developments in the United States between 2024 and 2025, which indicated that this model would begin to scale globally.

We saw a scenario similar to the early days of the crypto market: a new sector that requires education, strong governance, and gradual development to reach scale.

Where is the line between prediction markets and betting?
The difference is structural. In prediction markets, users trade with each other through an order book, and prices reflect perceived probabilities.

In traditional betting, there is a house that sets the odds and assumes the risk. Here, there is no “house” — there is a market.

VoxFi enters with a B2B approach. What opportunity did you identify?
iGaming is undergoing a transformation in Brazil, and operators are looking for new ways to engage users.

Our solution allows prediction markets to be integrated as an additional content layer via API, while partners maintain their own brand identity.

Do you compete with betting operators?
No. We complement the ecosystem. We deliberately avoid sports-related topics to prevent direct competition and instead expand the range of available content.

Is Brazil behind in this segment?
No. It is in an early stage, but with ideal characteristics: a highly engaged digital audience and increasing familiarity with more sophisticated financial instruments.

How does your revenue model work?
It is similar to trading platforms: we charge fees on transactions or on contract settlement. In the B2B model, we also generate revenue through setup fees and revenue-sharing agreements. It is a highly scalable model.

Who are the main players interested in this today?
There are three main groups: iGaming operators, media and entertainment companies, and digital platforms with large audiences.

How do you build liquidity in a new market?
Initially, through an internal market maker to ensure efficient trading conditions. At the same time, we are developing infrastructure to integrate external market makers as the ecosystem grows.

Why avoid topics like sports and elections?
This is a strategic decision to align with current regulations and avoid conflicts with authorities such as CVM, SPA, and TSE.

Is Brazil close to regulating prediction markets?
The discussion is just beginning to gain traction. The main risk is being incorrectly classified as either traditional betting or financial drivatives.

What defines success in the next six months?
Growth in user base, trading volume, and the activation of white-label integrations with strategic partners.

Looking ahead, will this be a complement to iGaming or a standalone category?
In the short term, we see prediction markets as a natural complement to iGaming, adding new layers of content and engagement. In the long term, we believe they can become a standalone digital category,  a new layer of the internet focused on forecasting future events.

The post Fernando Carvalho outlines new era for prediction markets in Brazil with VoxFi white label technology appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Mastering the Brazilian maturity curve

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We sat down with Tequity’s VP Growth Originals, Dominic Sawyer, to discuss how the industry is evolving to meet the unique appetites of Brazilian players and how technical scaling is the secret weapon for ambitious studios.

Brazil is now well over a year into its regulated era. How has the focus shifted for operators who are looking beyond that initial launch phase?

The first year was about land grabs and establishing a footprint. In 2026, the conversation is much more grounded in operational efficiency and the cost of player acquisition. Brazil is a massive market, but it is also an expensive one. If an operator is spending a premium to bring a player through the door, losing them to a generic, uninspired lobby is a massive waste of resources.

The focus has shifted heavily toward retention. We are seeing operators move away from the volume at all costs approach and towards building a brand-based ecosystem. This is where bespoke content comes in. By using our Originals framework, operators can create games that feel like a native part of their platform. This builds a sense of familiarity and trust. In a regulated market, player loyalty is the only thing that can protect your margins against evolving tax frameworks and marketing restrictions.

We know Brazilian players have a deep-seated love for sports. How is this influencing the types of casino games that are succeeding in the market?

The crossover between sports betting and casino in Brazil is perhaps more pronounced than anywhere else. Brazilian players crave high-energy, high-frequency interaction. They want the tension of a live match translated into a casino format. This is why we have seen such an explosion in the popularity of ‘burst games’ and instant-win titles.

Our product roadmap is heavily influenced by this desire for real-time excitement. Our Crypto Trading Games range, for instance, resonates because it mimics the volatility and decision-making of a live market or a high-stakes football bet. Features like 1,000x leverage and the ability to manage multiple active bets simultaneously provide a level of agency that traditional slots often lack. With the World Cup on the horizon, we expect this appetite for sports-adjacent casino content to reach a fever pitch. Operators who can bridge that gap effectively will see the highest levels of cross-vertical engagement.

With so many international brands entering Brazil, how can an operator ensure their content doesn’t just look like a translated version of a European site?

Laziness in localization is a fast track to irrelevance. A player in São Paulo isn’t looking for a translated UK slot, but a game that feels like part of the local culture. True differentiation involves cultural alignment, brand recall, and a pacing of gameplay that matches local preferences.

We believe in providing a modular approach that hands the creative keys back to the operator. This allows them to tailor visual treatments and UI to reflect local festivals, brand ambassadors, or specific colour palettes. When a game feels like it was built for the Brazilian market rather than just adapted for it, the player connection is significantly stronger. You want your content to feel like part of the local furniture, reinforcing the operator’s brand identity at every turn.

Innovation is high, but technical barriers often slow things down. How is Tequity helping studios scale faster to bring high-quality games to the Brazilian market?

There is no shortage of brilliant creative ideas in the industry, but there is often a massive technical bottleneck when it comes to global distribution and compliance. For an ambitious studio, the prospect of navigating the specific regulatory requirements of Brazil while trying to build a global presence is daunting.

This is exactly why we launched Tequity Publishing. We want to dismantle those technical barriers. Through our RGSaaS (Remote Game Server as a Service) model, we provide the infrastructure, distribution muscle, and compliance frameworks that allow studios to focus entirely on the creative side. Whether it’s a small studio with a fresh concept or a more established provider looking to plug into our aggregator network, we provide the pathway to the player. By removing the operational friction, we ensure that high-quality, innovative content can hit the market at the speed the industry demands.

The industry is increasingly streamer-driven. How are suppliers ensuring games are stream-ready for the influencers who currently dominate Brazilian social feeds?

Social media is the new storefront in Brazil. The traditional casino lobby is being bypassed in favour of TikTok, Twitch, and Telegram feeds. If a game isn’t visually engaging or doesn’t provide natural clipping moments, it’s missing a massive trick. Successful suppliers are engineering content to be inherently shareable, creating a narrative that is easy for a streamer’s audience to follow. When an influencer shares a high-multiplier win, it creates an organic marketing event that is far more effective than a standard banner ad. It’s about providing the tools for operators to lower their acquisition costs by creating content that players want to emulate and share.

The post Mastering the Brazilian maturity curve appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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