Interviews
Legends Charity Game: Rasmus Sojmark on Football Icons, Lisbon, and Raising €1 Million for Charity
On 15 September 2025, Lisbon will host the Legends Charity Game, a once-in-a-lifetime football match where Portugal’s greatest players face off against global legends—all to raise over €1 million for four life-changing charities. In this exclusive interview, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, shares the inspiration, the star-studded lineups, and the powerful purpose driving this historic event.
Q: What is the Legends Charity Game?
RS: The Legends Charity Game is something we’ve been dreaming about for a long time, and now it’s finally happening.
On Monday, 15 September, right in the heart of Lisbon, a team of Portugal’s greatest football legends will step onto the pitch to take on a global lineup of football legends from across the world.
These legends are the players so many of us grew up watching, idols who shaped our love for the game, now coming together for a match that is about more than nostalgia. It’s about charity, and our goal is to raise over €1,000,000 for four incredible organisations: the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, which continues to support those affected by the war in Ukraine, the Portuguese Red Cross, International Alert, and Caritas Portugal, which all do vital work with vulnerable communities in Portugal and beyond.
The match will welcome 60,000 fans to the stadium, either Estádio da Luz or Estádio José Alvalade, depending on Champions League scheduling announced at the end of August, and will be broadcast to millions around the world.
The Legends Charity Game is how we have chosen to open SBC Summit 2025. With real heart and purpose. So if you are planning to be in Lisbon for the Summit, please make sure to arrive before this Monday evening charity event.
We’ve poured everything into making it special, not because we had to, but because we believe in it. The players believe in it too. It is going to be emotional and genuinely amazing, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone.
I could go on about this for hours, but here’s the short version. This is about celebrating football’s greats, uniting people through sport and charity, and raising money for those who need it most. I’m proud we’re making it happen.
Q: What inspired you to launch the Legends Charity Game?
RS: Football has been part of my identity since I was a kid. I played it from the age of 5, lived it, breathed it. Like so many kids of my generation, I grew up idolising the greats from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, whose names appeared on every magazine cover and match highlight.
I played on muddy pitches and even dreamed of a career in the sport. And in one way or another, I did build my career around it, didn’t I?
If you had told me as a kid, sitting in front of my screen for hours playing Championship Manager, picking the likes of Figo, Mendieta, Cafu, Zanetti, Hagi, Del Piero, and Schmeichel for my ultimate squad, that one day I would be organising a real-life legends match, I wouldn’t have believed it.
But that is exactly what has happened.
At SBC and Sport Global, we have always focused on creating unique experiences, not just numbers. It has always been about making people feel something, creating memories, and bringing value and joy. The Legends Charity Game is a natural evolution of that mission.
Over the years, we have welcomed famous footballers to our events in many different ways. Some have played in the SBC Football Championship, like Mendieta. Others have hosted our awards, like Ruud Gullit, Marcel Desailly and Clarence Seedorf. We have had keynote speakers like Figo, Baresi and Peter Schmeichel, and visits from Brazil legends Cafu and Ronaldinho. Blending football with business has always been part of the SBC story.
Now, we are taking it a step further.
This game means a lot to me. It brings together everything I’ve loved since I was a kid. Football, community, and creating something memorable with people who share that same passion. But more than anything, it’s about doing some good and giving back. With so much conflict and hardship in the world, it felt important to use everything we’ve built to support others. It’s a way to give back and hopefully, make a real difference.
Q: Tell us a bit more about the game. Which football legends are confirmed for Portugal?
RS: It still feels surreal seeing all these names on the same team sheet. The Portugal Legends include players like Luís Figo, Deco, Carvalho, Simão, Maniche, Fábio Coentrão, Vitor Baia, Nuno Gomes, Hélder Postiga, and many more who have given fans unforgettable moments over the years.
Portugal made perfect sense for this match. Over the last few decades, the country has produced some of the most ambitious, technical, and passionate players in the world. From the Euro 2016 win to this year’s comeback in the UEFA Nations League against Spain, and the star players in the PSG Champions League-winning side, they’ve built a footballing culture that consistently punches above its weight. Portuguese football is on fire, and it’s clear even just by looking at the number of top players in elite clubs.
We’ve been lucky enough to work closely with the FPF (Portuguese Football Federation) to bring some of these great players along, and it’s been amazing to feel the excitement building in Lisbon. Portugal will be co-hosting the World Cup in 2030, so this match also feels like a tribute to the road that brought them here and the legends who paved the way.
Many of the players taking part were part of that legendary Euro 2004 squad. They made it to the final, only to lose to Greece in one of the biggest upsets in football history.
By the way, Georgios Karagounis, who captained that victorious Greek side in 2004, will now be lining up for the World Legends team, facing off against many of the same Portuguese players he beat in that final. Quite poetic.
Q: What about the World Legends squad?
RS: As mentioned, Karagounis will be lining up for the World Legends team, and I have no doubt some of the Portuguese players will be itching for a little revenge after that Euro 2004 final. That kind of history adds so much depth to this game. It’s not just about who’s playing, it’s about the stories, the rivalries, the shared memories that come flooding back.
They’ll be managed by Peter Schmeichel, an absolute legend, with Diego Lugano serving as assistant manager. Lugano captained Uruguay to Copa América success in 2011 and, while a recent injury keeps him off the pitch, he’ll be bringing his defensive leadership.
In goal, we’ve got none other than Edwin van der Sar, the Dutch giant and Manchester United legend. Two more keepers are yet to be announced!
In defence, we have a line of some of the best defenders the game has ever seen. Let’s start with Cafu, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 and was also part of their 1994 winning squad. Cafu is joined by Marco Materazzi, who won five Serie A league titles in a row, a Champions League, and, of course, the 2006 World Cup. Then we’ve got Argentina’s Javier Zanetti, France’s Christian Karembeu — all Champions League winners — and another United and Champions League winner, Patrice Evra. But the rock in defence will be none other than Barcelona one-club legend and Spain 2010 World Cup winner Carles Puyol.
In midfield, we have a historic European dream lineup. Karagounis will be joined by Slovakia’s Marek Hamšík (Mr. Mohawk himself), a Napoli icon and Slovak captain who led his country to their first-ever World Cup. There’s also Gaizka Mendieta, a good friend of mine, representing Spain. I’ve admired Mendieta as one of the best playmakers in the world, especially during those unforgettable Champions League finals with Valencia, which made him the most expensive player in the world when he was sold to Lazio.
From France, we have Youri Djorkaeff, a World Cup winner and now CEO of the FIFA Foundation. Romania will be represented by Gheorghe Hagi, a player who, for me, ranks among the greatest of all time. Representing Bulgaria, we have Krassimir Balakov, a national legend and former national team manager.
And then there’s Kaka. One of the greatest players of all time. He is one of the nine players in the world to win the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d’Or.
Up front, we have the legendary Henrik Larsson from Sweden, and rest assured, he will be bringing his finishing touch. He is joined by Argentina’s Javier Saviola, who many Benfica fans will remember fondly (and many Sporting fans, maybe not so fondly)! Representing England, we have Michael Owen, Ballon d’Or winner and England striker ace. And from Italy, we have none other than Del Piero, Juventus superstar and Italy’s 2006 World Cup winner.
We wanted the World Legends squad to reflect the global spirit of football. To show that this is more than just a one-country tribute, but a celebration of the sport’s greatest names from every corner of the globe. Players who’ve shaped football history, brought joy to millions, and now come together for a cause that’s bigger than the game itself.
Q: Why do you believe football, and in particular the Legends Charity Game, is uniquely positioned to rally people behind meaningful causes?
RS: Football has this incredible, almost magical power to bring people together, often in ways nothing else can. I’ve seen total strangers become best friends (or mortal enemies) over a last-minute goal. It’s one of the only things that can make grown adults paint their faces, cry on live TV, and believe that “this year is our year”… every single year. But behind all the passion and drama, football also has a serious superpower: it connects people. That’s what makes it such a powerful platform for rallying people behind meaningful causes.
When legends of the game take to the pitch, people pay attention. And when that spotlight can be used to raise awareness, funding, and momentum for causes that truly matter, it becomes an opportunity to do something that goes beyond the pitch. That’s the spirit behind the Legends Charity Game.
The World Legends and the Portugal Legends appeal to generations. Many of us have grown up idolising these players and watching them play the beautiful game for decades.
Younger generations still admire the legends when they watch streams or YouTube clips of the likes of Ronaldinho bringing his magic to the game like few other players have ever been able to achieve. They are also playing with the Legends in the EA Sports FC game titles (former EA Sports FIFA series), and now they get to watch them play live at the Legends Charity Game.
In a few words, the Legends Charity Game has a generational appeal. Father, son, and grandfather will want to watch the game together.
Q: What guided your decision to aim for over €1,000,000 and choose the charities you’re supporting?
RS: Setting a goal of €1,000,000 was about being honest with ourselves about what this match could achieve. If we’re going to bring together global football icons, fill a stadium in Lisbon, and broadcast this around the world, then we owe it to the cause to aim high. We wanted a goal that felt bold, that actually moves the needle, and that reflects the power of football when it’s used as a force for good.
As for the charities, it was important for us to connect both globally and locally to honour the people in Lisbon welcoming us, and to stand with those who need solidarity the most. This game is our way of doing that. This landmark event supports four incredible charities working on the frontlines of crisis.
- The Red Cross in Ukraine continues to provide emergency aid and medical care to civilians devastated by the war in Ukraine
- The Portuguese Red Cross brings relief to communities affected by natural disasters and economic hardship at home.
- International Alert is working tirelessly to build peace and protect vulnerable lives in conflict-affected regions around the world.
- Caritas Portugal ensures that families in Portugal facing poverty and displacement are given dignity, support, and shelter.
By supporting this game, fans and players alike are turning their love for football into a force for good. It’s a powerful reminder that the global football family can do more than entertain. It can heal, empower, and restore hope. Together, we can make this more than a game. We can make it a movement.
Q: Will the match be streamed or televised? How can fans actively take part in this initiative before, during, or after the match?
RS: Yes, the match will be both streamed and televised. We’re working closely with broadcasters to make sure the Legends Charity Game can be watched by fans around the world, whether you’re in Portugal or elsewhere. The production is being handled by SBC, and we’re treating it like a top-tier broadcast. Think Champions League-level coverage, with multiple camera angles, spider cams, and a full stadium setup. We want people watching from home to feel every moment, just like those in the stands.
As for getting involved, there are lots of ways to be part of this. You can buy a ticket and join us in Lisbon. If you can’t be there in person, you can still support the cause: tune into the livestream, donate online, share the event with your network, or enter the charity raffle that will take place during halftime.
Q: How did you convince sponsors that this wasn’t just a “CSR checkbox” but a meaningful movement?
RS: We’re incredibly grateful to the sponsors who believed in this from the very beginning.
Oftentimes, people view a sponsorship as just putting logos on a screen. This is when it’s hard to sell — if you can’t convince people that there’s something real and solid behind the idea. In this case, it was really easy. It was about standing behind something real.
We never approached sponsors with a slick CSR deck or a “feel-good” checkbox. That’s not what this is about. From day one, the Legends Charity Game has been something built with heart, purpose, and a real desire to use football for something greater.
We are building something with substance. A world-class lineup of true football legends. A clear, ambitious goal to raise €1,000,000. Four incredible charities. And most of all, a belief that football has the power to bring people together and inspire action.
What really made the difference with sponsors was the sincerity. They could see this wasn’t just a one-off. We’re not aiming for a press release headline and moving on. We’re building a tradition. That clarity, combined with the emotion behind the cause, is what resonated.
So, a huge and heartfelt thank you to our early confirmed sponsors like Soft2Bet, Sportingtech, YO Health, Spribe, Amusnet, Vegas Legends, Alea, Playtech, Smartsoft, Superbet and iGP. You didn’t just sponsor a match. You became part of the Legends Charity Game. Your support is helping us do something that goes beyond football, something that will genuinely make a difference in people’s lives. So yes, for our sponsors, it was a show of solidarity. A reminder of what good football can do when we put our hearts into it.
Q: As Lisbon prepares to host 60,000 fans, what role are local and global partners playing in helping you spread the word across borders?
RS: Local and global partners have played a huge role in making this more than just a one-night event in Lisbon. From day one, our goal was to create something that resonated well beyond the stadium walls, and that wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support we’ve had across the board. The Portuguese Football Federation, Benfica, and Sporting CP have been instrumental in giving this project a true home in Portugal. They’re part of the country’s identity, and having their backing has rooted the event in local pride and credibility from the very beginning.
But to spread this message globally, we’ve also leaned on the strength of our media and strategic partners such as A Bola, Ringier Sports Media Group, MARCA, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Better Collective, Sport1, SofaScore, Flashscore, Record, Stats Perform, and more. They’re helping us tell the story, one about legacy, community, and purpose. With their help, we’re reaching fans in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Mexico and beyond.
We are working closely with MediaPro to create the live broadcast of the event, which we aim to share with millions of people around the world. Several broadcasting partners have been lined up across Europe, Brazil, and Latin America.
Our own experience as an events company helped us scale this quickly, but it’s the trust we’ve built over time, as SBC and through Sport Global, that opened doors and made people want to get involved. And of course, none of this would be possible without the unbelievable team behind the scenes who turned a big idea into something real in record time.
Q: The Legends Charity Game will take place on September 15, just a day before the SBC Summit 2025 kicks off. How do you envision the synergy between the charity game and SBC Summit?
RS: The timing of the Legends Charity Game on September 15 is obviously very convenient. It’s a way to open SBC Summit 2025 with purpose, emotion, and meaning. The Summit is our biggest show yet, expecting 30,000 attendees from across the global gaming and tech industries. But before all the panels, meetings, and networking kick off, we wanted to ground everyone in what we are really passionate about: a genuine love for sport and a belief in its power to bring people together.
The Legends Charity Game gives us a chance to pause and do something meaningful as a community. It’s about football, connection, and giving back. It brings together iconic players, fans, industry professionals, and local communities around a shared moment. And starting the week that way, not with a handshake, but with heart, changes the tone of everything that follows. Yes, we run major events for the iGaming world, but our mission is bigger than that. We’re here to grow not just the industry, but the impact it can have. That’s the synergy, and it’s what makes this week in Lisbon feel truly special.
And, by the way, on Tuesday, September 16, many of the players from both the Portugal and World Legends squads will appear live on the Super Stage at the MEO Arena. Hosted by Kirsty Gallacher, this will be a rare opportunity for attendees to hear directly from the legends, ask questions, and share a moment with some of football’s most iconic figures. It’s a continuation of the emotion from the night before, and for many, it will be the first time seeing these football greats. What an experience.
Q: Do you think this could become an annual tradition?
RS: Absolutely, it will. With Portugal set to co-host the World Cup in 2030, our goal is to make this an annual fixture, year after year, right here in Lisbon. Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. It’s a passion project in every sense of the word.
The Legends Charity Game is more than just a match—it’s a celebration of football, unity, and giving back on a global stage. With Portugal’s football heroes facing off against world legends, and a goal to raise over €1 million, this event promises to leave a lasting legacy both on and off the pitch. To hear more of Rasmus Sojmark’s insights into the business of sport, charity, and the iGaming industry, check out his recent appearance on the HIPTHER Talks Podcast — listen to the audio here or watch the video here.
The post Legends Charity Game: Rasmus Sojmark on Football Icons, Lisbon, and Raising €1 Million for Charity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
“En el mercado regulado de apuestas sentí que estaba intentando nadar en un océano dominado por tiburones. En el mercado de predicciones, estamos ayudando a construir el propio océano.” (C.S)
El mercado de predicciones comienza a ganar espacio en Brasil en un momento de transformación para la industria del gaming y los productos digitales basados en probabilidades.
Aunque todavía es un concepto incipiente en el país, y contradictorio en países vecinos, este modelo, que combina elementos de mercados financieros, tecnología y comportamiento del usuario, ya ha demostrado su potencial en otras regiones al ofrecer estimaciones colectivas sobre eventos futuros.
Sin embargo, su avance ha sido conflictivo en América Latina.
En mercados como Argentina, por ejemplo, está enfrentado restricciones e incluso prohibiciones, en medio de debates regulatorios sobre su naturaleza y su posible similitud con las apuestas tradicionales.
En este contexto, Brasil aparece como un terreno aún en definición, donde la reciente regulación de las apuestas deportivas abre espacio para discutir nuevos formatos digitales basados en probabilidades.
Es en este escenario donde surge la figura de Carlos Santos, CEO y uno de los impulsores de este segmento en el mercado brasileño con el lanzamiento de Previlabel.
Con experiencia previa en el ecosistema de apuestas, Santos decidió dar un paso más allá del modelo tradicional para apostar por la construcción de una nueva categoría en el país: los mercados de predicción.
A través de su visión y su proyecto, el ejecutivo busca no solo introducir este concepto en Brasil, sino también desarrollar la infraestructura tecnológica necesaria para que nuevos operadores y empresas puedan formar parte de este ecosistema emergente.
En esta entrevista, Carlos Santos analiza el potencial del mercado de predicciones en Brasil, los desafíos de su desarrollo y las oportunidades que pueden definir el futuro de este segmento en la región.
¿El mercado de predicciones aún es poco conocido en Brasil. ¿Cómo explicaría este concepto a alguien que nunca ha oído hablar de él?
Los mercados de predicción son plataformas donde las personas negocian probabilidades sobre eventos futuros.
En lugar de simplemente apostar por un resultado, los usuarios compran o venden posiciones basadas en la probabilidad de que algo ocurra.
El precio de estas posiciones termina reflejando lo que el mercado cree que es la probabilidad de ese evento.
Por eso, muchos describen este modelo como una especie de bolsa de valores de probabilidades, donde la información, la opinión y el dinero se combinan para formar una estimación colectiva del futuro.
¿Por qué cree que Brasil puede convertirse en un mercado relevante para plataformas de predicción?
Brasil tiene varios factores que favorecen este tipo de mercado. En primer lugar, es un país altamente conectado digitalmente y con una gran adopción de nuevas tecnologías financieras.
En segundo lugar, existe una cultura muy fuerte en torno a los deportes y a los eventos públicos, lo que genera naturalmente interés por las predicciones.
Además, la reciente regulación de las apuestas deportivas ha abierto espacio para nuevas discusiones sobre productos relacionados con probabilidades y mercados digitales.
El país acaba de regular las apuestas deportivas. ¿Los mercados de predicción son una evolución natural de esto o una industria diferente?
Están relacionados, pero no son exactamente lo mismo.
En las apuestas deportivas tradicionales, las probabilidades son definidas por la casa de apuestas.
En los mercados de predicción, en cambio, son los propios usuarios quienes forman esas probabilidades al negociar posiciones entre sí.
Esto crea una dinámica más cercana a un mercado financiero, donde el precio cambia a medida que surgen nuevas informaciones y las personas ajustan sus expectativas.
¿Cuáles son los principales tipos de eventos que podrían volverse populares en este mercado en Brasil?
El deporte probablemente será el punto de entrada más natural, ya que existe una gran base de usuarios interesados en este tipo de eventos.
Pero con el tiempo, estos mercados pueden expandirse hacia áreas como política, economía, entretenimiento e incluso tecnología.
En otros países ya existen mercados de predicción sobre elecciones, indicadores económicos y grandes eventos globales.
Esto demuestra que el modelo tiene potencial para ir más allá del entretenimiento.
¿Existe el riesgo de que el mercado de predicciones sea confundido con las apuestas tradicionales?
Sí, especialmente al inicio.
Como ambos involucran dinero y probabilidades, es natural que exista cierta confusión. Sin embargo, la diferencia está en la dinámica del mercado.
En las plataformas de predicción, los usuarios pueden negociar probabilidades y reaccionar ante nueva información, lo que hace que el sistema sea más parecido a un mercado financiero que a una apuesta tradicional.
Con el tiempo, a medida que el público entienda mejor el funcionamiento, esta distinción tenderá a ser más clara.
En el exterior, las plataformas de predicción ya existen desde hace tiempo. ¿Qué puede aprender Brasil de estas experiencias?
La principal lección es que estos mercados funcionan mejor cuando hay transparencia, liquidez y reglas claras de operación.
Las experiencias internacionales muestran que, cuando están bien estructurados, los mercados de predicción pueden generar estimaciones bastante precisas sobre eventos futuros. Sin embargo, también ha quedado claro que es fundamental contar con mecanismos de integridad y un entorno regulatorio que acompañe la innovación.
Brasil tiene la ventaja de poder observar estos ejemplos y adaptar las mejores prácticas a su propio contexto.
¿Qué le hizo mirar hacia los mercados de predicción en lugar de continuar únicamente en el mercado tradicional de apuestas?
Durante el último SBC en Lisboa tuve un momento muy claro de reflexión sobre el mercado. Me di cuenta de que estaba intentando competir en un entorno extremadamente difícil para empresas nuevas: enfrentar directamente a gigantes ya consolidados en el sector de apuestas.
El mercado regulado de apuestas en Brasil es altamente competitivo y está dominado por empresas con gran capital. Es como intentar nadar junto a tiburones en un océano que ya les pertenece.
Fue entonces cuando entendí que tal vez la oportunidad no era competir en ese mercado de la forma tradicional, sino participar en la construcción de una nueva categoría dentro del sector. El mercado de predicciones aún está en sus inicios en Brasil, lo que abre espacio para la innovación, la tecnología y el liderazgo.
Percibí que podía aprovechar toda la experiencia adquirida en el sector de apuestas para ayudar a estructurar este nuevo momento del mercado en el país.
¿Cuál fue el momento en que decidió convertir esto en un negocio?
Cuando regresé a Brasil después del SBC Lisboa, mi visión de negocio cambió completamente.
Comencé a estudiar más profundamente el mercado de predicciones y entendí que no era solo una tendencia global, sino también una oportunidad real para construir infraestructura en este sector en Brasil.
A partir de esta visión, iniciamos una asociación con Brasil Bitcoin, aprovechando toda su experiencia en Web3 e infraestructura digital para desarrollar esta tecnología.
La idea fue combinar esa experiencia en blockchain con nuestra visión de producto y mercado, creando una base tecnológica capaz de aportar más competitividad e innovación a este nuevo segmento.
¿Cuáles fueron los mayores desafíos al comenzar en este sector?
El principal desafío fue construir la tecnología.
Los mercados de predicción requieren una infraestructura muy específica, que incluye sistemas de negociación de probabilidades, liquidez, gestión de eventos y mecanismos de integridad.
Como este mercado aún es muy nuevo en Brasil, prácticamente no existían soluciones listas adaptadas a la realidad local. Esto exigió un gran esfuerzo de desarrollo para crear una tecnología sólida capaz de sostener el crecimiento de este ecosistema.
¿El público brasileño está preparado para entender y utilizar los mercados de predicción?
Creo que sí. El brasileño ya ha demostrado una gran capacidad de adaptación a nuevos productos digitales.
Basta observar el crecimiento de las apuestas deportivas, las criptomonedas y las plataformas financieras en los últimos años.
Cuando el modelo se explica bien y la experiencia es simple, la adopción tiende a ocurrir rápidamente.
¿Qué hace exactamente Previlabel dentro de este mercado?
Previlabel es una empresa de tecnología enfocada en infraestructura para mercados de predicción.
Desarrollamos la tecnología que permite a emprendedores crear sus propias plataformas de predicción y construir negocios dentro de este nuevo segmento que está comenzando a surgir en Brasil.
Nuestro objetivo es facilitar la entrada de nuevos operadores en este mercado.
Ustedes no operan solo una plataforma — venden tecnología para quienes quieren crear la suya. ¿Cómo funciona este modelo?
Exactamente.
Previlabel funciona como un proveedor de tecnología para este mercado. En lugar de operar una única plataforma, desarrollamos la infraestructura que los operadores pueden utilizar para lanzar sus propias marcas dentro del mercado de predicciones.
Esto permite que emprendedores y empresas ingresen en este sector de forma mucho más rápida, sin necesidad de desarrollar toda la tecnología desde cero.
¿Cree que veremos muchas plataformas de predicción surgir en Brasil en los próximos años?
Creo que esto ocurrirá muy rápidamente. En los próximos meses ya deberíamos ver varias plataformas emergiendo en Brasil.
Históricamente, el país siempre ha atraído nuevos modelos de negocio digitales debido al tamaño del mercado y al alto nivel de adopción tecnológica.
Cuando surge un nuevo segmento prometedor, Brasil suele convertirse en uno de los principales mercados de experimentación.
¿Existe una especie de “carrera” para crear el primer gran mercado de predicción brasileño?
Sí, esto es algo natural en cualquier industria naciente.
Cuando un nuevo mercado comienza a formarse, siempre existe una competencia inicial entre empresas para ver quién logra posicionarse primero y convertirse en referencia.
Probablemente estamos en el inicio de este proceso en Brasil, y quien consiga construir una tecnología sólida, ganar la confianza del público y escalar primero tendrá una ventaja muy importante.
The post Los mercados de predicción ganan terreno en Brasil con la entrada de Previlabel appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
The prediction market is beginning to gain traction in Brazil at a time of transformation for the gaming industry and probability-based digital products.
Although it is still an emerging concept in the country, and a controversial one in neighboring markets, this model, which combines elements of financial markets, technology, and user behavior, has already demonstrated its potential in other regions by offering collective estimations of future events.
However, its development has been uneven across Latin America.
In markets such as Argentina, for example, it has faced restrictions and even bans, amid regulatory debates over its nature and its possible similarity to traditional betting.
In this context, Brazil emerges as a market still in formation, where the recent regulation of sports betting opens the door to discussions around new probability-based digital formats.
It is in this scenario that the figure of Carlos Santos emerges, CEO and one of the promoters of this segment in the Brazilian market with the launch of Previlabel.
With prior experience in the betting ecosystem, Santos chose to move beyond the traditional model and focus on building a new category in the country: prediction markets.
Through his vision and his project, the executive aims not only to introduce this concept in Brazil, but also to develop the technological infrastructure needed for new operators and companies to participate in this emerging ecosystem.
In this interview, Carlos Santos discusses the potential of prediction markets in Brazil, the challenges of their development, and the opportunities that could shape the future of this segment in the region.
Prediction Markets in Brazil
The prediction market is still relatively unknown in Brazil. How would you explain this concept to someone who has never heard of it?
Prediction markets are platforms where people trade probabilities about future events. Instead of simply betting on an outcome, users buy or sell positions based on the likelihood of something happening.
The price of these positions ultimately reflects what the market believes is the probability of that event.
That’s why many people describe this model as a kind of stock exchange for probabilities, where information, opinion, and money come together to form a collective estimate of the future.
Why do you believe Brazil could become a relevant market for prediction platforms?
Brazil has several factors that strongly support this type of market.
First, it is a highly digitally connected country with strong adoption of new financial technologies. Second, there is a strong cultural interest in sports and public events, which naturally drives interest in predictions.
Additionally, the recent regulation of sports betting has opened the door to discussions around products related to probabilities and digital markets.
The country has just regulated sports betting. Are prediction markets a natural evolution of this, or a different industry?
They are related, but not exactly the same. In traditional sports betting, probabilities are set by the bookmaker. In prediction markets, however, users themselves create those probabilities by trading positions with each other.
This creates a dynamic closer to a financial market, where prices change as new information emerges and as people adjust their expectations.
What types of events do you believe could become popular in this market in Brazil?
Sports will likely be the most natural entry point, as there is already a large audience interested in this type of content.
But over time, these markets can expand into areas such as politics, economics, entertainment, and even technology.
In other countries, prediction markets already exist around elections, economic indicators, and major global events.
This shows that the model has the potential to go beyond entertainment.
Is there a risk that prediction markets could be confused with traditional betting?
Yes, especially in the early stages. Since both involve money and probabilities, some confusion is natural. However, the key difference lies in the market dynamics.
In prediction platforms, users can trade probabilities and react to new information, making the system closer to a financial market than a traditional bet.
Over time, as users better understand how it works, this distinction tends to become clearer.
Abroad, prediction platforms have existed for some time. What can Brazil learn from these experiences?
The main lesson is that these markets work best when there is transparency, liquidity, and clear operational rules.
International experiences show that, when well structured, prediction markets can generate highly accurate estimates of future events.
However, they also highlight the importance of integrity mechanisms and a regulatory environment that keeps pace with innovation.
Brazil has the advantage of being able to observe these examples and adapt best practices to its own context.
What made you look at prediction markets instead of continuing only in the traditional betting industry?
At the last SBC in Lisbon, I had a very clear moment of realization about the market.
I understood that I was trying to compete in a very difficult environment for new companies, going directly against well-established giants in the betting sector.
The regulated betting market in Brazil is extremely competitive and dominated by companies with significant capital.
It’s like trying to swim alongside sharks in an ocean that already belongs to them.
That’s when I realized that the opportunity might not be to compete in that market in the traditional way, but rather to help build a new category within the industry.
Prediction markets are still at an early stage in Brazil, which creates space for innovation, technology, and leadership.
I saw that I could bring all the knowledge I developed in the betting sector to help structure this new phase of the market in the country.
When did you decide to turn this into a business?
When I returned to Brazil after SBC Lisbon, my business perspective changed completely.
I began studying prediction markets more deeply and realized that this was not just a global trend, but also a real opportunity to build infrastructure for this sector in Brazil.
From that point, we started a partnership with Mercado Bitcoin, leveraging the company’s expertise in Web3 and digital infrastructure to develop this technology.
The idea was to combine this blockchain experience with our product and market vision, creating a technological foundation capable of bringing more competitiveness and innovation to this new segment.
What were the biggest challenges when starting in this sector?
The main challenge was building the technology.
Prediction markets require very specific infrastructure, including probability trading systems, liquidity management, event handling, and integrity mechanisms.
Since this is still a very new market in Brazil, there were virtually no ready-made solutions adapted to the local reality.
This required a significant development effort to build a robust technology capable of supporting the growth of this ecosystem.
Is the Brazilian public ready to understand and use prediction markets?
I believe so. Brazilians have already demonstrated a strong ability to adapt to new digital products.
Just look at the growth of sports betting, cryptocurrencies, and financial platforms in recent years.
When the model is well explained and the user experience is simple, adoption tends to happen quickly.
What exactly does Previlabel do within this market?
Previlabel is a technology company focused on infrastructure for prediction markets.
We develop the technology that allows entrepreneurs to create their own prediction platforms and build businesses within this new segment that is starting to emerge in Brazil.
Our goal is to make it easier for new operators to enter this market.
You don’t operate just one platform, you sell technology for others to build their own. How does this model work?
Exactly. Previlabel operates as a technology provider for this market. Instead of running a single platform, we develop the infrastructure that operators can use to launch their own brands within the prediction market space.
This allows entrepreneurs and companies to enter the sector much faster, without needing to build the entire technology from scratch.
Do you believe we will see many prediction platforms emerging in Brazil in the coming years?
I believe this will happen very quickly. In the coming months, we should already see several platforms emerging in Brazil.
Historically, the country has always attracted new digital business models due to the size of its market and the high level of technological engagement.
When a promising new segment appears, Brazil often becomes one of the main markets for experimentation.
Is there a kind of “race” to create the first major Brazilian prediction market?
Yes, this is natural in any emerging industry.
When a new market begins to take shape, there is always an initial competition between companies to see who can position themselves first and become a reference.
We are likely at the beginning of this process in Brazil, and those who manage to build solid technology, gain user trust, and scale quickly will have a significant advantage.
The post Prediction Markets Gain Ground in Brazil as Previlabel Enters the Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Interview with Ivan Korkin, Head of Account Management at Kanggiten
After his successful participation at the HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026, we speak with Ivan Korkin, Head of Account Management at Kanggiten, to explore how real-world B2C operational experience can strengthen B2B platform stability in today’s high-demand iGaming environment — and why resilience, real-time monitoring, and proactive infrastructure design are becoming critical competitive differentiators.
Ivan, your discussion at HIPTHER Prague Summit focused on applying high-volume B2C operational lessons to B2B platform stability. From your perspective, what are the most overlooked insights that B2B providers can learn from real-world B2C environments?
The most overlooked insight is that B2B and B2C platforms do not require fundamentally different security and operational standards. In reality, the B2C experience differs mainly on the client side; the underlying security protocols needed to combat fraudsters, hackers, and bonus hunters remain exactly the same.
When designing platform architecture for long-term reliability, which core principles matter most today – and how has your approach evolved as traffic volumes and player expectations continue to rise?
The foundational principle is ensuring the platform is “Modular by Design”. Monolithic systems are simply too rigid for modern scaling. At Kanggiten, our platform is built from independent modules that communicate either through a shared data channel or via APIs. This ensures that if one module, like a tournament or bonus engine, gets overloaded, it does not bring down the entire platform; core functions like payments remain fully operational. This approach, called “graceful degradation,” keeps the platform reliable under pressure. Additionally, as expectations have risen, our approach has evolved to include self-healing capabilities, automatically restoring needed instances if a hardware failure occurs.
System resilience under load is a growing concern across the industry. What practical strategies should operators and suppliers implement to ensure performance remains consistent during peak demand moments?
Operators must utilize systems built for fast, automatic scaling without human intervention. When data volume grows, the platform should simply add more hardware on the fly. From a data hygiene perspective, peak loads often cause statistics to lag or duplicate. We prevent this by utilizing specialized columnar databases that scale horizontally for heavy analytical workloads. If a technical glitch sends the same data twice, our system recognizes it and refuses to double-count. Finally, resilience requires full system redundancy to achieve 99.9% uptime, ensuring there is zero single point of failure and that live database backups are hosted in physically separate data centers.
Kanggiten places strong emphasis on real-time analytics and monitoring. How do real-time metrics function as early-warning systems in modern iGaming infrastructure, and what signals should teams be watching most closely?
Real-time metrics are critical for identifying anomalies and root causes instantly. Many operators focus solely on technical metrics, but we closely watch business metrics like user registrations, deposits, bonus activations, and critical user chains. A server might appear healthy on a backend dashboard, but a sudden drop in these business metrics serves as an early-warning signal that issues are occurring on the user journey. Tracking these in real time prevents isolated technical glitches from turning into massive revenue losses.
Many teams still operate in reactive mode when incidents occur. What does a truly proactive issue-detection framework look like in 2026, and what cultural or technical shifts are required to get there?
A proactive framework utilizes dynamic product alerts and retrospective data analysis. Instead of waiting for a system crash, our alerting system compares the current volume of events against historical data—such as traffic from three weeks ago—to automatically determine if current metrics are normal or if human intervention is needed. Culturally, moving away from reactive firefighting requires a commitment to continuous testing; we run automated tests, manual checks, and cloud-based load testing before any code ever reaches production.
Looking ahead, as modular and full-stack platforms continue to evolve, what should operators prioritize now to ensure their infrastructure remains secure, scalable, and future-ready over the next three to five years?
Operators must prioritize a “provider-agnostic” approach to their infrastructure. Over the next few years, the ability to rapidly adapt to changing regulations and execute seamless, disruption-free migrations between cloud providers will be paramount. Security must also remain a top priority; operators should demand infrastructure that holds the highest-level PCI DSS certification (Level 1 v4.0) , where card data is encrypted with strong algorithms and in-transit data is secured using Sectigo and Google SSL certificates over TLS 1.2 or higher.
Kanggiten was the Silver Sponsor and Badge & Bracelet Sponsor at HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026. What key conversations did you have with operators and partners during the event, and what should the industry be watching next from your team?
We were delighted to speak with ambitious operators who demand speed, control, and performance without the bureaucracy of traditional platforms. We always want to discuss how our modular ecosystem allows businesses to launch in weeks, not months, and scale reliably under any load. As for what’s next, the industry should watch how Kanggiten continues to merge premium B2C conversion tactics with robust B2B infrastructure, delivering technology engineered specifically for measurable revenue growth and uncompromising stability.
The post From B2C Scale to B2B Stability: Kanggiten’s Real-World Lessons in Platform Resilience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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