The World Cup 2026 promises to be a turning point for the Brazilian sports betting market, the first major stress test in a fully regulated environment, with projections reaching R$ 19 billion in turnover in the country.

In this scenario, Stellar Gaming (EstrelaBet) positions itself at the center of this transformation, where technology, legal security, and user experience become strategic pillars of growth.

In an exclusive interview, Fellipe Fraga, CBO of Stellar Gaming, analyzes how the maturity of the regulated market, the advancement of responsible gaming, the evolution of technological infrastructure, and the fight against the illegal market will shape the “best World Cup of all time” for digital entertainment in Brazil, and the legacy this event will leave for the industry.

The World Cup 2026 is the first major ‘stress test’ of the fully regulated Brazilian market, with projections of around R$ 19 billion in turnover in the country. How does Stellar Gaming assess that legal certainty and operational maturity will make this tournament the ‘best World Cup of recent times’ for digital entertainment in Brazil?

Fellipe Fraga – In the 2022 World Cup, we were still fighting for market regulation, which unfortunately did not happen in time.

This time, we will have the opportunity to test not only at the technology level, but also in terms of customer behavior, as we will see the impact of the biggest sporting event in the world.

In addition, in regulated operations, the control tools provided for in the specific regulations ensure a safe experience for the customer and enhance the reach of responsible gaming.

With this, the next two months represent great expectations for the sector.

In a mass event that attracts millions of new bettors, concerns about problem gambling come into focus. EstrelaBet has a pioneering partnership with FUMEC. How does the AI-based predictive risk matrix work in practice to identify atypical patterns and ensure that the World Cup is a safe leisure moment, distancing the brand from the stigma of the ‘gray’ market of the past?

One of the great advantages of technological advancement is being able to use it to improve the collective experience, and it is no different when we talk about responsible gaming.

By introducing machine learning mechanisms with data and behavioral science concepts, we can improve risk predictability in behaviors where the customer shows signs of moving away from responsible gaming.

This allows the operation to act to reduce these risks, ensuring that betting entertainment is only what it is meant to be: fun.

We know that Brazilian users are mobile-first and do not tolerate friction during an important match. EstrelaBet has recently improved loading time by 60% and reduced live betting latency by 80%. How does this “Formula 1” infrastructure, led by the technology team, translate into trust and user retention during tournament peak moments?

The main direction we must take is to put ourselves in the customer’s shoes and understand what can create friction in the experience. A site that is unstable and slow is not well received.

That is why we adopted a mindset we called “EstrelaTech”, focused on technological development to improve the customer experience.

This automatically generates confidence in performance, stability, and service quality, which, combined with our technology partners, enables the delivery of a platform where entertainment happens more smoothly.

The brand’s CEO, João Gerçossimo, recently brought from SXSW the concept of the “Attention Economy 3.0”, where community belonging surpasses aggressive offers. How does EstrelaBet plan to apply this philosophy during the World Cup to retain customers without relying solely on transactional acquisition bonuses?

The World Cup is an excellent opportunity to bring the customer closer to the brand.

On June 5th, we will launch a major campaign that connects the audience and the brand to the national desire to achieve the sixth world title.

This connection goes beyond the product itself and is about the relationship between the customer and the company.

Our marketing team’s work has been outstanding, including in the choice of media partners, who are able to communicate with the audience and deliver key messages, not only about entertainment but also about a modern mindset regarding health, physical activity, and technology.

Sports integrity is a cornerstone of a strong regulated market. Today, EstrelaBet uses AI systems that achieve up to 90% accuracy in detecting suspicious behavior, such as multi-account abuse. How will this technology be used to protect the platform against fraudsters during the high volatility of the World Cup?

The betting product is essentially about uncertainty about the future, whether in an online game or a sporting event.

Any situation that tries to guarantee a future outcome empties the essence of the product.

Therefore, defending sports integrity is extremely important to us in itself, and combined with our passion for sport as an entertainment platform, it makes us even more committed to protecting it.

With technology and partnerships, we are able to monitor suspicious behavior and track fraud attempts in real time.

Although the World Cup carries the weight of being the biggest sporting event, with all eyes on it and consequently reducing the risk of suspicious behavior on the field, it is essential to ensure that there is also no negative influence on operations, allowing not only AI but also dialogue with partners to work in the best possible way.

With the World Cup taking place in the Americas (USA, Mexico, and Canada), the time zone is extremely favorable for Brazilian bettors. Combined with the advancement of 5G, what is EstrelaBet’s expectatio for the explosion of in-play betting and micro-moments during Brazil’s matches?

The Brazilian market already predominantly uses mobile phones. Matches taking place, often outside working hours, will allow the act of sitting down and watching a game to be enhanced.

Therefore, the trend is for a significant increase in activity during the World Cup, where the social factor—being with friends, watching the game together, and betting—will play an important role.

You, Fellipe Fraga, as the brand’s CBO, have been vocal about the fact that overly restricting licensed platforms only pushes users toward the illegal market. During an event with the scale of the World Cup, how can the regulated sector and the government work together to educate the public and prevent revenue leakage to unlicensed operators

The World Cup is a huge opportunity for the public sector in a broad sense, not only the regulator, but also the Federal Government and even legislators, to join forces in favor of the regulated sector.

Only through proper operations is it possible to have data, access to behavioral insights, and proper tax collection that will enable the country’s development, along with the correct promotion of responsible gaming initiatives.

We hope this awareness helps to combat an illegal market that, if not addressed, will only benefit illicit activities.

For the market, the 2026 World Cup is considered the “extended Super Bowl.” After the final whistle on July 19, what will be the main legacy of this US$ 35 billion tournament for the Brazilian sports betting market, considering the advances achieved in governance, technology, and end-user protection?

The 2026 World Cup will allow a full understanding of customer behavior in the betting market.
We will have data, results, and information collected from the various initiatives and strategies the market adopts.

The increase in volume will allow the validation of responsible gaming and sports integrity theses, as well as ensuring that users treat betting as proper entertainment during leisure moments while watching matches.

Three-day conference will convene Venezuela’s gaming regulators, leading operators, banking partners, and international providers for the first time.

“The Venezuela Gaming Expo is a defining moment for Latin American gaming. For the first time, international operators, providers, and investors will have a structured venue to engage directly with the regulators and operators shaping one of the region’s largest underexplored markets.” — Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO, SCCG Management

SCCG Management, a leading advisory firm in the global gaming industry, today announced the inaugural Venezuela Gaming Expo, the first international gaming and iGaming conference to be held in Venezuela. Organized by SCCG LATAM, the three-day conference will take place at the Eurobuilding Hotel & Suites Caracas from August 12 to 14, 2026.

The Expo brings together Venezuela’s gaming regulators, leading domestic operators, banking and payments partners, international providers, and investors for what will be the country’s first dedicated international gaming convening. Pre-registration is open now for operators, suppliers, banking and payments firms, investors, regulators, and media seeking early access to programming and direct introductions to the Venezuelan operating community.

Venezuela is one of Latin America’s largest gaming markets and one of the least understood by international operators. The country has a population of nearly 29 million, high mobile and internet penetration, and a functioning regulated industry. Three license-emitting bodies govern the market: the Comisión Nacional de Casinos, Salas de Bingo y Máquinas Traganíqueles (CNC), the Comisión Nacional de Lotería (CONALOT), and the Superintendencia Nacional de Actividades Hípicas (SUNAHIP). The Instituto Nacional de Hipódromos (INH) operates national horse racing and sports betting infrastructure under SUNAHIP’s regulatory umbrella. Thirty-two licensed online operators are currently active, with the top five generating over USD 150 million in gross gaming revenue annually. SCCG LATAM has published a detailed primer on the Venezuelan gaming market covering the country’s regulatory framework, market dynamics, and banking infrastructure.

In April 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 57, authorizing U.S. financial institutions to provide a broad range of financial services to four named Venezuelan state banks. The licence marks the first time in years that payment infrastructure between U.S. and Venezuelan financial institutions has been on a clear legal footing, lowering one of the most cited structural barriers to international engagement with the Venezuelan gaming sector.

The Expo programme is built around three integrated pillars. A conference programme curated by operators for operators will cover market entry, regulatory navigation, payments and banking infrastructure, and cross-border distribution, with keynote speakers including Venezuelan government officials and industry leaders. A networking layer integrates hosted dinners and curated engagement with the Caracas gaming community. A dedicated business meetings room facilitates private introductions between operators, providers, banking partners, and investors. The format is designed for outcome over spectacle, with approximately 3,000 attendees and 60 exhibitor tables.

The Eurobuilding Hotel & Suites Caracas sits in Chuao, near the city’s financial district, with full conference facilities and on-site accommodations that allow the programme, networking, and business meetings to flow within a single venue.

“The Venezuela Gaming Expo is a defining moment for Latin American gaming,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “For the first time, international operators, providers, and investors will have a structured venue to engage directly with the regulators and operators shaping one of the region’s largest underexplored markets. With the recent opening of U.S. banking channels through General License 57, the timing is right to convene the global industry in Caracas and translate market interest into commercial activity. SCCG LATAM is built to deliver that bridge.”

The Expo is part of SCCG LATAM’s broader regional strategy following the launch of its dedicated Latin American division and Miami office earlier this year. SCCG works directly with Venezuela’s three license-emitting bodies and with established Venezuelan operators, positioning international participants for compliant market entry and partnership.

Pre-registration, sponsorship inquiries, and exhibitor inquiries can be submitted at sccgmanagement.com/sccg-articles/2026/05/10/venezuela-gaming-expo-2026-save-the-date. A SCCG LATAM team member will follow up within 48 hours of each submission.

An engaged, mobile-first audience represents one of the biggest revenue opportunities in the global sports betting market.

Optimove, the #1 player engagement platform for iGaming and sports betting operators, today released its LATAM 2026 World Cup Betting Intentions Report, revealing that 86% of Latin American bettors plan to place bets on the tournament.

The study was conducted by Optimove Insights, the company’s research and data analytics division.

The report positions Latin American audiences as mature, highly engaged, and mobile-focused bettors. The combination of strong interest, confidence, and continuous engagement, even after their national team is eliminated, creates a significant opportunity for the industry.

Among bettors planning to participate, 75% have already bet on a previous World Cup, including 20% who bet in both 2018 and 2022.

The remaining 25% will be betting on a World Cup for the first time, driven by the expansion of legal sports betting across the region.

At the same time, 94% describe themselves as moderately or highly confident in their betting knowledge, reinforcing that this is an experienced audience that expects precise and relevant communication.

The LATAM 2026 World Cup Betting Intentions Report is based on a survey of 882 bettors worldwide, conducted in early 2026, including 264 respondents from Latin America.

Research highlights 

• High confidence and year-round engagement. 60% of Latin American bettors rate themselves as highly confident in their betting knowledge, while another 34% consider themselves moderately confident—totaling 94%. Additionally, 35% bet on football several times per week, and another 26% do so weekly.

• Strong loyalty to national teams. 90% support a favorite national team during the World Cup. When their team plays, 50% say they will definitely bet, and another 37% are very likely to bet. Even after elimination, 78% will continue betting.
• Live betting and multi-betting behavior. 77% plan to bet live during the tournament. For 33%, this is the preferred format, while 44% combine pre-match and live betting.

• Push notifications dominate communication. 38% prefer push notifications as their main communication channel, far ahead of email, which is preferred by only 14%.
• The World Cup as an engagement accelerator. 91% will continue betting on football after the tournament. Among their preferred destinations, 72% will move to the Copa Libertadores, 62% to the UEFA Champions League, and 34% to the Premier League.

• Use of multiple betting operators. 65% plan to use two or more platforms during the tournament. The main selection criteria are ease of use (59%), promotions (52%), and a trusted, familiar platform (46%).

“This is one of the most engaged sports betting audiences in the world. Nearly nine in ten Latin American bettors will follow the World Cup through betting and remain active year-round, mobile-first, and demanding personalization, not generic promotions.

Operators that succeed in LATAM will be those able to match this level of intensity with equally precise communication.

This is what Positionless Marketing enables,” said Optimove Founder and CEO Pini Yakuel.

To the full report here.

Optimove 

Optimove is the creator of the Positionless Marketing concept and the #1 player engagement platform for iGaming and sports betting operators.

Positionless Marketing frees marketing teams from fixed-role limitations, empowering every marketer to execute any task instantly and independently.

Positionless Marketing has been proven to improve campaign efficiency by 88%, enabling marketing teams to drive more personalized engagement with existing customers.

For the second consecutive year, Optimove was named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs, recognized for its AI-driven decisioning, prescriptive insights, and ability to orchestrate thousands of real-time personalized campaigns across channels.

AI-driven marketing is a hallmark of Optimove’s leadership.

By embedding AI directly into its platform since 2012, Optimove helped establish today’s Positionless Marketing standard.

Its platform includes Optimove Engage and Orchestrate for cross-channel campaign decisioning and orchestration; Optimove Personalize, a digital personalization engine; and Optimove Gamify, a loyalty and gamification platform.

Today, its full AI-powered suite is at the forefront of enabling marketers to streamline workflows from insight to creation and optimization.

Optimove delivers industry- and use-case-specific solutions for leading consumer brands worldwide.

 Optimove insights 

Optimove Insights is Optimove’s analytics and research arm, dedicated to delivering valuable market insights and data-driven research to empower B2C businesses.