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Football: Respect and dialogue needed to restore normality as breakaway league is strongly disapproved

Published

5 years ago

April 21, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The FIFA President emphasised his full support to the European sports model, a successful model of openness and inclusivity, promotion and relegation

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for respect and dialogue as he expressed FIFA’s strong disapproval of the proposed European breakaway league project, and has requested that the concerned parties consider their position in line with respecting the institutions that exist to protect the interest of national, European and global football.

“FIFA is an organisation which is built on values, the true values of sport,” said the FIFA President in his address to the 45th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland. “It is an organisation that is built on our statutes, the statutes that define the institutional framework, with the pyramid, with FIFA, the confederations, the associations, the leagues, the clubs, the players. And at FIFA, we can only strongly disapprove the creation of a super league which is a closed shop, which is a breakaway from the current institutions, from the leagues, from the associations, from UEFA and from FIFA, which is outside of the system. There is no doubt whatsoever of FIFA’s disapproval for this.”

The FIFA President emphasised his full support to the European sports model, a successful model of openness and inclusivity, promotion and relegation, and a model that he promoted in his 16 years at UEFA: “FIFA is here, and I am here today as FIFA President, to bring full support to European football, to UEFA, and the 55 member associations of UEFA and of FIFA, to the leagues, clubs, players and to fans. To all the fans, all over Europe, and actually all over the world as well.”

“We can see that there is a lot to throw away for the short-term financial gain of some,” the FIFA President added. “People need to think very carefully, they need to reflect, and they need to assume responsibility. They need to think not only of their shareholders, but they need to think about all the people, of all the fans, of all those who have contributed to make European football what it is today. It goes back not only decades, it goes back more than one hundred years. People – with love, with passion, with commitment – have created all this. And we need to protect this. It is our task.”

“FIFA is a democratic organisation, an organisation that is open,” the FIFA President concluded. “Everyone can bring ideas and proposals, but always with respect for the institutions, leagues, associations, UEFA and FIFA. With respect for the history and with the respect for the passion of so many people around the world. I understand as well that in these particular days, emotions are very high, but we need to always keep the line. Football is hope, and it is our responsibility to make hope reality. So we hope that everything will go back to normal, and that everything will be settled, but always with acting responsibly, with respect, with solidarity, and always in the interest of national, European and global football.”

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SetantaBET picks LuckyStreak for live dealer and casino aggregation deal

Published

2 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

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LuckyStreak, the live casino and content aggregation provider, has agreed a partnership with SetantaBET, the gaming and betting arm of leading sports media and entertainment business Setanta Sports.

The partnership gives the broadcaster-backed operator access to LuckyStreak’s live Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat, plus more than 6,000 casino games from over 60 providers through a single integration.

The companies said the rollout is planned to launch prior to the 2026 World Cup and follows SetantaBET’s launch in Georgia, as the operator looks to scale using the wider Setanta Sports ecosystem.

Ady Totah, CEO and Co-founder of LuckyStreak, said: “SetantaBET is a new and fast-growing operator backed by the strength, reach and reputation of the Setanta brand. Their ambitions for the business are clear, and through LuckyConnect and our live dealer portfolio, we’re giving their players access to a diverse portfolio of thousands of world-class games through a single integration, while equipping their team with the content, flexibility and scalability needed to support growth across multiple markets.

Combined with our operational expertise and industry experience, we believe this creates a strong foundation for a successful long-term partnership. We’re proud that SetantaBET chose LuckyStreak as their launch content partner, and we look forward to helping the business realise its ambitions in the years ahead.”

Tamar Badashvili, CEO at SetantaBET, added: “We are excited to partner with LuckyStreak and further strengthen SetantaBET’s casino offering. This collaboration allows us to expand our game portfolio with content from leading providers and deliver even more entertainment and choice to our players.”

The post SetantaBET picks LuckyStreak for live dealer and casino aggregation deal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Abrajogo

SCCG Management Launches Dedicated SCCG Brazil Division with Local Partner Thomas Carvalhaes

Published

2 hours ago

July 15, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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New entity positions SCCG to serve international operators, investors, and technology providers entering Latin America’s largest regulated gaming market.

SCCG Management announces the formation of SCCG Brazil, a dedicated advisory entity built to serve the Brazilian gaming and iGaming market. The new division is led jointly by SCCG founder Stephen A. Crystal and Thomas Carvalhaes, a veteran of Brazil’s gaming ecosystem, who joins as Partner and co-manager of the operation.

The launch follows SCCG’s May 2026 establishment of its broader Latin American division and Miami office, which anchored the firm’s expanded presence across Spanish-speaking markets. Brazil, with its distinct regulatory framework, Portuguese-language market, and scale, has always warranted a dedicated approach. SCCG Brazil is that approach.

Why Brazil, why now

Brazil’s newly regulated gaming market is now the largest in Latin America and one of the fastest-growing in the world. In its first year under Law No. 14,790/2023, the regulated sector generated an estimated BRL 37 billion in gross gaming revenue, with 79 licensed operators serving approximately 25 million active bettors. The government collected close to BRL 10 billion in tax revenue, far exceeding initial projections. Market analysts project the sector to surpass USD 9 billion in annual revenue by 2033.

This is not a new market for SCCG. The firm has maintained a presence in Florianopolis, Brazil for nearly two decades, supporting clients across sports betting, iGaming technology, and gaming infrastructure. What has changed is the regulatory clarity. With the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) now fully operational under the Ministry of Finance and a permanent licensing framework in place, Brazil has moved from a high-potential gray market to a structured, investable, and compliance-driven environment.

“We have been working in Brazil longer than most people realize. The difference now is that the market has caught up to where we always believed it would go. With Thomas on the ground and our global network behind him, SCCG Brazil is built to move at the speed this market demands.”

— Stephen A. Crystal, Founder and CEO, SCCG Management

Leadership on the ground: Thomas Carvalhaes

Thomas Carvalhaes is a senior executive, board advisor, and one of the most influential strategists behind the consolidation of the sports betting and iGaming landscape in Latin America. As the CEO and Founder of TC iGaming Advisors and a founding advisory board member for Next.io LATAM, Thomas brings over 15 years of continuous leadership to the sector, specializing in market entry strategies, operational excellence, and complex regulatory compliance for global Tier-1 operators.

Throughout his career, he has steered multi-million dollar operations and commercial pipelines through evolving jurisdictional frameworks, having served as Country Manager and CEO for Stake in Brazil, alongside key leadership and strategic roles at Betway, LeoVegas, Hero Gaming, and Salsa-Betmotion. His expertise merges sharp regulatory intelligence with localized, high-performance business development, including the structuring and integration of innovative fintech solutions and instant localized payment frameworks such as the Pix ecosystem.

Thomas is a founding member of ABRAJOGO (Brazilian Gaming Association), playing an active role in driving industry-wide ethical standards and operational sustainability. Trilingual and fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he is a globally recognized industry voice who frequently features as a keynote speaker and panel moderator at the world’s premier gaming summits, including the SBC Summit, EGR, and SiGMA.

What SCCG Brazil does

SCCG Brazil will operate across SCCG Management’s established advisory workstreams, tailored for the Brazilian context:

Strategic Advisory: Regulatory navigation, market entry strategy, and M&A advisory for operators and investors targeting Brazil’s licensed market.

Capital Introductions: Connecting Brazilian gaming companies with international investors, and international operators with Brazilian capital and strategic partners.

Commercial Partnerships: Facilitating technology supplier, affiliate, and white-label distribution agreements between SCCG’s global client portfolio and Brazilian operators.

International Expansion: Supporting Brazilian operators looking to expand into other regulated markets across Latin America, Europe, and North America.

“Brazil’s regulated market has moved from potential to proof, generating billions in its first year under a fully structured licensing framework. International operators and investors need a partner who has navigated this market from the inside, through the regulatory buildout, the payment infrastructure, and the commercial realities on the ground. SCCG Brazil is that partner.”

— Thomas Carvalhaes, Partner, SCCG Brazil

The formation of SCCG Brazil reflects three converging forces. First, regulatory maturity: Brazil’s licensing regime is permanent, the SPA is actively enforcing compliance, and over 25,000 unlicensed sites have been blocked. Second, market scale: with a population exceeding 200 million and mobile penetration driving nearly all betting activity, Brazil offers the largest addressable audience in the region. Third, international demand: SCCG’s global client portfolio includes dozens of technology providers, platform operators, and investors actively seeking structured pathways into the Brazilian market.

SCCG Brazil operates as a division of SCCG Management, the gaming industry’s global advisory firm. With more than 30 years of experience, over 120 active client-partners worldwide, and offices spanning North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, SCCG provides end-to-end advisory services across iGaming, sports betting, sweepstakes, tribal gaming, and casino technology.

For partnership inquiries or to schedule a meeting, contact SCCG Management at sccgmanagement.com or reach Stephen Crystal directly via WhatsApp at +1 (725) 502-5033.

Explore SCCG Brazil’s full workstream breakdown, market data, and newsletter sign-up at sccgmanagement.com/sccg-brazil.

The post SCCG Management Launches Dedicated SCCG Brazil Division with Local Partner Thomas Carvalhaes appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Awards

Esportes Gaming Brasil takes two ClienteSA Awards 2026 wins; exec named Personality of the Year

Published

4 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Esportes Gaming Brasil (EGB), the group behind the Esportes da Sorte, Onabet and Lottu brands, has won Gold and Silver at the ClienteSA Awards 2026, held during the ClienteSA X-Summit 2026.

EGB said it won Gold in the Customer Success category for its case study, “Customer Success through Responsible Gaming and Intelligent Monitoring”, and Silver in the Customer Service Operations category for its case study, “From Startup to Maturity”.

Maria Neves, Director of Customer Experience, Customer Support and Reputation Channels, was also named Personality of the Year, an award that recognises leaders in customer experience management in Brazil. “This recognition validates the work of many people, built through listening, team development and a commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience. In a constantly evolving market, putting the customer at the centre of every decision is fundamental to the way we operate,” Neves said.

EGB executives also took part in the summit programme. Neves moderated a panel titled “Responsible Gaming as Part of the Customer Experience Journey,” featuring Carol Luna, Head of Compliance at the company, and Ricardo Magri, co-founder of the Brazilian Support Company for Compulsive Gambling (EBAC), which EGB described as a partner organisation.

During the session, the panellists discussed Brazil’s regulated betting market and how customer service, compliance and responsible gaming processes are being positioned as part of a safer customer journey. EGB highlighted initiatives including specialist support teams trained to identify signs of customer vulnerability, self-exclusion tools, platform usage limits and referral processes to specialist partner organisations.

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