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INTRALOT announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

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INTRALOT SA (RIC: INLr.AT, Bloomberg: INLOT GA), an international gaming solutions and operations leader, announces its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31st, 2022, prepared in accordance with IFRS.

 

OVERVIEW

Group Revenue at €97.7m in 1Q22 (+0.1% y-o-y).

EBITDA in 1Q22 at €26.1m (+4.9% y-o-y).

NIATMI (Net Income After Tax and Minority Interest) from continuing operations at €-5.7m, vs.

€-6.9m a year ago.

Greek entities OPEX better by 12.5% y-o-y.

Operating Cash Flow at €17.3m in 1Q22.

Group Net CAPEX in 1Q22 was €4.3m.

Group Cash at the end of 1Q22 at €98.0m.

Net Debt at €500.6m at the end of 1Q22.

Net Debt/ LTM EBITDA at 4.5x in 1Q22.

On April 26, 2022, INTRALOT announced that it will convene a shareholders’ meeting to approve a Share Capital Increase of the Company via a rights issue, up to an amount not exceeding the 150% of the paid-up share capital. The proceeds will be used to purchase the shares in Intralot Inc. currently not controlled by the parent Group. To this end a binding Sale Purchase Agreement has been signed with the minority shareholders controlling 33.2m shares of Intralot Inc. for a price of €3.65 per share, conditional upon successful completion of the Share Capital Increase. INTRALOT announced that it has signed a binding MOU with Standard General Master Fund II L.P., according to which Standard General will purchase all unallocated shares in the Share Capital Increase, up to a number not exceeding one third of the total voting shares of Intralot SA for up to €0.58 per share.

On May 23, 2022, an extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting provided authorization to the Board of Directors of Intralot SA to determine the terms of the Share Capital Increase and undertake all necessary actions.

 

Note:

 

Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this and other documents may not add up precisely to the totals.

Group Headline Figures

 

  (in € million) 1Q22 1Q21 % LTM  
  Change  
           
  Revenue (Turnover) 97.7 97.6 0.1% 414.1  
  GGR 79.8 78.9 1.2% 336.2  
  OPEX1 (21.8) (22.1) -1.2% (101.4)  
  EBITDA2 26.1 24.9 4.9% 111.7  
  EBITDA Margin 26.7% 25.5% + 1.2pps 27.0%  
  (% on Revenue)  
           
  EBITDA Margin 32.7% 31.6% + 1.1pps 33.2%  
  (% on GGR)  
           
  Capital Structure Optimization (0.3) (5.0) -93.9% (12.4)  
  expenses  
           
  D&A (17.1) (15.9) 7.3% (72.2)  
  EBT (2.3) (2.8) 17.5% 37.6  
  EBT Margin (%) -2.4% -2.9% + 0.5pps 9.1%  
  NIATMI from continuing operations (5.7) (6.9) 17.9% 27.8  
  Total Assets 580.5 612.1  
  Gross Debt 598.6 734.3  
  Net Debt 500.6 643.7  
  Operating Cash Flow from total 17.3 24.5 -29.6% 100.4  
  operations  
           
  Net CAPEX (4.3) (2.9) 47.3% (24.3)  
             

 

 

INTRALOT Chairman & CEO Sokratis P. Kokkalis noted:

“First quarter results show a consolidation of gains and recovery from the COVID impact and reflect an improved financial profile, with normalized revenues and a reduction in operational expenses and debt servicing costs consistent with the Company’s business plan. On the background of this strongly improved P/L and Balance Sheet, the Company has designed and is about to launch a Share Capital Increase by means of Rights Issue and has secured the commitment of Standard General Master Fund

  • P. as cornerstone investor for the unsubscribed rights in a move that will significantly strengthen our prospects to grasp the tremendous opportunities in the US and the global markets.”
  • OPEX line presented excludes the capital structure optimization expenses.
  • The Group defines “EBITDA” as “Operating Profit/(Loss) before tax” adjusted for the figures “Profit/(loss) from equity method consolidations”, “Profit/(loss) to net monetary position”, “Exchange Differences”, “Interest and related income”, “Interest and similar expenses”, “Income/(expenses) from participations and investments”, “Write-off and impairment loss of assets”, “Gain/(loss) from assets disposal”, “Reorganization costs” and “Assets’ depreciation and amortization”.

 

OVERVIEW OF RESULTS

REVENUE

Reported consolidated revenue posted a steady performance compared to 1Q21, leading to total revenue for the three-month period ended March 31st, 2022, of €97.7m (+0.1%).

  • Lottery Games was the largest contributor to our top line, comprising 61.9% of our revenue, followed by Sports Betting which contributed 18.8% to Group turnover for the three-month period. Technology contracts accounted for 7.7% and VLTs monitoring represented 11.2% of Group turnover, while Racing constituted the 0.5% of total revenue.
  • Reported consolidated revenue for the three-month period is higher only by €0.1m year over year. The main factors behind the steady top line performance per Business Activity are:
  • €+1.8m (+6.1%) from our Licensed

Operations (B2C) activity line with the variance driven by:

  • Higher revenue in Argentina (€+2.5m or +32.0% y-o-y), driven by local market growth. In local currency, current year results posted a +50.4% y-o-y increase, and
  • Lower revenue in Malta (€-0.6m or -2.9% y-o-y), driven by market performance.
  • €+0.7m (+1.3%) from our Technology and Support Services (B2B/ B2G) activity line, with the variance driven by:
  • Higher revenue in Australia (€+1.1m or +30.6% y-o-y), due to lockdown restrictions in 1Q21,
  • Higher revenue in Croatia (€+0.9m), following the go-live of the lottery solution developed for Hrvatska Lutrija (national lottery of Croatia),
  • Higher revenue from other jurisdictions (€+0.5m) mainly due to services related sales, and
  • Lower revenue in US operations (€-1.9m or -5.1% y-o-y), was primarily affected by the nonrecurrence of the jackpot that boosted 1Q21 sales by c. €4.0m. Revenue from services ended lower by -3.4% y-o-y, while revenue from merchandise sales generated a deficit of -55.4% y-o-y due to their less frequent nature. From a currency perspective, there was a positive impact of 6.9% (Euro depreciation versus a year ago — in average terms).
  • €-2.4m (-18.3%)   from   our

 

Management (B2B/ B2G) contracts activity line with the variance driven by:

  • Slightly higher revenue in Morocco (€+0.1m),
  • Marginally higher revenue from our US Sports Betting contracts in Montana and Washington, D.C. (€+0.1m), and
  • Lower revenue from our Turkish operations (€-2.6m), solely affected by the appreciation of EUR (+75.8% versus a year ago – in average terms). In local currency, current year results posted a +20.4% y-o-y increase. In 1Q22, the local Sports Betting market expanded close to 1.3 times y-o-y, with the online segment representing close to 89% of the market at the end of 1Q22.
  • Constant currency basis: In 1Q22, revenue — net of the negative FX impact of €3.8m —reached €101.4m (+4.0% y-o-y).

 

GROSS GAMING REVENUE & Payout

  • Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) from continuing operations concluded at €79.8m in 1Q22, posting an increase of 1.2% (or €+0.9m) year over year, attributable to:
  • the decrease in the non-payout related GGR (-1.7% y-o-y or €-1.2m vs. 1Q21), driven mainly by the lower top line contribution of our US operations (jackpot affected), followed by
  • the increase in the payout related GGR (+20.2% y-o-y or €+2.1m vs. 1Q21), driven mainly by the lower average payout ratio both in Malta and Argentina (+4.3% y-o-y on wagers from licensed operations3). 1Q22 Average Payout Ratio4 decreased by 5.4pps vs. 1Q21 (58.9% vs. 64.4%), significantly affected by the higher weighted contribution from our operations in Malta.
  • Constant currency basis: In 1Q22, GGR — net of the negative FX impact of €3.1m — reached €82.9m (+5.1% y-o-y).
  • Licensed Operations Revenue also include a small portion of non-Payout related revenue, i.e., value-added services, which totaled €1.3m and €0.8m for 1Q22 and 1Q21respectively.
  • Payout ratio calculation excludes the IFRS 15 impact for payments to customers.

 

OPERATING EXPENSES5 & EBITDA6

  • Total Operating Expenses ended lower by €0.3m (or -1.2%) in 1Q22 (€21.8m vs. €22.1m). After excluding the higher D&A expenses (€0.7m) in USA, Morocco and Croatia, Operating Expenses ended lower by €0.9m supported by cost containments in HQ perimeter.
  • Other Operating Income from continuing operations ended at €5.7m presenting an increase of 3.2% y-o-y (or €+0.2m). The bulk of income is driven by the equipment leases in the USA.
  • EBITDA from continuing operations amounted to €26.1m in 1Q22, posting an increase of 4.9% (or €+1.2m) compared to 1Q21. Despite the absence of jackpot that boosted significantly 1Q21 performance (US operations), the Group has managed to improve its EBITDA via the combined effect of the lower payout from our licensed operations and the lower Operating Expenses.
  • On a yearly basis, EBITDA margin on sales improved to 26.7%, compared to 25.5% in 1Q21 (+1.2pps).
  • LTM EBITDA stands at €7m.

 

  • Constant currency basis: In 1Q22, EBITDA, net of the negative FX impact of €1.4m, reached €27.5m (+10.5% y-o-y).

 

EBT / NIATMI

EBT in 1Q22 totaled €-2.3m, compared to €-2.8m in 1Q21, with the variance driven by:

  • the lower reorganization expenses following the succesful conclusion of our capital structure optimization process (€+4.7m vs 1Q21),
  • the lower interest expenses, direct effect of debt restructuring (€+1.9m vs 1Q21)
  • the positive impact from EBITDA (€+1.2m vs 1Q21)

 

The major headwinds affecting the improved perfornance can be attributed to:

  • the negative impact from FX results (€-4.2m vs 1Q21), as a result of the valuation of cash balances in foreign currency other than the functional currency of each entity, the valuation of commercial and borrowing liabilities of various subsidiaries abroad in EUR, as well as the negative effect from the reclassification of FX reserves to Income Statement applying IFRS 10,
  • the recognition of expenses vs income from participations and investments (€-1.5m vs 1Q21),
  • the higher D&A (€-1.2m vs 1Q21), mainly due to Turkey (Bilyoner) and Morocco
  • the accounting loss identified due to IAS 29 in our Argentinian operations (€-1.1m vs 1Q21).

 

Constant currency basis: In 1Q22 EBΤ, adjusted for the FX impact, reached €-0.4m, from €-6.5m in 1Q21.

  • NIATMI from continuing operations in 1Q22 concluded at €-5.7m compared to €-6.9m in 1Q21. NIATMI from total operations in 1Q22 amounted to €-5.7m (improved by €2.6m vs. a year ago), including the performance of the discontinued operations in Peru and Brazil.
  • Constant currency basis: NIATMI (total operations) in 1Q22, on a constant currency basis, reached €-5.3m from €-12.1m in 1Q21.
  • Operating Expenses analysis excludes expenditures related to capital structure optimization.
  • EBITDA analysis excludes Depreciation & Amortization, and expenditures related to capital structure optimization.

 

CASH-FLOW

  • Operating Cash-flow in 1Q22 amounted to €17.3m, lower by €7.3m, compared to 1Q21. Excluding the operating cash-flow contribution of our discontinued operations in Brazil, the cash-flow from operating activities is lower by €7.0m vs. a year ago and is attributed to Income Tax payments vs returns 1Q21.
  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow7 in 1Q22 decreased by €2.9m to €1.7m, compared to €4.6m a year ago. The main negative contributors to this variance were the income tax paid vs return in 1Q21 (€-7.4m y-o-y) and the higher maintenance capex (€-1.8m). On positive ground, dividends paid during the period were lower (€+3.1m y-o-y), net finance charges following the capital restructuring generated savings (€+2.0m y-o-y) and EBITDA performance has been improved (€+1.2m y-o-y).
  • Net CAPEX in 1Q22 was €4.3m, higher by €1.4m compared to 1Q21. CAPEX in 1Q22 has been allocated towards R&D and project pipeline delivery (€0.3m), US (€3.0m) and the rest of operations (€1.0m). Maintenance CAPEX accounted for €2.2m, or 52.0% of the overall capital expenditure in 1Q22, from €0.8m or 28.2% in 1Q21.
  • Net Debt, as of March 31st, 2022, stood at €500.6m, increased by €3.4m compared to December 31st, 2021 (€497.2m). The Net Debt increase was impacted primarily by the normal course of business following an adverse working capital movement, the exchange rate differences

(€+4.7m) for our USD denominated debt, and investments in growth capex (€+1.4m) for our US operations. The increase was partially offset by the lower interest accrued over 1Q22 vs December 2021.

  • Calculated as EBITDA – Maintenance CAPEX – Cash Taxes – Net Cash Finance Charges (excluding refinancing charges) – Net Dividends Paid; all finance metrics exclude the impact of discontinued operations.

 

OUTLOOK

Although the risks associated with the pandemic of COVID-19 have been downgraded, the geopolitical tension arising from the war in Ukraine coupled with the energy crisis, the supply chain disruptions and the rising inflation are factors that are expected to determine the economic outlook over the coming months.

Our Group does not have direct exposure in terms of operations or dependency on suppliers in Ukraine and Russia. However, the risk of indirect effects on the Group’s business activities from the reduction in the household disposable income and the possible increase in operating expenses due to inflationary pressures cannot be overlooked.

The Management of the Company monitors the geopolitical and economic developments on a constant basis and is ready to take all the necessary measures for protecting its operations.

 

RECENT/ SIGNIFICANT COMPANY DEVELOPMENTS

  • On April 26, 2022, INTRALOT announced that it will convene a shareholders’ meeting to approve a Share Capital Increase of the Company via a rights issue, up to an amount not exceeding the 150% of the paid-up share capital. The proceeds will be used to purchase the shares in Intralot Inc. currently not controlled by the parent Group. To this end a binding Sale Purchase Agreement has been signed with the minority shareholders controlling 33,227,256 ordinary shares of Intralot Inc. for a price of €3.65 per share, conditional upon successful completion of the Share Capital Increase. INTRALOT announced that it has signed a binding MOU with Standard General Master Fund II L.P., according to which Standard General will purchase all unallocated shares in the Share Capital Increase, up to a number not exceeding one third of the total voting shares of Intralot SA for up to €0.58 per share.
  • On May 23, 2022, an extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting provided authorization to the Board of Directors of Intralot SA to determine the terms of the Share Capital Increase and undertake all necessary actions.

 

APPENDIX

Performance per Business Segment8

YTD Performance

Performance per Geography

Revenue Breakdown

(in € million)   1Q22   1Q21 %
    Change
         
Europe   35.8   34.4 4.0%
Americas   52.3   50.5 3.4%
Other   15.3   16.8 -8.9%
Eliminations   (5.7)   (4.2)
Total Consolidated Sales   97.7   97.6 0.1%

 

Gross Profit Breakdown

(in € million)   1Q22   1Q21 %
    Change
         
Europe   3.5   (1.7)
Americas   11.4   13.8 -17.5%
Other   13.0   14.2 -8.4%
Eliminations   (2.7)   (0.7)
Total Consolidated Gross Profit   25.2   25.6 -1.6%

 

  • Part of the US revenue that concerns SB management, has been included under the category “Game Management”. The rest of the US revenue is included under the “Technology” business segment.

 

Gross Margin Breakdown          
            %
      1Q22   1Q21
        Change
           
  Europe   9.8%   -5.1% + 14.8pps
  Americas   21.8%   27.4% – 5.5pps
  Other   84.8%   84.4% + 0.4pps
  Total Consolidated Gross Margin   25.8%   26.2% – 0.4pps

 

INTRALOT Parent Company results

  • Revenue for the period increased by 28.1%, to €6.0m, with the improvement driven by the higher rendering of services towards the Group’s subsidiaries in the current period.
  • EBITDA shaped at €-1.3m from €-4.5m in 1Q21, with the positive variance stemming from the top-line improvement that generated higher profitability due to better margins and lower costs.
  • Earnings after Taxes (EAT) at €-6.7m from €-0.1m in 1Q21, impacted mainly by the gain recorded in 1Q21 following the sale of Intralot de Peru.

 

(in € million)   1Q22   1Q21 %
    Change
         
Revenue   6.0   4.6 28.1%
Gross Profit   (0.5)   (3.1) -82.9%
Other Operating Income9   0.1   0.0
OPEX9   (4.5)   (5.1) -11.8%
EBITDA9   (1.3)   (4.5) 71.5%
EAT   (6.7)   (0.1)
CAPEX (paid)   (0.3)   (0.5) -35.4%

 

  • Other Operating Income, Operating Expenses and EBITDA lines presented exclude the expenditures and recharges related to capital structure optimization.

 

CONFERENCE CALL INVITATION – 1Q22 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Sokratis Kokkalis – Chairman & CEO, Chrysostomos Sfatos – Deputy Group CEO, Nikolaos Nikolakopoulos – Deputy Group CEO, Fotis Konstantellos – Deputy Group CEO, Andreas Chrysos – Group CFO, Nikolaos Pavlakis – Group Tax & Accounting Director, Antonis Skiadas – Group Finance, Controlling & Budgeting Director and Michail Tsagalakis – Capital Markets Director, will address INTRALOT’s analysts and institutional investors to present the Company’s 1Q22 results, as well as to discuss the latest developments at the Company.

 

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Inside EGR Power 50: Shaping the Future of iGaming in Marbella

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Held between April 13 and 16 in Marbella, the EGR Power 50 gathered some of the most influential voices in the global iGaming industry for a rare moment of strategic reflection and high-level exchange.

In this article, Fellipe Fraga, Chief Business Officer at Stellar Gaming, shares his firsthand perspective from the event, highlighting the key discussions shaping the sector, from the growing role of artificial intelligence to the emergence of prediction markets and the increasing complexity of regulation, while also reflecting on Brazil’s rising relevance in the global landscape.

The future in Marbella

By Fellipe Fraga

What for many is a holiday destination has, for the iGaming world, become for a few days a true laboratory of the future.

It was in Marbella, Spain, that the EGR Power 50 took place, held at the Puente Romano Resort, bringing together some of the leading global figures in the industry in an environment that combined strategic reflection, exchange of experiences, and relationship building.

More than an event, it was a pause. A rare moment in which executives, who live under daily pressure, were able to look more calmly at what lies ahead.

The meeting was not just about networking. Above all, it served as a space to discuss the sector’s recent challenges and, especially, the transformations that are already beginning to reshape the global market.

The Brazilian presence also played a relevant role in this context. Stellar Gaming, through EstrelaBet, was highlighted as one of the “six to watch” at the event, representing Brazil among a select group of global operators.

In a predominantly international environment, I was the only Brazilian executive present, which reinforces not only the company’s prominence but also the level of attention the Brazilian market has been attracting on the global stage.

As expected, topics such as artificial intelligence and prediction markets dominated much of the conversation. In the case of artificial intelligence, the discussion is no longer about “if,” but about “how.”

How can these tools be better used to gain operational efficiency?

How can teams be enhanced? And perhaps most importantly: what new products and experiences can emerge from this new technological layer?

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a support tool and is now taking on a central role in companies’ strategies.

Prediction markets, on the other hand, bring an even more sensitive debate. Are we talking about something complementary to the traditional betting model, or a new competitor? The answer, at least for now, depends on perspective.

On one side, we have the classic model, in which the operator sets the odds and assumes the risk.

On the other, an environment where the dynamic is market-driven, with prices formed through the interaction between participants.

This raises relevant questions: are we dealing with distinct products or variations within the same category?

Is the simple combination of forecasting future events and financial exposure enough to classify them under the same concept? Or are the operational structure and the role of the operator the determining factors in this distinction?

And perhaps the most important question of all: how will regulators approach this development?

If there is one thing that is clear, it is that regulation—already one of the industry’s major topics today—is likely to become even more challenging in the coming years.

Another interesting aspect of the event was the mastermind sessions. In these more closed discussions, away from the stages, candid conversations emerged about day-to-day operations, strategic decisions, and even mistakes made along the way.

This type of exchange, often more honest and less institutional, is what truly accelerates the development of the sector. And, of course, there is also the human side.

Between a round of golf and a wine tasting, the event reinforced something that, at the end of the day, remains central: this is an industry made up of people.

For that reason, getting to know who is on the other side of the table, building trust, and strengthening relationships remains just as important as any technological innovation.

Perhaps this is the greatest value of gatherings such as the EGR Power 50.

In a sector that is growing rapidly, constantly transforming, and operating under regulatory and competitive pressure, taking time to collectively reflect on the future is not only useful, but necessary.

Because, in the end, the future of iGaming will not be defined solely by technology or regulation, but by the ability of its leaders to interpret change, make decisions, and, above all, act before others.

Fellipe Fraga is Chief Business Officer (CBO) responsible for Institutional Relations at Stellar Gaming.

Holds a law degree from PUC Minas, with a specialization in Public Law from UNESA, and has extensive experience in Public, Electoral, and International Law. He was a founding member of the Superior Court of Sports Justice for American Football (STJD-FA) and served on the Sports Law Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB-MG).

The post Inside EGR Power 50: Shaping the Future of iGaming in Marbella appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Bets bajo vigilancia: salud pública, el STF y el mercado en Brasil

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El sector de iGaming de Brasil está entrando en una fase decisiva a medida que la creciente presión de los legisladores, el poder judicial y las autoridades de salud pública comienza a remodelar la trayectoria de la industria.

Con la aceleración del PL 4583/24, una creciente represión por parte del Tribunal Supremo Federal sobre la deuda relacionada con el juego y un mayor escrutinio sobre las prácticas de los operadores y los flujos de pago, el debate ha ido mucho más allá de la regulación hacia los ámbitos del impacto social y la estabilidad económica.

Al mismo tiempo, el creciente tráfico de usuarios destaca un mercado que continúa expandiéndose rápidamente, preparando el escenario para un complejo acto de equilibrio entre crecimiento, supervisión y responsabilidad en el cambiante panorama de las apuestas en Brasil.

Salud Pública en el Radar

El escenario legislativo brasileño en relación con el iGaming ha cambiado de nivel esta semana con la aprobación del régimen de urgencia para el PL 4583/24, de autoría del diputado Ruy Carneiro.

La decisión, tomada el miércoles (22), indica que el Congreso ya no ve la ludopatía simplemente como un efecto secundario, sino como una emergencia nacional que exige una estrategia de atención centrada en la adicción a los juegos y apuestas digitales.

El texto propone la creación del Programa Nacional de Asistencia Integral, que pretende movilizar las estructuras del SUS y del SUAS para ofrecer soporte médico, psicológico y social a los afectados.

La justificación de tal premura reside en cifras alarmantes que conectan la economía doméstica con la fiebre de las apuestas.

El autor del proyecto destacó un estudio del Banco Central que revela que, solo en agosto de 2024, los beneficiarios del programa Bolsa Família destinaron cerca de 3.000 millones de reales a plataformas de apuestas a través de PIX.

En la práctica, esto significa que 1 de cada 5 reales transferidos por el gobierno a estas familias termina en las “bets”.

Además del impacto financiero, el aumento en la demanda de atención de salud pública es evidente, con los casos de juego patológico atendidos por el SUS saltando de 108 a 1.200 entre 2018 y 2023.

El proyecto no se limita al tratamiento, sino que avanza sobre el monitoreo y la publicidad.

Se prevén directrices estrictas para proteger a los menores de edad y la creación de mecanismos técnicos para detectar comportamientos compulsivos directamente en las plataformas.

Para viabilizar estas acciones, las empresas de apuestas estarán obligadas a proporcionar datos anónimos para análisis epidemiológicos.

La financiación del programa provendrá de una combinación de impuestos sobre las propias plataformas, alianzas privadas y recursos del Fondo Nacional de Salud.

Con el régimen de urgencia, el texto puede ser incluido directamente en el orden del día del Pleno de la Cámara, ignorando plazos reglamentarios y el trámite demorado en diversas comisiones.

 El STF y el “Mínimo Existencial”

Paralelamente al Legislativo, el Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) ha iniciado un debate profundo que sitúa a las apuestas online como un factor central en la crisis de endeudamiento de los brasileños.

Durante el análisis de la validez de los decretos que fijan en 600 reales el valor del “mínimo existencial” para consumidores sobreendeudados, los ministros elevaron el tono contra el mercado.

El ministro Flávio Dino fue categórico al afirmar que el dinero necesario para la subsistencia básica está siendo drenado por manipulaciones perversas que conducen a desastres familiares y vulneran la dignidad humana.

El ministro Luiz Fux, relator de acciones relacionadas, clasificó a las plataformas como uno de los motores del endeudamiento, vinculando la adicción a problemas psiquiátricos graves y casos extremos de suicidio.

Fux recordó su decisión previa de prohibir el uso de recursos del programa Bolsa Família en apuestas y señaló que la alta recaudación de estas empresas genera tensiones institucionales que dificultan el tratamiento adecuado del problema.

Por su parte, el decano Gilmar Mendes citó a Portugal como ejemplo de buenas prácticas, donde la dependencia del juego se trata como una adicción patológica con sectores de atención especializados, y prometió que el Supremo tendrá un “encuentro marcado” con este tema en un futuro próximo.

El juicio, que se reanudará tras la solicitud de vista y ajustes en los votos, se encamina hacia un consenso sobre la necesidad de revisiones técnicas periódicas del valor del mínimo existencial por parte del Consejo Monetario Nacional (CMN).

Los ministros coinciden en que el escenario actual de los préstamos de nómina y la “maldición de los juegos” exige un análisis de impacto regulatorio constante para evitar que las deudas se vuelvan impagables y destruyan la red de protección social del país.

La Trinchera de la Integridad Sectorial

En el ámbito operativo, el papel de las empresas de pago se ha convertido en la pieza clave para garantizar que la regulación sea efectiva.

La empresa brasileña Pay4Fun, por ejemplo, ha reforzado su actuación internacional al participar en el Foro de Proveedores de Pago de la IBIA para mitigar riesgos y combatir operaciones ilegales.

La estrategia defendida es asfixiar financieramente a las plataformas no autorizadas, monitoreando las licencias de los operadores y fortaleciendo los procesos de verificación de usuarios, conocidos como KYC y KYB.

El CEO de Pay4Fun, Leonardo Baptista, sostiene que, al ser los canales por donde circula el dinero, los métodos de pago tienen la responsabilidad de identificar transacciones sospechosas y cuentas de fachada que alimentan fraudes y manipulaciones.

Con la vigencia de la Ley nº 14.790/2023, los proveedores tienen legalmente prohibido procesar transacciones para empresas sin licencia, lo que eleva la responsabilidad de estas instituciones en la protección del usuario y en la garantía de una competencia leal dentro del mercado regulado.

Brasil No Deja de Hacer Clic

Mientras Brasilia debate leyes y restricciones, el mercado de consumo muestra una vitalidad impresionante.

Datos recientes revelan que el tráfico en las diez principales plataformas de apuestas en Brasil superó los 1.340 millones de accesos mensuales entre 2024 y 2026.

Betano consolida su liderazgo absoluto con 426 millones de visitas mensuales, seguida de Superbet y 7Games. Estas tres empresas por sí solas concentran más de la mitad de toda la atención del público brasileño en el sector.

Se ha identificado un cambio de comportamiento notable: el usuario brasileño es más maduro en relación con las marcas.

En lugar de buscar términos genéricos como “apuestas deportivas”, el público realiza ahora búsquedas directas por los nombres de las operadoras, con Betano liderando también el volumen de búsquedas orgánicas.

El caso de Superbet también llama la atención por convertir altos volúmenes de accesos mediante estrategias agresivas de marketing y patrocinios, superando en tráfico a plataformas tradicionalmente fuertes en búsquedas, como bet365. 

The post Bets bajo vigilancia: salud pública, el STF y el mercado en Brasil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Bets Under Scrutiny: Public Health, the Supreme Court, and Brazil’s Market

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Brazil’s iGaming sector is entering a decisive phase as mounting pressure from lawmakers, the judiciary, and public health authorities begins to reshape the industry’s trajectory.

With the fast-tracking of PL 4583/24, a growing crackdown from the Supreme Federal Court on gambling-related debt, and increasing scrutiny over operator practices and payment flows, the debate has moved far beyond regulation into the realms of social impact and economic stability.

At the same time, surging user traffic highlights a market that continues to expand rapidly, setting the stage for a complex balancing act between growth, oversight, and responsibility in Brazil’s evolving betting landscape.

Public Health on the Radar

The Brazilian legislative landscape regarding iGaming reached a new level this week with the approval of urgency for PL 4583/24, authored by Congressman Ruy Carneiro.

The decision, made on Wednesday (22nd), signals that Congress no longer views ludopathy as a mere side effect, but as a national emergency requiring a focused care strategy for addiction to digital games and betting.

The text proposes the creation of the National Integral Assistance Program, which intends to mobilize SUS and SUAS structures to offer medical, psychological, and social support to those affected.

The justification for such haste lies in alarming figures connecting domestic finances to the betting fever.

The project’s author highlighted a Central Bank study revealing that, in August 2024 alone, Bolsa Família beneficiaries spent approximately R$ 3 billion on betting platforms via PIX.

In practice, this means R$ 1 out of every R$ 5 transferred by the government to these families ends up in “bets”.

Beyond the financial impact, the increase in public health demand is evident, with pathological gambling cases treated by SUS jumping from 108 to 1,200 between 2018 and 2023.

The project is not limited to treatment but also addresses monitoring and advertising.

Strict guidelines are planned to protect minors and create technical mechanisms to detect compulsive behaviors directly on the platforms.

To facilitate these actions, betting companies will be required to provide anonymous data for epidemiological analysis.

Funding for the program will come from a combination of taxes on the platforms themselves, private partnerships, and resources from the National Health Fund.

With the urgency regime, the text can be scheduled directly for the House Floor, bypassing regulatory deadlines and lengthy committee processes.

The STF and the “Existential Minimum”

In parallel with the Legislature, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) began a profound debate placing online betting as a central factor in the Brazilian indebtedness crisis.

During the analysis of decrees fixing the “existential minimum” for over-indebted consumers at R$ 600, ministers sharpened their tone against the market.

Justice Flávio Dino stated that money needed for basic subsistence is being drained by perverse manipulations leading to family disasters and violating human dignity.

Justice Luiz Fux, rapporteur of related actions, classified platforms as a driver of debt, linking addiction to severe psychiatric problems and extreme cases of suicide.

Fux recalled his previous decision to ban Bolsa Família funds from betting and noted that the high revenue of these companies creates institutional tensions that hinder proper handling of the issue.

Justice Gilmar Mendes cited Portugal as an example of best practices, where gambling dependency is treated as a pathological addiction with specialized care sectors, and promised that the Supreme Court has a “tryst with this theme” in the near future.

The judgment, set to resume after a request for view and vote adjustments, moves toward a consensus on the need for periodic technical reviews of the existential minimum by the National Monetary Council (CMN).

Ministers agree the current landscape of payroll loans and the “curse of gambling” requires constant regulatory impact analysis to prevent debts from becoming unpayable and destroying the country’s social protection network.

The Trench of Sectoral Integrity

In the operational field, the role of payment companies has become key to ensuring regulations are effective.

The Brazilian company Pay4Fun, for instance, has strengthened its international presence by participating in the IBIA Payment Providers Forum to mitigate risks and combat illegal operations.

The strategy is to financially suffocate unlicensed platforms by monitoring operator licenses and strengthening user validation processes (KYC and KYB).

Pay4Fun CEO Leonardo Baptista argues that payment methods have a responsibility to identify suspicious transactions and front accounts that fuel fraud and match-fixing.

Under Law No. 14,790/2023, providers are legally prohibited from processing transactions for unlicensed companies, raising their responsibility within the state-regulated ecosystem to protect users and ensure fair competition.

Brazil Can’t Stop Clicking

While Brasília debates laws, the consumer market shows impressive vitality. Recent data shows traffic to Brazil’s top 10 betting platforms exceeded 1.34 billion monthly visits between 2024 and 2026.

Betano consolidates its absolute leadership with 426 million monthly visits, followed by Superbet and 7Games. Together, these three companies hold more than half of the sector’s traffic.

A notable behavioral change was identified: Brazilian users are more brand-aware. Instead of generic searches, the public now searches directly for operator names, with Betano also leading in organic search volume.

Superbet also draws attention for converting high traffic volumes through aggressive marketing and sponsorship strategies, surpassing search-heavy platforms like bet365.

The post Bets Under Scrutiny: Public Health, the Supreme Court, and Brazil’s Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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