In this first recap of the year, SBC Americas outlines the most important news of the Latin American industry in January. Continuing with the trends and the developments that the region experienced in 2022, the biggest highlights come from Brazil and Chile, as they introduced changes and proposals to the betting and lottery sectors, while Argentina promoted a measure that would change how crypto assets are perceived.
Brazil’s Ministry of Finance will be in charge of gambling and lotteries
The newly appointed Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a Provisional Measure to establish the Ministry of Finance as the new authority in charge of the lotteries, betting, and commercial sectors. Signed in the first week of his third mandate, the bill is the first one related to the betting sector that Lula has signed, although he’s expected to regulate the industry in the first quarter of the year.
Chile sets its sights on igaming again
The Andean country is likely to become the next one to regulate the igaming industry, and it unveiled different proposals in January to have an operational framework ready in the first half of the year. The operator Dreams proposed an alternative law to be able to launch as soon as possible, while a lawyer representing Betsson, Coolbet, Betano, Latamwin, and Estelarbet unveiled some initiatives to start a debate around the regulation.
New crypto law in Argentina?
The Argentinian Ministry of Economy published a Draft Law that would force citizens to declare their crypto holdings in the country and abroad. They would be subject to different taxes, although Bitcoin could be considered as a currency, based on the fact that it’s a legal tender in El Salvador. If approved, it would be mandatory for people to deposit the equivalent amount in pesos in a financial institution, or they would face severe penalties.
Apostala approved as the sole betting operator in Paraguay
Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez officially approved Apostala as the only sports betting licensee in the country. The license that will be valid for the next five years was awarded to the parent company Daruma Sam, which has been the only one to operate legally in Paraguay in the last four years, despite the fact that it’s being investigated by a federal committee for activities related to money-laundering.
Caixa and Febralot launch new games
After a sharp cut in marketing spending, the Brazilian National Lottery operator Caixa and the Brazilian Federation of Lottery Companies (Febralot) agreed to launch new games to compete with state lotteries and sports betting offers. The deal will pave the way for new games to be introduced at a national level, while advertising will increase around the game + Millonária and an institutional campaign will be promoted to highlight social contributions.
Chilean authorities question Betsson and the FA’s deal
Betsson scored the Chilean First Division title rights after signing a sponsorship deal with the National Association of Professional Football (ANFP). However, right after the announcement was made, the Representative who is promoting an advertising regulation project around betting and gaming in Chile, Marco Antonio Sulantay, declared that the association “incurs in illegality” and urged the government to ban these kinds of deals.
Apuesta Total invests in Peruvian football
Two of the most relevant soccer teams in Peru, Alianza Lima and Club Universitario signed the most important sponsorship deals of their history with the local betting operator Apuesta Total. The multi-year agreements include marketing activations and hospitality experiences, while the brand of the operator will also be featured on the front of both teams’ jerseys.
