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Brazil

Where does the Sport of Kings fit into the Brazilian market?

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1 year ago

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With a regulated Brazil now in sight, Richard Duncan, Head of Business Development at racing odds and data provider PA Betting Services, assesses the potential for the sport to become a key product in this emerging market

 

With the last few months having seen Brazil’s sports betting bill clear all the hurdles needed to finally be signed into law, many in the sports betting world have understandably taken a keen interest in the possibilities offered by South America’s largest country.

The home of footballing greats Pelé and Ronaldo and boasting more World Cup titles than any other country, Brazil’s passion for and the resulting potential of football betting is clear. There are a number of parallels to be drawn between a market such as the UK and Brazil when it comes to football. For one thing, the similar level of devotion among the fan base looks set to ensure that football will easily remain the biggest betting turnover generator in Brazil, as it is in the UK.

What’s less clear is how likely racing is to come anywhere near the second place it holds in the UK market, where it accounted for 36% of remote betting turnover in the last set of official Gambling Commission statistics. However, there are a number of comparisons that can be made between the UK and Brazil when it comes to racing. For example, there’s a hardcore fraternity of racing fans and many more casual racegoers, those who are likely to view a day at the races as much in terms of the experience as the opportunity to have a flutter. Not to mention that Brazil boasts the third-largest horse population globally. The thoroughbred industry has been growing steadily since the 1990s, with notable group one winners such as Siphon, Sandpit and, more recently, Bal a Bali elevating the breed’s prominence.

But there’s a huge difference in the local availability of racing. While Brazil’s enormous size makes it the fifth largest country in the world and its population of more than 215 million makes it the seventh most populated, it has just four racetracks, albeit these are well-attended on race days. The UK, ranked 80th by land area and 21st by population, meanwhile, is home to 59 racecourses.

This disparity goes some way to explaining why football is taking the lion’s share of sports betting turnover in Brazil despite currently being unregulated, while racing takes a fraction of this even though it’s been legal for many years.

Online operators could be doing more to cash in on local racing than they currently are. The key to making the most of the Brazilian opportunity is educating the local population on the benefits of betting opportunities that the sheer volume of international races affords and cross-selling this to keen sports bettors.

Filling the gaps

Because while football is unlikely to lose its crown as the most popular sport among Brazilian bettors, the problem with football, NFL, basketball, MMA, golf, tennis and everything else, is that there are so many gaps in the schedule. And once the significant licence fees outlined in the new law have been paid, both local and foreign operators are likely going to need to optimise their product with as little downtime as possible in order to justify their investment.

Racing has the edge over all other sports because on a global basis there exists a full calendar where there is always something to bet on.

In the UK and Ireland we’ve already seen this approach used to great effect with the relatively recent introductions of North American, French, South African, Australian and Asian racing for domestic audiences. This secondary content does well as it lands in either prime leisure hours or is filler at weekends or for poor weather conditions. The increasing globalisation of racing was, in fact, one of the key reasons for our acquisition of Asian racing data provider iRace Media in the second half of last year.

In this respect, foreign operators, some of which have established a foothold in Brazil prior to a regulatory regime and are savvy with this approach used in established markets, may have an edge over others, simply because they’re experienced with the product.

Brazil is likely to be the same as any other fledgling market in the sense that if a company has just started offering a legal gambling product, they are likely going to have greater comfort in offering products to bet on that they are familiar with.

Mitigating the risk

In conversations our team has had with operators in emerging markets such as Brazil, Latam and Africa, the racing knowledge gap is an issue that’s come up repeatedly. They could easily integrate with a data provider such as ourselves from a technical perspective, but they may not fully understand the data they are looking at and some worry this leaves them overexposed.

There are a number of things that make racing more challenging than other sports to trade. For a start, the vernacular used in racing is not something that everyone understands if they’ve not been exposed to it before. In addition, a lot of operators fear racing because while they believe it can make them good money, they know there are people out there, professional punters and big racing syndicates, that know more about racing than their own traders.

This view is not unique to Brazil or even new markets, it’s something we also hear in our core markets and it possibly goes some way to explaining why new operators sometimes take every sport on offer before they get to racing. But inevitably, most take racing at some point because the volume on offer is too great to ignore. However, one recent shift worth mentioning is that more operators new to racing are opting for a platform partner or pricing partner to avoid being exposed to risks they aren’t comfortable with.

This is something that may be even more attractive to operators in emerging markets like Brazil given their lack of experience with global fixed odds racing to date. One thing that may work in their favour is that the country’s bettors would also appear to lack the maturity shown in established markets when it comes to the type of bets they are placing.

For instance, virtually all of the bets taken on football in Brazil are multis, which are bad for punters but which operators love as they are high margin and low risk. A diverse racing portfolio similarly has the potential to deliver high margins for operators and keep players engaged year-round, meaning the product could be just as successful in Brazil as it is in many more established markets.

 

Richard Duncan is Head of Business Development at PA Betting Services. He has been with parent company PA Media Group since 2002, with the bulk of his career having been spent working in its racing team.

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Brazil

Wildly popular ‘Fortune Tiger’ game among PG Soft Brazil rollout

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2 days ago

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May 13, 2025

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Global iGaming powerhouse SkillOnNet has announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with award-winning game developer PG Soft bringing the studio’s acclaimed content to the regulated Brazilian market.

The move comes just months after SkillOnNet went live in Brazil with its licensed brands PlayUZU.br and BacanaPlay.br, as one of the first operators to gain approval from the brand-new licensing regime.

The integration of PG Soft’s engaging portfolio, including the wildly popular Fortune Tiger, will bolster SkillOnNet’s offering in one of the most exciting emerging markets in the world.

Fortune Tiger, known locally as Jogo do Tigrinho, has become a cultural phenomenon in Brazil. Its rapid rise has been fueled by viral marketing on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where influencers showcase big wins and gameplay tips.

PG Soft’s content is already live in over 100 countries and supports 23 languages and 100 currencies. Known for rich visuals and innovative mechanics, the studio has earned global recognition for its ability to connect with players across diverse markets.

SkillOnNet operates more than 40 brands in regulated markets globally and boasts a platform of over 7,000 titles from the industry’s top providers. PG Soft’s integration further diversifies SkillOnNet’s content portfolio, solidifying its position as a key player in Brazil’s rapidly growing iGaming landscape.

Jani Kontturi, Head of Games at SkillOnNet said: “Brazil is a market full of potential, and we’re investing heavily to ensure we become a top-tier operator here. PG Soft’s content, especially Fortune Tiger, has already made a big impact in the region. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to localising our offering and bringing world-class entertainment to the market.”

PG Soft commented: “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with SkillOnNet into Brazil, a market where our games – especially Fortune Tiger – have really resonated with players. SkillOnNet is a leading name in regulated markets, and their ambitious plans for Brazil match our own. We’re confident that this collaboration will set a new benchmark for quality and engagement in the region.”

The post Wildly popular ‘Fortune Tiger’ game among PG Soft Brazil rollout appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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2025 Paulistão Feminino

7K Named Official Betting Sponsor of Paulistão Feminino 2025

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1 week ago

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May 7, 2025

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The 2025 Paulistão Feminino, Brazil’s premier state-level women’s football championship, kicked off this Tuesday, May 6, and brings with it a historic partnership: 7K, a brand under the Ana Gaming Group, has joined as the exclusive betting sponsor of the tournament.

This move further reinforces 7K’s growing presence in national football, as it also sponsors Santos FC’s women’s team, positioning itself as a strong backer of women’s sports in Brazil.

“We believe in the transformative power of sport and its societal impact,” said Talita Lacerda, Chief Operating Officer at Ana Gaming Group. “Supporting Paulistão Feminino at this pivotal time of growth and visibility reflects our commitment to gender equity and diversity. Women’s football is finally gaining the space it deserves, and 7K is proud to contribute to this important journey alongside such prominent brands.”

Record-Breaking Investment and Visibility in 2025

This year’s edition sees a record investment, surpassing the R$8 million of 2024. The total club distribution increases to R$3.3 million, with the champions receiving R$840,000 and runners-up awarded R$350,000 in prize money.

The competition features eight powerhouse teams:

  • AD Taubaté

  • Corinthians

  • Ferroviária

  • Palmeiras

  • Realidade Jovem

  • Red Bull Bragantino

  • Santos

  • São Paulo

Broadcast and Media Coverage

For the first time, all matches of the Paulistão Feminino will be televised or streamed. The tournament will be broadcast by SporTV, TV Globo, Record News, Warner (via Max and Space), as well as digital channels like CazéTV and the official Paulistão YouTube channel, expanding the reach of women’s football like never before.

A New Era of Sponsorships

The 2025 edition also breaks the record for number of sponsors, with seven brands backing the competition—up from five in 2024. In addition to 7K and Sicredi (which holds the naming rights), sponsors include Amazon, Assaí, Centauro, Guaraná Antarctica, and Lays.

Previously, 7K gained major visibility during the 2025 Campeonato Paulista (men’s) by sponsoring the tournament and securing the naming rights for the “Man of the Match” trophy, further showcasing its dedication to Brazilian football at all levels.

The post 7K Named Official Betting Sponsor of Paulistão Feminino 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Brazil

LuckBet Launches New TV Commercial Starring Caio Castro on Sportv and Globoplay

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1 week ago

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May 5, 2025

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The Brazilian sports betting brand doubles down on its national presence with a humorous new campaign spotlighting customer benefits, responsible gaming, and celebrity appeal.

One of Brazil’s rising names in the online betting industry, LuckBet, has launched a new nationwide advertising campaign featuring acclaimed actor and motorsport enthusiast Caio Castro. The commercial, which blends humor with strategic brand messaging, is now airing on Globoplay and will debut on Sportv.

The witty commercial stars Caio Castro in a creative split-role talk show, where he plays both the host and the guest. While only one version of him gets to talk (the host, of course), the dialogue cleverly introduces LuckBet’s key strengths—focusing on entertainment, trust, and unique player benefits.

“Caio Castro communicates our message with natural charisma and humor, while staying aligned with our brand’s core values: entertainment, simplicity, and responsibility,” said Ivan Dutra, CEO of LuckBet. “This new commercial is fast-paced, engaging, and truly represents who we are as a company.”

LuckBet: A Responsible and Player-First Betting Platform

As the only betting operator from Mato Grosso officially listed by Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, LuckBet offers a wide range of player-centric features. These include:

  • Unlimited withdrawals

  • 24/7 humanized customer support

  • Weekly cashback on losses

LuckBet’s informal, street-smart communication style—rich in slang and expressions familiar to younger audiences—helps it stand out in Brazil’s crowded iGaming market. This distinctive approach is designed to foster a more authentic connection with bettors across all touchpoints.

Celebrity-Driven Brand With Social Impact

Since its founding in 2021, LuckBet, headquartered in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, has rapidly grown its reputation through high-profile partnerships and sponsorships, including support for Cuiabá EC football club. Alongside Caio Castro, the brand also works with rapper PKFreestyle and sports journalist Isa Pagliari to broaden its appeal.

Importantly, LuckBet is a strong advocate for Responsible Gaming, offering tools such as self-exclusion, reality checks, and integrations with international support organizations like Gambling Therapy and GambleAware. The company adheres strictly to Brazil’s 2025 gambling regulations, operating transparently under newly defined federal guidelines.

The post LuckBet Launches New TV Commercial Starring Caio Castro on Sportv and Globoplay appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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