GLI Perspectives on Gambling Regulation in Latin America

Within Peru Gaming Show, SoloAzar had the opportunity to interview Georges Didier from GLI, who shared his perspective on the key points of sustainable gaming presented by Karen Marcela Sierra-Hughes. Didier noted that "sustainable gaming has been a part of the global gaming discussion for some time, and the industry is still forging a path to balance business opportunity, social responsibility and combating illegal gaming operations."

As SoloAzar readers know, the balance between these aspects has become more necessary as iGaming has grown. Didier highlighted that "sustainable gaming is important for Peru and for the entire LatAm gaming market" and that achieving this balance requires "considerable cooperation between private and state entities."

Georges Didier stressed that the key to the debate is “responsible gambling, the fight against illegal gambling (both land-based and online), and the prevention of fraud", as mentioned by Karen Sierra-Hughes in her presentation. He added and highlights that “at GLI, we collaborate closely with regulators and operators to advance these critical issues, based on our deep knowledge of global best practices.

Georges Didier highlighted the importance of the Peruvian market for GLI, noting that the company has been involved in this market since the beginning of its regulation for land-based casinos. Didier explained that they have actively supported the General Directorate of Casino Games and Slot Machines of MINCETUR: "The Peruvian jurisdiction has been a leader in LatAm, establishing models that have been adopted far beyond the country's borders," he stated.

According to Didier, “GLI is proud to have a permanent office in Peru and has worked for decades with Peruvian regulators and operators,” adding that “we have also been advising suppliers on a roadmap to successfully enter the Peruvian jurisdiction.” . In this context, the Peruvian regulator has used the GLI standards, in particular "GLI-19 Interactive Gaming Systems" and "GLI-33 Event Betting Systems", as the basis of the official technical requirements. "It is expected that with the new regulation, Peru will once again be considered a leader in the region due to the characteristics of the process," commented Didier.

We asked how does the recent regulation in Peru affect the online sector and what opportunities and challenges ave arisen as a result of this change in the region, Didier highlighted that Peruvian regulators have established a reference standard for the future market, not only in terms of market but also sustainable gaming. According to him, this recent regulation outlines a clear path for the entry of new operators in Peru, with the main characteristics of regulation and licensing clearly defined. These features include no fees, an attractive tax structure, a defined approval process and industry-aligned technical requirements.

Didier stated that "operators and suppliers are working to enter the market and meet the requirements, which shows that Peru is a great opportunity for different interested parties." However, he also mentioned that the main challenge will be the strategy that operators must establish to retain their customers.

To conclude the interview, Georges Didier shared his perspective on the growth of the iGaming industry in Latin America and the path that is being built for future success. He highlighted that Latin America is an important and constantly growing market for sports betting and iGaming. He highlighted “GLI as the first testing laboratory accredited in Brazil for certification when the Brazilian regulations for fixed odds betting were published.”

"Chile is also making progress, and debates in Congress, although ongoing, look promising," Didier said. In addition, he pointed out that the sector should be attentive to Ecuador, which is emerging as an attractive market for the future.

Didier closed the interview by assuring that "GLI will stand by regulators, operators and providers every step of the way, supporting jurisdictions throughout Latin America and helping to ensure a safe legal iGaming market for all."

With these words, he reaffirmed GLI's commitment to the development and regulation of the gaming industry in the region, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative and sustainable gaming-based approach to ensure the sustainable growth of the sector.