Regulatory Challenges and New Opportunities: Insights from GLI's Karen Sierra-Hughes at SBC Summit Latin America

Gaming Laboratories International LLC, GLI, one of the main sponsors of the SBC Summit Latin America 2024, brought together its regional team to address the most relevant industry issues in Latin America. Karen Sierra-Hughes, Vice President Latin America & Caribbean & Strategic Partnerships in Spain, at GLI, participated as a speaker and moderator in key sessions on regulatory convergence and combating the black market in newly regulated jurisdictions, highlighting the importance of international collaboration and technological innovation to advance the industry.

Karen began the interview with a word of thanks to the event organisers, expressing her satisfaction at being part of this important gathering: ‘The 2024 edition of SBC Summit Latin America was a very strong show, and we express our sincere gratitude to the organisers for producing such a professional and world-class event and for inviting GLI to be part of the important discussions that took place during all the days of the show’.

Given GLI's presence in multiple sessions during SBC Summit Latin America, what insights did you gain regarding the future of gaming technology and its impact on operators in Latin America?

As we discussed in our sessions and in interaction with attendees throughout the conference, as technology continues to advance, operators need to consider a self-regulatory approach to issues affecting the security of their operations, including cybersecurity risks and the detection of player fraud, as well as its impact on match-fixing prevention.

Additionally, we are hopeful that suppliers will continue to develop their efforts surrounding responsible gaming, as there is a need in the marketplace for more software providers to support operators’ RG efforts. 

Last, one very hot topic that everyone seemed to be discussing was how Peru and Brazil is positioning themselves to become a new regulatory framework that can serve as a model for the region and the world. 

Overall, this was a very valuable conference filled with good information and information-sharing.

What are the best practices that GLI recommends to operators and suppliers to comply with regulations in different countries in the region?

Operators and suppliers need to be fully aware of their legal and technical obligations. That's why, faced with this seemingly complex challenge, GLI has a global team of experts whose job it is to understand the regulations in different countries, including the specific details that apply to each jurisdiction and that support the policy objectives set in each region.

We are here to help in every jurisdiction in the world, so consulting with GLI is a best practice and a very good place to start.

For suppliers, another best practice is to be ready to dynamically respond and adapt quickly, enabling operators to enter markets that are dictating timeframes for compliance. This encompass investing in local legal advisor expertise and developing a strong regulatory and technical compliance team. 

For both suppliers and operators, it is critical for both groups to understand the degree of localisation required to operate in markets with unique cultural, economic and regulatory characteristics.

In this context, we at GLI are prepared to provide key information and comprehensive support, identifying emerging opportunities, assessing your clients' readiness and facilitating the allocation of the essential resources needed to ensure success in these markets.

What opportunities did you identify at the event to collaborate with other industry players to address regulatory challenges in Latin America?

Two key aspects come to mind: Firstly, inter-jurisdictional and inter-institutional collaboration at both the regulatory and industry levels. Secondly, international cooperation between associations of operators and suppliers.

Collaboration and information sharing is more important than ever because each jurisdiction has best practices that others can learn from on a wide range of issues, from cybersecurity to responsible gaming and everything in between. Because GLI works with every legal gaming jurisdiction in the world, we can facilitate this collaboration and also provide global insights to advance the dialog.

What are the main regulatory challenges facing emerging markets such as Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, and how are you adapting your approaches to address them?

For operators, it is important to pick the right technology partner, because they are a key part of the compliance process, and in jurisdictions where there is no supplier licensing, operators are responsible for themselves and the suppliers that are part of their operation. 

When it comes to RG and player fraud, it is important to establish protocols and internal frameworks as well as to invest in the latest technology possible or use the services of organizations to implement a proactive approach beyond regulatory requirements. 

GLI is ready to support operators, suppliers and regulators in each of these areas, offering first-class guidance and tailored solutions to ensure the best decisions are made.