Zenith: "At ICE, we’re keen to demonstrate how our ecosystem gives operators flexibility without operational overhead"

As Latin America’s online gaming market moves from rapid expansion toward a more competitive and regulated phase, suppliers are being forced to rethink how they support operators across the region. Questions around market depth, commercial sustainability, content relevance, and long-term partnerships are increasingly shaping the industry, particularly as Brazil’s regulatory framework takes form and attention spreads to other emerging jurisdictions. 

Against this backdrop, Karina Moral, Senior Business Development Manager at Zenith, in an interview with Yogonet, spoke about the company's evolving priorities in Latin America, the markets showing the strongest momentum beyond Brazil, and what the company is aiming to achieve commercially and strategically as the industry heads into 2026.

As we move into 2026, what are Zenith’s main priorities across Latin America, and how have those priorities shifted compared to this time last year?

As we head into 2026, our focus in Latin America has clearly shifted from market entry to market depth. Throughout 2025, much of our attention was on regulatory readiness, securing certifications and onboarding recognised content, particularly to support operators entering Brazil. That groundwork is now in place, and we’re already seeing success. 

Looking ahead, the emphasis is firmly on strengthening commercial competitiveness for our partners. That means delivering sharper pricing, deeper and more relevant portfolios - and most importantly, a continued move towards curated content strategies rather than volume-driven aggregation.

At the same time, we’re investing heavily in the long-term development of the business. That includes expanding curated content offerings via OneAPI and GamesAPI based on real regional demand, not assumptions, and deepening partnerships with operators who are building sustainable businesses in Latin America. 

The goal for 2026 is to be a long-term infrastructure partner for the region, not just another content gateway. We’re already being seen as one of the most exciting new big-brand partners to enter the market in 2025, and we plan to keep that momentum going. 

Brazil continues to dominate industry discussion, but where else in Latin America are you seeing the strongest momentum right now, and what’s driving that growth?

Brazil remains the anchor market for Latin America, especially following increased regulatory clarity and progress around licensing. It continues to attract the bulk of industry attention, and rightly so.

That said, we’re also seeing strong momentum elsewhere. Mexico stands out due to its mature player base and consistent demand for mobile-first content, while Peru is becoming increasingly interesting as the market continues to evolve and operator interest accelerates.

Across these markets, growth is being advanced by a broader acceptance of licensed online gaming, a strong appetite for high-quality slot content, and operators actively looking for simplified integration models that allow them to enter multiple Latin American markets efficiently without unnecessary complexity.

When operators meet Zenith at ICE Barcelona, which platform capabilities or content strengths are you most keen to showcase for the Latin American market?

At ICE, we’re particularly keen to demonstrate how our ecosystem gives operators flexibility without operational overhead. OneAPI remains central to that, acting as a single aggregation layer that provides access to a broad and adaptable game portfolio.

Alongside this, GamesAPI plays a key role for operators who want more control. It allows them to select specific high-demand titles from a portfolio of 10,000+ games across 150+ top studios, customise their portfolio without committing to full aggregation and still benefit from competitive commercial pricing through a single integration.

Content is equally important. We’ll be showcasing a strong mix of LatAm-relevant titles from recognised global studios, alongside ALIZE Studio’s narrative-driven and highly localisable formats. Underpinning all of this is our ability to support fast go-to-market timelines without introducing operational complexity, which remains a major priority for operators in the region.

Player behaviour in Latin America is changing quickly. What are the biggest shifts you’ve noticed over the past year, and how is Zenith adapting its ecosystem to keep pace?

Over the past year, player behaviour across Latin America has continued to evolve at pace. Audiences are increasingly mobile-first and drawn to faster game cycles with clearer reward mechanics. At the same time, players have become more selective, with higher expectations around game quality, performance and consistency across devices.

There’s also been a noticeable shift towards localised themes and storytelling, paired with familiar mechanics presented through modern visuals. Simply rehashing generic concepts is no longer enough to stand out, particularly in more competitive markets. 

Zenith has responded by moving away from one-size-fits-all catalogues. Instead, we curate portfolios by market, working closely with studios and operators to align content with local preferences and performance data. Pricing and commercial structure also play an important role here.

Operators are more cost-conscious than ever, and our ability to combine strong content with competitive commercial terms has become a key part of how we support sustainable growth. Underpinning all of this is platform stability and low-latency delivery, which remain essential as mobile continues to dominate player behaviour across the region.

From a commercial standpoint, what does success at ICE look like for Zenith in Latin American terms?

From a commercial perspective, success at ICE is less about volume and more about quality. The event gives us an opportunity to have meaningful face-to-face conversations with operators who are aligned with our long-term approach.

In practical terms, we’re targeting new partnerships in Brazil and neighbouring Latin American markets, alongside the expansion of existing integrations through additional content or improved commercial terms. We’re also focused on engaging with operators who are looking for long-term aggregation and distribution partners, rather than short-term content access.

Ultimately, a successful ICE for Zenith is one where we leave with a clear, realistic pipeline of opportunities that translate into sustainable growth across Latin America throughout 2026. It’s about setting the tone for the year ahead and reinforcing our position as a partner that understands both the commercial and operational realities of the region.