"The companies that succeed in Brazil will be the ones that treat compliance and cybersecurity as long-term business priorities"

As BMM returns to SBC Summit Americas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on June 10-11, Brazil's regulated online gaming and sports betting market is expected to drive many discussions across the industry. With operators and suppliers adapting to the country's evolving requirements, testing, certification, and compliance have become critical elements for companies seeking long-term success in one of the world's key jurisdictions.

Yogonet spoke with Edgar Rivero, Senior Business Development Manager at BMM, about the opportunities and challenges emerging from Brazil's regulatory transition, the areas where companies are still adjusting to the new framework, and how BMM is helping clients navigate the country's increasingly sophisticated compliance landscape.

BMM is returning to SBC Americas at a particularly important moment for Brazil’s regulated market. What are the main conversations you expect to be having with operators and suppliers in Fort Lauderdale this year?

Brazil is no longer just a future opportunity. It is now a live, regulated market, and companies are focused on long-term success.

At SBC Americas, many of our conversations will focus on compliance, certification timelines, cybersecurity, responsible gaming, and how companies can stay in compliance with Brazil’s evolving regulations. Operators and suppliers want to move quickly, but they also want confidence that their products and platforms meet all technical requirements.

We also expect to speak with companies that see Brazil as part of a larger Latin America growth strategy. BMM can support them locally in Brazil while also bringing experience from regulated markets around the world. In addition to Brazil, we have offices and staff across Latin America, in Argentina, Peru, and of course São Paulo. 

Since opening BMM’s São Paulo test lab, how has demand evolved from operators and suppliers looking to enter or expand within Brazil? In which ways does this local hub help you assist partners in the market?

Demand has grown quickly. Early on, many companies were trying to understand Brazil’s regulatory requirements. Today, the focus has shifted toward certification, operational compliance, and ongoing support.

Our São Paulo lab gives BMM a strong local presence in Brazil. We can work closely with operators, suppliers, and regulators while providing support in the local language and time zone.

At the same time, customers benefit from BMM’s global experience across land-based gaming, iGaming, sports betting, and cybersecurity. That combination of local support and global expertise is very important in a fast-growing market like Brazil.

Brazil’s market is now moving beyond launch mode into day-to-day operations. From your perspective, what are the biggest compliance, certification, or cybersecurity challenges companies are facing today?

The biggest challenge is maintaining compliance after launch. Getting approved and entering the market is only the beginning. Operators and suppliers now need to manage ongoing product updates, reporting requirements, cybersecurity protections, and operational controls while staying compliant every day.

Cybersecurity is becoming especially important. Companies are handling large amounts of player and financial data, and regulators expect strong protections around those systems. Responsible gaming education is also critical for everyone working in and serving the Brazil market.

The companies that succeed in Brazil will be the ones that treat compliance and cybersecurity as long-term business priorities, not just launch requirements.

BMM works across multiple Brazilian jurisdictions, including federal regulation and several state-level frameworks. How challenging is it becoming for operators to navigate this evolving regulatory landscape?

Brazil is a big and complex market, so navigating different regulations can be challenging.

Operators and suppliers need to understand both federal requirements and the rules that may apply in individual states. Requirements, timelines, and expectations can vary depending on the jurisdiction.

That is why planning and experience are so important. BMM helps companies understand the requirements that apply to their products and business models so they can avoid delays and operate more efficiently.

As the market continues to mature, we expect the regulatory environment to become more stable.

Cybersecurity continues to grow as a major industry concern globally. Are Brazilian operators today approaching cybersecurity and infrastructure readiness differently than they were a year ago?

Yes, definitely. A year ago, many companies were mainly focused on entering the market and obtaining licenses. Today, operators are paying much closer attention to cybersecurity and infrastructure readiness.

They understand that cybersecurity is directly connected to player trust, business continuity, and regulatory compliance. A cyber incident can damage a company’s reputation very quickly.

We are seeing more interest in areas like penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, monitoring, incident response planning, and data protection. That shows the Brazilian market is becoming more mature and more focused on long-term operational stability.

There has also been renewed industry discussion around the potential future regulation of land-based gaming in Brazil. How is BMM preparing for that possibility, and what impact could it have on the wider market?

Yes, we’re continuing to watch the land-based potential very closely. If land-based gaming becomes regulated in the future, it could create big opportunities for operators, suppliers, technology providers, tourism, and the Brazilian economy. There has also been growing interest around video lottery terminals (VLTs), which are already emerging through certain state lotteries in Brazil.

Today, VLT activity is being developed mainly at the state level. States such as Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, and Tocantins have all taken important steps involving VLT-style gaming terminals operated under state lottery authority. In Rio de Janeiro, LOTERJ has introduced requirements covering VLTs, kiosks, betting terminals, SmartPOS devices, and related equipment. Paraná has also authorized thousands of VLT-style electronic gaming machines across approved locations.

As these programs continue to develop, operators and suppliers will need to meet important technical requirements involving central monitoring, cybersecurity, responsible gaming controls, secure communications, payment systems, reporting, and testing.

BMM is well prepared because land-based gaming testing and certification have been part of our business for more than 45 years. We’ve supported regulated VLT markets globally for decades.

If Brazil continues expanding VLT programs or moves toward broader land-based gaming regulation, BMM will be ready to support the market with both local knowledge and global experience.

Regulators across Brazil are still refining and adjusting frameworks as the market matures. From BMM’s perspective, what are regulators prioritizing most right now, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for collaboration between regulators, operators, and testing laboratories?

Regulators are focused on creating a market that is safe, transparent, and sustainable.
That includes player protection, responsible gaming, cybersecurity, technical compliance, anti-money laundering controls, and making sure licensed operators meet regulatory requirements. Training and responsible gaming education are also very important.

The biggest opportunity for collaboration is communication and education. Regulators, operators, suppliers, and test labs all benefit when there is clear communication around technical standards and compliance expectations.

Testing labs like BMM can help support that process by providing technical expertise, identifying risks early, and helping companies understand evolving requirements. Strong collaboration will help Brazil continue building one of the world’s most important regulated gaming markets.