Samba style: Kambi on the significance of its latest deal in Brazil and the market’s outlook

Kambi Group has announced a multi-year partnership with Rei Do Pitaco (RDP) to provide Brazil’s leading daily fantasy sports (DFS) operator with its technology and services to launch a real-money sportsbook in the South American country.

Under the terms of the deal, RDP will use Kambi’s technology and suite of tools, including the Stockholm-listed supplier’s Bet Builder product, to deliver a localised product to Brazilian players.

RDP recently secured investment from FanDuel co-founder Nigel Eccles to help facilitate its move into sports betting, with Eccles taking up the position of chair of RDP.

On the Kambi deal, Kristian Nylén, the sports betting supplier’s CEO and co-founder, said: “Brazil has the potential to become one of the world’s largest regulated sports betting markets, so I am delighted Kambi has partnered with Rei do Pitaco, a company which I believe is uniquely positioned to gain a strong position in the country.

“The talented people behind Rei do Pitaco have exciting and ambitious plans, so this agreement is a testament to the strength and flexibility of our sportsbook technology to be able to support those aims and enhances our position as the leading sportsbook partner in Latin America and across the world.”

Following the announcement, Ignacio Jimenez Iglesias, director of Latam/EMEA partner success at Kambi, spoke exclusively to EGR on what this partnership means for Kambi and where the Brazilian market – Latam’s largest – is heading.

EGR Intel (EGR): What does this partnership with Rei do Pitaco entail?

Ignacio Jimenez Iglesias (IJI): RDP will benefit from Kambi’s high-performance sports betting solutions to power the launch of their real-money online offering in Brazil, incorporating the full breadth of Kambi’s expertise in odds-compiling, risk management and product development.

RDP will look to leverage Kambi’s open APIs and flexible technology to build a sportsbook offering that is closely tailored to the preferences of Brazilian sports bettors, alongside having access to market-leading products such as the Kambi Bet Builder, which empowers sports bettors to combine bets not only within individual games but across different games, leagues and sports as well.

EGR Intel: What opportunities does this partnership unlock for Kambi and RDP?

IJI: For Kambi, it offers a fantastic opportunity to enter what is sure to become one of the world’s biggest regulated markets. With the backing of technology entrepreneur and FanDuel co-founder Nigel Eccles, RDP is an organisation whose ambitions and desire to offer players the greatest possible sports betting experiences mirrors our own. The potential synergies are clear, and it was a partnership which made a great deal of sense from when we opened commercial discussions and further cements Kambi’s position as the sportsbook partner of choice for operators in Latin America.

RDP already has a strong brand and platform for growth in sports betting through its soccer-led daily fantasy sports product, but it’s fair to say that while it is certainly the most popular individual sport, sporting appetites in Brazil go far beyond soccer. Quality of offering across sports, including basketball, tennis and table tennis, is vital for those aiming to secure significant market share, as is the depth of offering for esports, which is growing rapidly in Brazil, and Kambi already has a strong product for through its acquisition of Abios.

Kambi’s long history as a leading sports betting provider means that we are able to provide a deep offering across all manner of sports, while every bet placed across our partner network of more than 40 operators benefits each partner, whether they took the informative bet themselves or not – offering Kambi even greater scope for development and iteration of the sportsbook.

EGR Intel: RDP is already an established DFS brand in Brazil. How important a factor is this for the business’ growth potential as sports betting is regulated?

IJI: As regulation in Brazil approaches, it’s hugely significant that RDP will not be undertaking its sports betting journey from a standing start. The company already boasts immense brand recognition with sports fans throughout the country thanks to its existing mobile-first DFS business, which it has promoted throughout the country through sporting sponsorships and TV advertising.

The DFS app has amassed more than 13.6 million downloads and has grown to a position of extensive popularity throughout Brazil with an impressive customer database that will continue to grow at pace thanks to the addition of sports betting.

EGR Intel: How big can regulated sports betting in Brazil become? And what factors must sportsbooks consider when giving Brazilian bettors the best experience?

IJI: Brazil is already the biggest sports betting market on the continent, and as it undergoes the process of regulating sports betting, it is expected to become one of the largest regulated markets in the world.

In terms of areas of the sportsbook that operators must consider, the popularity of in-play betting should not be understated. In Latin America, it is already bigger than pre-match, and the quality of the live experience is increasingly the key differentiator between a great sports betting experience for the customer and a more serviceable one. With the passage of regulation approaching, RDP knew that a great live offering would be crucial, and this is somewhere Kambi has been proven to excel with the product developments we have undertaken in recent years – most notably in our instant betting offering, markets which are concluded swiftly after they are offered such as next field goal to be a two- or three-pointer in basketball, which can significantly enhance customer engagement.

EGR Intel: Does Kambi have plans for further partnerships throughout Brazil and Latam more broadly? Which markets are you targeting?

IJI: Our sportsbook already has a strong presence throughout Latin America through partnerships with operators including BetPlay, BetWarrior, Casino Club, Casino Magic, Olimpo.bet and RushBet. This agreement with RDP is another important milestone as we continue to support the ambitions of forward-thinking operators throughout the region, where we are keeping a close eye on ongoing regulatory developments and the commercial opportunities that presents.

Ignacio Jimenez Iglesias is Kambi’s Director of Partner Success for LatAm/EMEA. Having got his start in the industry in 2011, he joined Kambi’s Partner Success Department in 2012 and since then has played a key role in growing Kambi’s presence and working with leading operators in the EMEA, LatAm and North American regions.