Stake hires former LeoVegas manager to head up Brazil operations
Thomas Carvalhaes joins operator’s Brazil-facing team in preparation for regulated market’s launch on 1 January 2025
Stake has hired Thomas Carvalhaes as the company’s new Brazil country manager as the crypto-centric operator prepares to make a concerted push in the soon-to-regulate market.
His appointment brings an end to Stake’s search for a Brazilian figurehead, with the operator also set to open an office in São Paulo in time for the country’s regulated market launch in January 2025.
Stake parent company Easygo reposted a job ad looking for a Brazil country manager at the start of October, aiming to replicate its approach in other Latam jurisdictions.
The firm was searching for a candidate with a minimum of three years’ experience in the industry, with “proven experience in online gambling operations in Brazil”.
Carvalhaes joins having amassed significant experience in the Brazilian market across his career.
Most recently, he was based in São Paulo with supplier GR8 Tech, where he served as senior business development manager since February 2024.
Carvalhaes was also the managing director for Brazilian sportsbook VaiDeBob from June 2022 until shifting to the B2B side of the industry.
Prior to that, he spent two-and-a-half years at Hero Gaming, where he was a manager and product owner for Brazil and Latam from September 2020 to June 2022, before moving up to regional director in June 2021.
Carvalhaes also spent a year as LeoVegas’ country manager for Brazil from June 2019 to July 2020.
His Latam experience expands beyond Brazil, serving as general manager for BetMotion Mexico from May 2018 to May 2019.
In October, Stake was added to Brazil’s list of approved operators eligible to provide gambling to players in the country until the end of the year before the January launch.
The Brazilian government is currently in the process of reviewing Stake’s full licence application which would allow the crypto firm to stay in the market beyond January.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.