iGaming Real Talk Releases EP17: Alessandro Valente Reveals Brazil's iGaming Realities and BiS SiGMA South America 2026
In an exclusive and candid conversation on iGaming Real Talk, Alessandro Valente, Chairman and Co-Founder of BiS SiGMA South America, delivers unfiltered insights into the Brazilian iGaming market's evolution from pre-regulation freedom to today's heavily regulated landscape.
Valente highlights the extremely high licensing and compliance costs that are pushing players toward illegal operators, revealing that authorities blocked over 25,000 websites in just one year of licensed operations.
Key insights from the interview include:
- Dramatic market growth: From celebrating 1,000 player acquisitions per month in the early 2000s as a major milestone to today's reality where 1,000 players can arrive in a single day on slower periods.
- Strong rejection of comparisons between gambling and tobacco/alcohol industries, pointing out vastly different addiction rates (around 6% inclination in gambling vs. 80–90% in smoking) and framing gambling as entertainment similar to state lotteries.
- The real risks of over-regulation: Stricter rules, higher taxes, and compliance burdens drive traffic to unethical black-market sites that frequently refuse payouts and ignore responsible gaming practices.
- Personal resilience story: The painful 2015 collapse of his affiliate company Influx Media after a major client was acquired by a listed operator, leading to sudden account closures and industry-wide commission slashes from 40% rev share to as low as 5%. Valente's mindset: "I'm not afraid of failure. I'm actually afraid of not being able to cope one day if I fail... You just stand up."
- Cultural and event dynamics: Serious business happens in São Paulo at BiS SiGMA South America, while the legendary parties and fun belong to Rio de Janeiro.
- Origin story of BiS: Born out of necessity after Clarion exited Brazil, the Brazilian iGaming Summit (BiS) filled the gap, later merged with SiGMA, and grew explosively to nearly 19,000 attendees in recent editions.
"If you're curious about the gambling industry, don't come. Don't come. If you want to do business, then come to BiS SiGMA South America," Valente states clearly, positioning the event as the serious business hub in Latin America.
He offers direct advice for international operators eyeing Brazil: Deeply understand local culture, build genuine on-the-ground teams, prioritise São Paulo for business decisions, and experience Rio to grasp the country's energy and lifestyle.
BiS SiGMA South America 2026 is scheduled for April 6–9 at Transamerica Expo Center, São Paulo, Brazil – Latin America's premier iGaming business event.
Hosted by Surya Palli, iGaming Real Talk is a leading media platform delivering unfiltered, founder-level conversations with iGaming leaders on regulation, innovation, growth, and leadership. The show provides valuable perspectives for operators, affiliates, and stakeholders navigating the evolving industry landscape.
iGaming Real Talk is presented by 9th Street Media, experts in full-service organic social media for iGaming brands. The podcast is also presented by My Gaming License, experts in licensing, company setup, banking, and payment solutions.
The full episode is available now on YouTube (iGaming Real Talk channel), Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms. Visit igamingrealtalk.com for more details and to listen.
About iGaming Real Talk
iGaming Real Talk is a media platform and WhatsApp community, hosted by Surya Palli, where real conversations with industry leaders take centre stage. The podcast dives deep into personal stories, exclusive announcements, and the future of iGaming worldwide.
About BiS SiGMA South America
BiS SiGMA South America is the largest and most traditional iGaming & betting event in Latin America, combining the Brazilian iGaming Summit (BiS) with the global reach and expertise of SiGMA Group. Co-founded by Alessandro Valente and his team to fill the gap left by departing international organisers, BiS started as a locally driven summit focused on relevant discussions for the Brazilian and Latin American markets.
Media Contact:
Surya Palli
Email: surya@igamingrealtalk.com
Website: igamingrealtalk.com