Following the resounding success in Lisbon, SBC is gearing up to set new records in Miami with its final event of the year, SBC Summit Latinoamérica, scheduled for October 29 to 31 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Ahead of the event, we caught up with Mercedes Lang Valchs, Regional Business Manager at Relax Gaming, who offered insights into the company’s plans for the coming weeks, their expectations for the event, and their broader perspective on the future of the industry.
SBC: What elements of SBC Summit Latinoamérica work so well for your organisation, and why is it important for you to be there this year?
Mercedes Lang Valchs: SBC Summit Latinoamérica gathers all the industry leaders in one location and allows us to meet existing and potential customers during those days instead of having to travel the continent.
Relax Gaming continues to grow and develop in the LatAm market and SBC Latinoamércia allows us to reach out to like-minded industry experts and expand our reach in Latin America.
SBC: What’s your key objective at this year’s event and what are the main products/services you’ll be promoting?
M.L.V.: The key objective is to keep on increasing our presence in Latin-America and that involves meeting our existing partners and expanding our network even further.
From a product perspective, slots, aggregation and jackpots are all equally important for Relax, in particular our Dream Drop product which we have exciting plans for in the not so distant future in the LatAm market.
SBC: What would you highlight as the biggest opportunity in the betting and gaming industry over the next couple of years?
M.L.V.: Brazil is without doubt what the industry will be talking about for a while! The industry is a volatile landscape and a lot can change very quickly, so it’s pivotal to keep your finger on the pulse and be in a solid position when such opportunities present themselves. At Relax, we have a fantastic team of professionals that enables us to do that.
SBC: What elements of your business do you feel are best placed to take advantage of that opportunity?
M.L.V.: I would say that aggregation will probably be the vertical that will thrive most due to the vast content offering. Crash games are huge in Brazil and there are several providers that are very well positioned for this.
Aggregation is one of our main pillars of strength at Relax and something that we pride ourselves on. We have built a fantastic reputation and relationship across the industry which is hugely beneficial.
SBC: What areas of the business should we be looking to for innovation in the next 12 months?
M.L.V.: Over the past twelve months we have changed the way we make slots; targeting higher hit rate, lower max multiplier and lower volatility to cater for the regulated markets. This is what Relax Gaming will keep on doing in 2025 as we look to build on our success even further.
Don’t forget Dream Drop jackpot either! Despite already being one of the leading jackpot products in the industry, we have some big plans in place for 2025 – so watch this space.
SBC: What new technology do you feel will have the biggest impact for stakeholders?
M.L.V.: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are already playing a pivotal role in improving player experience, fraud detection, and responsible gambling initiatives.
AI will help operators streamline operations, reduce costs, and offer secure gaming experiences that are more personalised and immersive. It will also allow them to meet regulatory requirements more efficiently.
SBC: What core challenges do you help solve for your customers/partners?
M.L.V.: Market regulations present one of the biggest challenges to our partners and we strive to provide the best solutions at the earliest possible opportunity to help our partners to address compliance, adaptability, and operational efficiency.
At Relax, we have a leading team of regulatory experts who we work closely together with to overcome such challenges when they present themselves.
SBC: Who have you especially enjoyed working with over the past year (partner/client) and why?
M.L.V.: We have so many great customers that it’s hard to choose just one.
We believe in building a strong relationship with our operators in which both sides are extremely proactive when it comes to pushing their business and overcoming challenges. This in our opinion is a necessary base for a successful partnership with longevity.
SBC: Can you tell us more specifically how you worked with that partner and how the relationship is developing?
M.L.V.: There is no “one-size fits all” for us. We adapt to our partner’s needs and give tailored solutions for their business strategies.
Relax Gaming has made itself a name when it comes to aggregation. We are efficient when it comes to integrations and our tech support is one of the most responsive in the industry.
SBC: What are you hoping to learn from the conference at the SBC Summit Latinoamérica and which elements of the agenda will you be focusing on the most?
M.L.V.: There will be a number of interesting panels but of course anything regarding Brazil will be a key takeaway for us and we’re excited to hear what other likeminded professionals have to say on the topic.
It is as important for us to obtain feedback from operators to understand better the appetite of the players and bring back some insights to our games teams.
