BIG Brazil appoints former Las Vegas mayor to Board as it prepares Rio launch with Caesars Sportsbook

BIG Brazil, in partnership with Caesars Sportsbook, has unveiled its first three board members as the company prepares to launch sports betting and online gaming operations in Rio de Janeiro in the coming months. Among the high-profile appointments is Jan Jones Blackhurst, the former mayor of Las Vegas and a prominent figure in the global gaming industry.

Joining Blackhurst on the board are Paulo Morais, CEO of PG&MP and founding partner of Espaçolaser, and Mauricio Frizzarin, CEO and founder of QYON Tecnologia. The appointments reflect BIG Brazil's strategic push to leverage both national and international expertise as it enters the Brazilian gaming market.

Paulo Morais

Jan Jones Blackhurst, who served as mayor of Las Vegas in the 1990s and later as executive vice president of Caesars Entertainment, expressed enthusiasm for her new role in Brazil. 

“I am extremely excited to be part of BIG Brazil, which will bring social responsibility and a platform with technological security to the market in Brazil. They will ensure leadership and responsibility for the gaming arena,” said Blackhurst, who also serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.

Paulo Morais, an expert in compliance and governance with a law degree from the University of São Paulo, was invited to the board by BIG Brazil's CEO, André Feldman. Morais brings a wealth of experience from his leadership roles at PG&MP and Espaçolaser.

Mauricio Frizzarin

Meanwhile, Mauricio Frizzarin, a software engineer with a postgraduate degree from Harvard, brings deep expertise in artificial intelligence and technology development. Frizzarin founded Folhamatic, a leading software company in Brazil, which was sold in 2014.

“Our commitment to quality goes far beyond the brand, technology, and products. Our commitment is also social, moral, and ethical," said André Feldman. "Having the honor and privilege of inviting Jan Jones Blackhurst to contribute to the gaming market in Brazil as a brand advisor in the country has left us as honored and proud as we were when chosen by the largest gaming operator in the world to be their partner in Brazil.”