Pay4Fun: "Increased regulation in the gambling sector has brought new business opportunities"

Shortly after attending SBC Summit Lisbon and G2E Las Vegas, Pay4Fun CEO Leonardo Baptista held an exclusive interview with Yogonet.

Among the topics discussed were the growth of the Brazilian payments company, developments in fixed-odds regulation, and a brief retrospective of what Pay4Fun has achieved in 2024.

"Increased regulation in the gambling sector has brought new business opportunities, and we are poised for further expansion. In addition, we have invested heavily in innovation and technology, which has allowed us to launch new products and improve our customers' experience," said the executive.

Pay4Fun recently won SBC awards in the Payments Innovation category. Before that, it also won two awards at the CGS Awards. In your opinion, what are the company's main differentiating factors that have led it to win these awards and stand out in the market? 

Pay4Fun's main differentiating element lies in our constant commitment to innovation and to offering solutions that really make life easier for users and operators. 

We have a robust platform that prioritizes security, agility, and ease of use, allowing us to respond to the demands of a constantly evolving market. 

We also stand out for our customer service, which offers dedicated support and efficient integration. These factors, together with our ability to adapt to regulations, are the key to our success and recognition. 

A survey conducted by Zimpler revealed that ease of withdrawal is the main factor taken into account by bettors when choosing a platform. Given Pay4Fun's extensive experience in the segment, what other factors related to payment methods do you consider important for a site to retain customers? 

In addition to ease of withdrawal, other essential factors are transaction security, diversity of payment options, and speed of processing. 

Transparency is also critical, as users need to have confidence in the service they are using. In addition, the user experience (UX) of payment interfaces, such as the simplicity and clarity of the process, contributes to loyalty. 

Offering real-time support is also a differentiator that adds value and builds customer confidence. 

The online gambling sector is going through a period of numerous criticisms and questions. Organizations such as IBJR and ANJL agree on the need to ban credit card payments, but there are those in favor of an even stricter ban. Bill 3717/2024, by Deputy Luiz Carlos Hauly, prohibits the use of any electronic means of payment (credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, Pix, and digital wallets) for betting. Wouldn't this make it impossible for the market itself to function? How do you see this proposal? 

A ban on all electronic means of payment for sports betting, as proposed in Bill 3717/2024, would certainly make it impossible for the market to function, as electronic transactions are the basis of online betting. 

While it is essential to promote responsible practices and ensure the safety of players, it is important to find a balance that allows the legal and regulated operation of the sector. 

Blocking all digital means of payment could push players towards illegal or unregulated platforms, which would be even more detrimental. The idea is to strengthen regulation, ensuring transparency and control of transactions. 

In an interview with Líder.inc, you said: "We are planning to expand our operations to Latin America, with an initial focus on Argentina, Peru, and Mexico". Is there any estimate as to when this expansion will take place? 

We are making progress in planning our expansion into Latin America. We believe these countries offer great growth potential for our services, and we are preparing to adapt our solutions to local regulations and the needs of consumers in these markets. 

As for the timing of the expansion, we are not yet able to provide details, but we will let you know as soon as the information is made public.

We are approaching the end of the year. Can you provide a brief review of what 2024 represented for Pay4Fun in terms of market opportunities and new business? 

2024 was an extremely positive year for Pay4Fun. We conquered new markets, strengthened our presence in Brazil, and consolidated strategic partnerships. Increased regulation in the gambling sector has brought new business opportunities, and we are poised for further expansion. 

We have also invested heavily in innovation and technology, which has allowed us to launch new products and improve our customers' experience. This year has been very important in reinforcing Pay4Fun's position as a benchmark for payment solutions in the industry.