Playtech has confirmed it is targeting the beginning of 2027 to finally launch in Brazil, after political sensitivities around gambling caused significant delays to its plans.
The company had been making progress on a Brazilian deal but was asked to hold off until after the country’s election period had concluded before moving ahead with any formal agreement.
CEO Mor Weizer revealed the timeline during Playtech’s earnings call, which followed the release of the company’s first-half financial results earlier this year.
Weizer was candid about the reasons behind the delay, pointing to gambling becoming a charged political topic during Brazil’s election cycle as the primary factor slowing negotiations down.
“There were some concerns because it’s an election year and obviously gaming is a political issue, or there were references by politicians throughout the elections about gambling,” Weizer said.
He added that the company had worked constructively with all parties involved rather than pushing forward independently during a sensitive period for the country.
“Given the sensitivity around that, we have been asked to collaborate with the government and the prospective customer that we are in discussions with, to wait until the elections,” Weizer said.
Despite the setback, Weizer made clear that the company’s expectations for Brazil remain firmly intact and that a formal agreement and launch are still very much on the agenda.
“I will say that the expectations remain the same to enter into an agreement and launch sometime by the beginning of, or at the beginning of, next year,” the CEO said.
Brazil is considered a key strategic market for Playtech, and the group has already made moves to establish a foothold there through the launch of a live casino studio in São Paulo.
Management also noted that Brazil was not specifically included in the medium-term financial targets Playtech set out last year, meaning a successful launch could represent meaningful additional upside to the group’s growth projections.
That distinction is significant for investors, as it suggests any revenue generated from Brazil would sit on top of existing forecasts rather than simply fulfilling them.
Playtech has indicated it intends to revisit and update its medium-term financial outlook when it publishes its full-year results, at which point Brazil’s contribution may be more formally incorporated into guidance.
The Brazilian regulated gambling market has attracted intense interest from major iGaming operators and suppliers globally, given the country’s large population and growing appetite for online entertainment.
For Playtech, securing a firm deal and launching operations in early 2027 would mark a significant milestone in its international expansion strategy and strengthen its position across Latin America.
