Top-10 Casino and Gambling Consultants in LATAM [2024]

The casino and gambling industry in Latin America is rapidly expanding, necessitating expert guidance to navigate its complexities. This article highlights the top 10 consulting firms in the LATAM region for 2024, renowned for their expertise in maximizing profitability, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enhancing customer experiences.

These consultants offer innovative strategies and proven success, making them indispensable partners for casino operators looking to thrive in this dynamic market. Explore the key players driving growth and excellence in the LATAM gambling sector.

Best Casino and Gambling Consultants

1. Lucas Mondelo

Lucas Mondelo is a prominent figure in the casino and gambling industry in Latin America. He is currently the Head of Sales LATAM at Sweepium and also serves as a Director at SCCG Management. Mondelo has a diverse background in the gambling sector, having worked in various roles since 2008. His experience spans being a professional gambler, both independently and through syndicates, as well as holding leadership positions such as LATAM Director and Brazil Country Manager for several bookmakers and casinos.

His extensive expertise and multilingual capabilities (fluent in English, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish) have allowed him to navigate and impact the gambling markets across Latin America effectively. Mondelo is known for his strategic insights and has been actively involved in key industry events and summits, where he shares his knowledge on the evolving gambling landscape in Brazil and the broader LATAM region​.

Mondelo’s contributions to the industry include analyzing market trends, regulatory changes, and providing strategic guidance for businesses looking to enter or expand in the LATAM market. His role at SCCG Management, a leading consulting firm in the gambling industry, further underscores his influence and expertise in shaping the future of gambling in the region.

2. Maria Stella Salamanca Delgado

Maria Stella Salamanca Delgado is a highly regarded consultant in the casino and gambling industry in Latin America. She is the CEO and Founder of Connexia, a firm that provides management and financial solutions to drive innovation and growth in the region. With extensive experience, including her role at Factum Investments LLC, she has a robust background in business management and consulting. Her contributions are significant in shaping the iGaming landscape in LATAM, particularly through her strategic insights and leadership in promoting sustainable business practices in the gambling sector​ 

3. Marco Pequeno

Marco Pequeno is a significant figure in the LATAM casino and gambling industry, currently serving as the Country Director for Brazil at Pragmatic Play. He has played a pivotal role in the expansion of Pragmatic Play in the region, contributing to the company’s strategic initiatives and growth in the Brazilian market. Pequeno’s expertise in the industry is backed by his position as CEO of iGaming360, where he leverages his extensive experience to provide consultancy services aimed at optimizing gaming operations and business development.

Under his leadership, Pragmatic Play has focused on delivering localized solutions and expanding its product portfolio, which includes slot titles, live casino games, and bingo, tailored to meet the unique demands of the Brazilian and broader LATAM markets. Pequeno’s involvement in key industry events, such as the Brazilian iGaming Summit, highlights his commitment to fostering networking and business opportunities within the sector.

His strategic insights and leadership in both his roles have made significant contributions to the thriving iGaming landscape in Latin America, ensuring that Pragmatic Play remains at the forefront of the industry by adapting to market trends and regulatory changes​

4. Gregory Especiani

Gregory Especiani is an experienced professional in the betting and gambling industry, specializing in affiliate marketing and team management. With over three years of experience, he has held significant roles such as Head of Affiliates at Casa de Apostas and Lance!, and Senior Affiliate Manager at ArcoMediaGroup. His responsibilities include overseeing affiliate systems, generating traffic, analyzing performance indicators, and developing market-compatible business models.

Gregory holds a Bachelor of Marketing and has been active in the gambling sector since 2015, working as an affiliate since 2017. His skills include sales forecasting, acquisition and nurturing of publisher partnerships, and managing multiple accounts to optimize performance. He has also successfully organized events tailored to the Brazilian market. His extensive knowledge and strategic approach make him a key consultant in the LATAM iGaming industry.

5. Bruna Verdi

Bruna Verdi is a seasoned executive specializing in regulatory, legal, and compliance matters, with over 10 years of experience leading these departments for global companies. Currently working with Entain/Sportingbet, her expertise lies in the iGaming and sports betting industries.

Her professional scope includes providing regulatory, legal, and compliance assistance to iGaming and sports betting companies. Bruna is well-versed in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), contracts, corporate and regulatory issues, investment advisory, tax litigation, and managing external counsels. She is also skilled in developing compliance programs, integrity frameworks, anticorruption codes of ethics, and anti-money laundering initiatives. Her leadership in compliance has been recognized by Compliance on Top Magazine, listing her among the compliance leaders in Brazil from 2018 to 2023.

Bruna is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, and holds a law degree from Mackenzie. She has completed a complementary course in International Law at Universidad Salamanca, Spain, and has a postgraduate degree in Business Law from FGV. Additionally, she has an extension course in Corporate Law, Governance, Compliance, and Risk Management from PUC. Bruna has been admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/SP 252.755) since 2006.

6. Raúl Yaipén

Raúl Yaipén is an expert in marketing, advertising, and communication, with a specialization in online casino management, as well as digital analytics and growth hacking. He also holds studies in digital graphic arts and English language from London, and a diploma in administration for executives and digital marketing from Peru.

With twenty years of experience, Raúl has developed new businesses and marketing strategies that enhance brand value and profitability in the Peruvian market. He is a consultant in political and business communication and crisis management, with studies from Argentina and Peru, and has organized the first Congress of Political Communication and Marketing in Peru in association with ESAN University.

As an audiovisual director and producer, Raúl has created digital content for over 30 significant brands across various sectors of the Peruvian market. He manages influencers and brand ambassadors nationally and serves as a specialized press manager in entertainment, politics, economics, and health.

7. Eduarda Lopes

Eduarda Lopes is the CEO of Saga BGI and an expert in iGaming consultancy, gambling, betting, and lotteries. With a robust background in business management and gaming operations consultancy, she also holds a specialization as a Sports Gaming Law lawyer.

Eduarda’s journey began in 2014 when she started her law degree and developed a passion for criminal law. She became a lawyer specializing in Criminal Sciences, gaining experience in business, civil, public, and criminal law. Her interest in gaming was sparked in 2019 when she wrote her thesis on the “Legalization of Casinos in Brazil,” marking her initial foray into the gaming industry.

By 2021, Eduarda had begun consulting in the lottery sector and served as an advisor to the president of LOTERJ. Her expertise and dedication led to an invitation to become a director at the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery, representing the company at international events.

She has been the CEO of Intralot do Brasil, which operates Loteria Mineira since 2010, and continues to lead Saga BGI, a consortium member currently operating the Scratch Card through Loteria Mineira. Eduarda’s skills encompass company management, sports gaming, sports law, business planning, and general business operations.

8. Thomas Carvalhaes 

Thomas Carvalhaes is a Brazilian iGaming specialist with over 12 years of experience in online casino and sports betting in Brazil and Latin America. He has founded several iGaming companies in the region and has held CEO positions, demonstrating his extensive management expertise in both large and small companies. Thomas is an international speaker, having presented at major betting and gambling events such as SIGMA, ICE, IGB, SBC, ICE VOX LONDON, EGR, EGR POWER LATAM, and iGaming Future.

His strong iGaming background includes valuable strategic insights into the Latin American market. Thomas also has a robust education management background, having worked as an EFL/ESL English teacher and a certified TOEFL and TOEIC examiner. His skills encompass multi-brand management, region-specific marketing for Portugal and Latin America, database mining, mentoring, coaching, and people management.

Thomas is adept at providing personalized support for high-tiered (VIP) customers, which involves traveling and visits. He has experience in CRM and retention, payments processing, risk profiling, business analysis, and problem-solving. Additionally, he is certified in call center team leadership by CCMG, South Africa’s call center regulating body, and holds a National Senior Certificate from SAQA.

9. Edgardo Dario Gauna Maidana

Edgardo Dario Gauna Maidana is a certified professional in gambling security, having completed certifications in versions 1.0 through 4.0. His expertise extends to the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing, disaster recovery planning, and casino technologies and products. He has a strong background in organization and business management, with additional training in non-verbal communication and body language (PNL).

Edgardo has participated in interdisciplinary seminars on innovative management practices in ceremonial, institutional relations, and organizational communication, organized by the Permanent Forum of Ceremonial Officials of Buenos Aires. His skills include ceremonial and protocol, public relations ceremonial, business format writing, corporate communication, promotion and advertising, business organization, social research, and event organization.

He has provided assistance to management in public relations and institutional roles, collaborating with general management and other departments in managing internal and external audiences. His responsibilities have included developing company activities with the press and private and governmental institutions, organizing and supervising public and internal company events, and managing customer service systems and other aspects of corporate image and management.

10. Graham Tidey

Graham Tidey is an accomplished, trilingual professional (Portuguese, Spanish, English) with dual British and Brazilian nationality. He has extensive expertise in the Brazilian iGaming sector, particularly in regulatory operations, market access, sales, and team leadership for top iGaming brands. Graham is renowned for his strategic insights and ability to build valuable networks, and he has a successful track record of consulting for high-profile clients both in Brazil and internationally.

His distinguished career includes serving as the British Consul in Brazil under the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, where he honed his leadership and diplomatic skills. Graham’s combination of industry knowledge, regulatory experience, and strong network makes him a key asset in the iGaming industry.

The Aces of LATAM

The casino and gambling industry in Latin America is thriving, thanks in large part to the expertise of top consulting firms. These top 10 consultants have demonstrated their ability to navigate the complexities of the market, drive profitability, ensure compliance, and enhance customer experiences. By leveraging their innovative strategies and proven track records, casino operators can stay ahead of the curve and achieve sustained success. As the LATAM market continues to evolve, partnering with these leading consultants will be crucial for maintaining a competitive edge and fostering growth in the dynamic gambling sector.