Frederico Caputi, Altenar: “Colombia continues to be one of our most solid and strategically important markets in Latin America”

The company’s sales manager for LatAm reflected on Colombia’s ever-changing betting market.

Exclusive interview.- In the following exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Frederico Caputi, sales manager for LatAm at Altenar, reveals the company’s strategy for the Colombian market, which is approaching its 10-year anniversary.

Caputi shared insights about Altenar’s technologies and tools that have been instrumental in supporting their partners in the market.

Why is Colombia such a strategic focus for Altenar?

Colombia continues to be one of our most solid and strategically important markets in Latin America. Since its launch in 2016, the industry has experienced consistent growth in tandem with refined gambling laws. There are now over 17 licensed operators in the market and sports betting revenues alone are projected to exceed $1.4bn in 2025.

Over the past year, we have expanded our footprint significantly – both by deepening our work with existing partners and onboarding new operators. Our success has been underpinned by our flexibility in localising content, pricing strategies and front-end experiences. This allows us to support operators in growing their share in what is a very competitive space.

Colombia’s regulated market is approaching its 10-year anniversary. How has it evolved?

Even in my relatively short time in this role, it’s clear that the Colombian market has matured substantially. The ecosystem is more focused and productive than ever. There’s a palpable energy, and we are seeing many companies shifting from simply exploring Latin America to making long-term plans and scaling operations. 

The quality of conversations is high, and more decisions are being made by senior level stakeholders who are actively seeking scalable and sustainable solutions. This presents a number of exciting opportunities for us.

What are the major challenges operators you work with are facing?

The new VAT taxation is one of the most pressing challenges right now. From February 22, 2025, online gambling in Colombia saw the implementation of a 19 per cent VAT and applies to deposits made by players. Operators are required to deduct this from deposits, reducing the amount available in a players’ wallet. It came in rather suddenly and is significantly impacting operators’ profit margins, though up to press, this is only temporary and will remain in effect until the end of the year. 

Navigating this change is a top priority. Our role in that is supporting operators by helping them offset these pressures through smarter margin management and operational efficiencies using our tools. There’s a real need to maintain profitability without compromising the user experience.

“The new VAT taxation is one of the most pressing challenges right now. Navigating this change is a top priority.”

Frederico Caputi, sales manager for LatAm at Altenar.

What technologies or tools have been instrumental in supporting Altenar’s partners in the market?

One key area has been our trading tools, such as the advanced trading manager tool and risk management support we offer. This helps operators optimise margins in the face of increased taxation and manage risk effectively. We’ve also seen great engagement from users with sportsbook features like our Bet Builder and Bet Builder Boost tools, as well as Early Payout. 

Launched earlier this year, Bet Builder Boost helps drive retention and engagement while giving operators the margins they need to remain profitable. The feature allows operators to create bespoke promotions for players and capture a broader audience. Operators can customise boosts for individual events, providing greater flexibility and allowing for strategic tailored promotions. 

Beyond our pioneering technology, we have all the building blocks for a strong partnership in place. Our team speaks the local language, understands regional dynamics across LatAm markets with experts on the ground, and treats each partner individually to deliver the most bespoke and effective collaborations.