Fernando Mora, Sportradar: “The global betting industry is entering a decisive new cycle”

Focus Gaming News sat down with Fernando Mora, Senior Sales Executive at Sportradar, to discuss key insights from SBC Summit Lisbon 2025.

Exclusive interview.- At this year’s SBC Summit Lisbon, Sportradar took an active role in the conversations shaping the future of sports betting, from technological innovation to sustainable growth. With AI, market expansion and integrity at the centre of industry discussions, the company shared its perspective on how operators, regulators and technology providers can navigate the sector’s next phase.

In this exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Fernando Mora, senior sales executive at Sportradar, reflects on the highlights of the event, the opportunities emerging in regions such as Latin America, and the company’s approach to delivering long-term value through data, innovation and responsibility.

What was the highlight of Sportradar’s participation at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025?

It was truly an outstanding experience. SBC Summit Lisbon has consolidated itself as one of the most important gatherings for our industry, and this year’s record-breaking edition gave us a unique platform to connect with operators, regulators, affiliates and media. For Sportradar, the highlight was the opportunity to both strengthen existing relationships and open new dialogues with strategic partners, while at the same time engaging in discussions on the key trends shaping the future of sports betting — from artificial intelligence and immersive fan engagement to integrity and safer gambling. Being present in such a dynamic and international environment reinforces our commitment to staying close to the industry’s decision-makers and underlines our role as a company that combines innovation, premium content and responsibility to help the ecosystem grow in a sustainable way. 

SBC Lisbon has grown into one of the biggest industry events. What did this year’s edition reveal about where the market is heading? 

This edition made it clear that the global betting industry is entering a decisive new cycle. First, the geographic shift is undeniable: while Europe remains a mature hub, the strongest growth signals are coming from Latin America and Asia, where the digital adoption and regulation are converging to open large-scale opportunities. Lisbon showed that these regions are no longer “emerging markets” — they are shaping the industry’s future.  

Second, the role of technology is moving from supportive to central. AI is no longer discussed as an experiment; it is becoming the backbone of trading, personalisation and fraud detection. Operators are actively looking at how data-driven automation can improve margins and user retention in highly competitive environments. 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there was a strong consensus that growth without responsibility is unsustainable. The panels and discussions reinforced that regulators and operators will increasingly demand integrity, transparency and safer gambling practices as a license to operate. In short, SBC Lisbon 2025 revealed a sector that wants to scale fast but is mature enough to know that long-term value will come only from combining innovation with credibility. 

“The role of technology is moving from supportive to central.”

Fernando Mora, senior sales executive at Sportradar.

Artificial Intelligence was one of the big themes of the event. How is Sportradar applying AI to deliver value to operators? 

For Sportradar, AI has evolved into a true operational backbone. On the trading side, our models process billions of data points each year — from player statistics and historical performance to live in-game events — to generate dynamic odds and anticipate market movements. This not only helps operators manage risk with greater accuracy, but also opens the door to innovative micro-markets, such as predicting the next point in tennis or the outcome of a specific possession in basketball. At the same time, our “AI Personalisation Cookbook” allows operators to customise offers and content in real time,  tailoring experiences to individual preferences and boosting retention by making every interaction more relevant.

Equally important, AI is central to protecting the integrity of sport. Our Universal Fraud  Detection System combines advanced algorithms with expert analysis to monitor over 200,000 matches annually across 70 sports, detecting irregular betting patterns quickly and accurately. This balance of automation and human expertise ensures competitions remain protected against match-fixing and integrity risks, giving operators and regulators the confidence they need to build sustainable growth. 

What were the main topics of conversation you had with clients and partners during the event? 

We discussed the industry in general, with a particular focus on the growth of markets like  Brazil, which has only recently been regulated. The first months were quite challenging, as everyone had to adapt to the new rules and, for operators especially, adjust their approach to customers amid much greater competition. But the outlook is already much more positive, and the market is showing itself to be one of the most promising worldwide. Looking ahead, we also shared our plans for the casino vertical — an area where Sportradar will be investing heavily. 

Brazil had strong visibility during SBC Lisbon. How do you assess the country’s role in the global industry, and what does this mean for Sportradar’s strategy in the region? 

Brazilian companies were not only on-stage, leading panels and participating in business rounds, but also highly visible as exhibitors, alongside a large delegation of professionals from across the country. This level of engagement confirmed what we have long believed: Brazil is emerging as one of the most influential markets in the global industry. For Sportradar, which already has a consolidated operation in Brazil, it was a proud moment to see that leadership recognised on such an international platform. It also reinforced our long-term commitment to continue positioning ourselves as a trusted technology and innovation partner, ensuring that the region’s rapid growth is matched with integrity,  sustainability, and value creation for operators, regulators, and fans alike. 

“Brazilian companies were not only on-stage, leading panels and participating in business rounds, but also highly visible as exhibitors, alongside a large delegation of professionals from across the country.”

Fernando Mora, senior sales executive at Sportradar.