Victor Arias: “Pragmatic Play’s mission remains to provide its clients and their players with the best possible experience”

Victor Arias, VP of LatAm at ARRISE and a key partner to Pragmatic Play, discusses the company’s strategic priorities for SBC Summit Rio 2026, the evolution of its sportsbook in Latin America, and what partners can expect across slots, live casino and arcade in the months ahead.

Exclusive interview.- As SBC Summit Rio 2026 approaches, Pragmatic Play is preparing to showcase a fully integrated portfolio designed to meet the fast-changing demands of the Latin American market. In this exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Victor Arias, VP of LatAm at ARRISE and a key partner to Pragmatic Play, explains how localisation goes beyond language, why sportsbooks will take centre stage in Rio, and how the supplier is building a cohesive, multi-vertical ecosystem to drive long-term growth for operators across the region.

With SBC Summit Rio 2026 just around the corner, how has Pragmatic Play prepared strategically for this year’s edition? 

SBC Summit Rio is a key event for Latin America, and for Pragmatic Play. Preparation starts months in advance, and with one priority: listening closely to what operators need today and anticipating what they will need in the future.  

When it comes to localisation, it’s not just about language; it’s about delivering formats, content styles, and gameplay dynamics that feel truly native to the market, supported by responsive and reliable service. 

For Pragmatic Play, SBC Summit Rio is an opportunity to demonstrate how the supplier delivers for the local market, showcasing solutions built to perform regionally and supported by a team that acts as a true partner, not just a vendor.

Which of Pragmatic Play’s key product verticals do you plan to highlight at SBC Summit Rio this year, and why? 

Sports will naturally be a key focus for Pragmatic Play in Rio, with the team showcasing its cutting-edge sportsbook solution at stand A354. The region is evolving rapidly, expectations are rising, and operators are looking for sportsbook offerings that feel genuinely local, intuitive to navigate, and backed by strong operational support. 

That said, Pragmatic Play offers far more than just a single vertical. Operators will be able to see how they can connect Pragmatic Play’s full portfolio – Slots, Live Casino, Crash Games, Arcade, and now Sportsbook, including Virtual Sports – into a cohesive offering that drives consistent engagement, not just spikes around major sporting events. It’s about creating a seamless, multi-product ecosystem that delivers sustainable performance. 

Last year, Pragmatic Play officially launched its sportsbook offering in LatAm at SBC Rio; what follow-up developments and innovations can partners expect in 2026? 

Looking ahead to 2026, the company is focussed on making the sportsbook experience even more local, intuitive, and scalable across the region. This includes enhanced localisation tools, improved navigation and discovery, and expanded coverage tailored to the sports and events that players follow most closely. 

Equally important is the level of service Pragmatic Play provides. Native, 24/7 support in Portuguese and Spanish ensures operators receive timely assistance in a fast-moving market.

The company is also innovating beyond traditional matchday betting. Developments include tighter integration of virtual sports within the sportsbook journey, enabling players to bet on top games directly from the sports page; smarter search and browsing; free-to-play mechanics to support acquisition and retention; a dedicated UFC event centre to enhance the in-play experience for every UFC fight globally; and a continued focus on sports that resonate locally, such as padel and beach volleyball.

These initiatives demonstrate Pragmatic Play’s commitment to delivering a locally relevant, fully supported sportsbook ecosystem that drives engagement and growth for operators across Latin America. 

Looking ahead to 2026, the company is focussed on making the sportsbook experience even more local, intuitive, and scalable across the region.
Victor Arias, VP of LatAm at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play.

2025 was a record-breaking year for Pragmatic Play, with more than 100 network slots launched; how does that level of output influence your product roadmap and priorities for 2026? 

2025 was a fantastic year for Pragmatic Play which saw significant growth and global expansion.

Slots remain the foundation and continue to form the bedrock of the group, but the focus is firmly on all verticals. That means continually refreshing franchises, launching new games, and adding innovative features. This commitment is evident in new titles like Gates of Olympus Super Scatter, which was a top-performing slot game globally by the end of last year, and also Fortune of Olympus, which hit the ground running when it came out in December. 

Keeping quality high while producing a lot of games comes down to having the right teams, processes, and focus. Creative and technical teams work closely on new ideas, and every game goes through careful testing and review. Additionally, a constant feedback loop with operators and players helps Pragmatic Play identify improvements in order to keep raising the bar. 

‘Keeping quality high while producing a lot of games comes down to having the right teams, processes, and focus’
Victor Arias, VP of LatAm at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play.

In 2025, Pragmatic Play entered a new vertical with its arcade collection; what strategic gap does this vertical fill, and how has the market response been so far? 

The Arcade vertical fills an important strategic gap: providing fun and familiar gameplay with simple mechanics and engaging themes that complement slots and live casino, giving operators additional ways to entertain players. 

For Pragmatic Play, Arcade is not “an extra” – it’s another layer to a complete entertainment infrastructure, offering operators greater flexibility in acquiring and retaining players. 

The retro-style mechanics have proven very popular in multiple markets, reinforcing the category’s role as a key component of a broader portfolio. 

The market response has been positive so far, with players engaging enthusiastically with the collection, and we’re looking forward to upcoming new releases, including Mines+, Spire+ and Chicken +. 

What are Pragmatic Play’s next steps for the following few months, looking beyond SBC Summit Rio 2026? 

Looking beyond SBC Summit Rio 2026, Pragmatic Play is entering an exciting period of development across Latin America, with several initiatives planned to support operators and their players.

On the slots front, the company is preparing for the launch of Jelly Express on March 30. First showcased at ICE, the title received a highly positive reception, and Pragmatic Play expects it to resonate strongly with players as the game goes live across multiple markets. 

Pragmatic Play’s mission remains to provide its clients and their players with the best possible experience. This involves not only delivering consistent, high-performing content but also continuously enhancing the tools, services and integration capabilities that operators rely on daily. 

Live Casino will be a major focus in 2026, with plans to open two new Live Casino studios, including one in Brazil. These launches will further strengthen Pragmatic Play’s ability to offer more localised, high-quality experiences tailored to diverse audiences. 

Overall, partners can expect new products and ongoing improvements across all verticals, designed to help operators grow sustainably with content and capabilities that feel genuinely built for their markets.