Tiago Almeida, Oddsgate: “We don’t believe in welcome bonuses and we don’t believe in free spins”

Shows & conferences - 20 October, 2025

During SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, Focus Gaming News spoke with Tiago Almeida, CEO of Oddsgate, about a major new partnership in Brazil and the company's innovative approach to player retention.

Almeida announced that Oddsgate is merging its business and operations in Brazil with BetConstruct. He explained the move was driven by a shared understanding that "by partnering, we can create better technology, we can have faster time to market." The partnership aims to provide local Brazilian clients with superior tools to expand internationally. As part of this expansion, the company is preparing to hire 200 new employees for its São Paulo office.

With 2025 focused on ensuring compliance for the regulated Brazilian market, Almeida declared that "2026 will be the year of growth." A key part of this growth strategy is the introduction of "super personalisation tools." This includes a customisable marketplace for each operator, allowing them to offer unique, tangible rewards. "A user will be able to redeem his loyalty experience with the football ball of the Champions League last year, signed by the players," Almeida illustrated.

This strategy is rooted in a philosophy that moves away from traditional incentives. "We don't believe in welcome bonuses and we don't believe in free spins," Almeida said. "We want to create a unique experience where users can actually engage with an entertainment product and then to redeem points by something that is valuable, not money."

He then argued that in a market with high taxation like Brazil, this approach is essential for operators. "Standing out is what will set your brand apart, is what's going to create top-of-mind recall. And if you can connect this with the personalisation tools, um, this means that you will be more efficient. This means you'll be more um, customized, and yeah, I think you'll be in a better position than your competitors, and I think our partners are in that also."