Giannis Avgoustidis, Altenar: “Trust drives retention, not just during the World Cup but far beyond”

As Brazil cements its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing regulated betting markets, the upcoming World Cup represents a pivotal opportunity for operators to scale acquisition and retention. Giannis Avgoustidis, Regional Manager at Altenar, explains how sportsbook providers can support Brazil-focused strategies through data, infrastructure and localisation.

Interview.- With football deeply embedded in Brazil’s culture, global tournaments such as the World Cup create peak moments for betting engagement and competition among operators. In this context, Altenar’s regional manager Giannis Avgoustidis outlines how providers can help local brands maximise performance during the tournament, from leveraging official data feeds to optimising front-end experiences tailored to Brazilian bettors.

The World Cup is always massive in Brazil. What makes it commercially unique for operators there?

Brazil lives and breathes football. During the World Cup, engagement levels go far beyond regular domestic league activity. For operators, that means:

• Significant spikes in traffic, especially mobile
• A wave of first-time depositors
• Increased in-play betting activity
• Higher expectations for speed and reliability

If your platform slows down, suspends markets too often, or feels generic, players will move quickly to competitors.

How can sportsbook providers technically support operators during the tournament?

Preparation starts months in advance. From a provider perspective, we focus on three core pillars:

1. Infrastructure scalability – Load testing for peak concurrent users
2. Market depth – Offering hundreds of pre-match and in-play markets per game
3. Low-latency pricing and settlement – Especially critical for in-play

But the real differentiator is official data.

Let’s talk about official data feeds. Why are they so important for a World Cup strategy?

Using official data via authorised distributors gives operators a major competitive edge.

Here’s why:

• Faster data transmission – lower latency for live betting
• Greater integrity protection – direct access reduces manipulation risk
• More granular markets – player props, advanced stats, micro-markets
• Fewer suspensions – smoother in-play experience and greater cash-out availability

In a tournament like the World Cup, where milliseconds matter, unofficial or delayed data simply can’t compete.

How does this translate into real commercial benefits for Brazilian operators?

In Brazil, bettors are highly engaged and digitally savvy. They’re comparing odds, cash-out speeds, and UX in real time. Official data enables faster bet acceptance, more accurate cash-out values, quick and transparent settlement, and competitive in-play pricing.

That builds trust – and trust drives retention, not just during the World Cup but far beyond the tournament when the focus returns to domestic action.

Beyond trading and data, how important is front-end customisation?

It’s critical in all competitive markets, especially in Brazil. Many operators underestimate how much localised UX design impacts performance. A World Cup strategy isn’t just about adding markets; it’s about building an emotional and intuitive experience.

For example, offering a dedicated Brazil team hub allows bettors to quickly find fixtures, standings, statistics and a range of betting markets in one place. The fewer clicks needed to find the bet they want, the better.

Player-focused Bet Builders are increasingly popular and can be displayed easily, along with highlighted odds boosts tied to national sentiment. If Brazil is playing, that match should dominate the homepage experience.

What role does Bet Builder and personalised markets play during the World Cup?

Bet Builder is one of the most powerful engagement tools during global tournaments. Brazilian bettors love combining a range of selections, including goalscorer markets, total goals, cards, corners, player shots and more.

With official data and robust pricing models, providers can offer dynamic, real-time combinations without exposing operators to excessive risk. The key is balancing flexibility with intelligent risk management tools.

How can providers help operators manage risk during such a high-profile event?

Risk management during the World Cup is about:

• Real-time monitoring dashboards
• Automated exposure limits
• Market-level liability controls
• Pre-configured risk profiles

We work closely with operators to adjust settings specifically for Brazil, taking into account local betting patterns, average stake sizes, and promotional mechanics.

Finally, what should Brazilian operators prioritise now if they want to win during the next World Cup cycle?

The main thing is to invest in front-end localisation, not just back-end performance.

The World Cup is more than a short-term revenue spike. In Brazil, it’s a brand-defining moment. Operators that deliver speed, reliability, and a culturally resonant experience will retain those players long after the final whistle.

As Brazil cements its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing regulated betting markets, the upcoming World Cup represents a pivotal opportunity for operators to scale acquisition and retention. Giannis Avgoustidis, Regional Manager at Altenar, explains how sportsbook providers can support Brazil-focused strategies through data, infrastructure and localisation. Interview.- With football deeply embedded in Brazil’s…