Innovative games provider ESA Gaming has received Brazilian Certification as it continues to focus on new markets.

The certification will allow ESA Gaming to distribute both its games and Game Aggregator System (GAS), to players and operators throughout Brazil.

With a mix of non-traditional content such as football-themed mine games and crash style games, as well as established casino classics, ESA’s games have a proven cross-selling capacity, without cannibalisation, helping sportsbooks to prolong brand loyalty and add revenue.

ESA Gaming has enjoyed a positive 12 months of growth, signing numerous agreements in key territories, as well as expanding its portfolio with the addition of multiple slot titles and, most recently, its first Plinko game; Plinko Drops.

Advertisement

The supplier also holds certifications in Portugal, Italy, Greece, Colombia, South Africa as well as an MGA supplier licence, highlighting the provider’s intentions to grow its product range in regulated markets.

Thomas Smallwood, CCO at ESA Gaming, said: “Receiving our Brazilian certification is a hugely exciting moment for us in our step towards expansion in LatAm. The Brazilian market has a huge potential and we are eager to see how our titles are received.

“It is the first important milestone of 2025 for us that we hope can act as a springboard for further growth.”

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has initiated investigations into unlicensed sports prediction markets operating within the state. These platforms, which bypass Michigan’s regulatory framework, have raised significant concerns about consumer protections.

Michigan’s investigations align with similar actions already taken by other state regulatory bodies and focus on how this form of unlicensed sports betting may jeopardize the integrity of Michigan’s legal sports betting system.

“We take consumer protection very seriously and are committed to ensuring that Michigan residents are engaging with safe and legal sports betting options. Unlicensed entities not only pose a risk to consumers but also undercut the integrity and revenue-generating potential of the state’s regulated sports betting industry. We are actively investigating these practices and will pursue appropriate measures to protect Michigan bettors,” said Henry Williams, Executive Director of the MGCB.

The unlicensed platforms offer what they describe as innovative financial products that allow users to trade their predictions on the outcomes of sports events. By sidestepping the regulatory protections of Michigan’s legal sports betting market, these platforms pose a serious risk to consumers. They create potential confusion among bettors and blur the line between sports betting as entertainment and sports betting as a financial trading vehicle.

Advertisement

Beyond concerns over lost tax revenue, these unregulated platforms may expose Michigan residents to various risks, including fraud, identity theft, and inadequate data security. Unlike licensed sportsbooks, which are required to adhere to strict regulations including age verification, Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, anti-money laundering (AML) measures, self-exclusion policies, and integrity monitoring, unlicensed entities may operate without these safeguards. As a result, consumers can be left vulnerable to financial harm.

The MGCB is also concerned that promoting sports betting as an investment opportunity directly contradicts Michigan’s established responsible gaming principles.

“Sports betting is meant to be a form of entertainment, not a financial investment. By framing sports contracts as investment vehicles, these platforms risk confusing consumers and undermining the state’s commitment to responsible gaming. Moreover, many of these unlicensed platforms are often accessible to individuals as young as 18, in stark contrast to Michigan’s 21+ age requirement for legal sports betting,” Williams added.