This year’s BIS Sigma was the stage for deeper conversations, more solid businesses and a clear sign that the Brazilian iGaming market has entered a new phase. To capture this moment, we spoke to Bruno BarrosoCo-founder & CEO of Betpasstechnology platform that connects affiliates and operators in the iGaming ecosystem. Bruno left the event with two awards at the BIS Awards, recognitions that come at one of the best moments in the company’s history. In the interview, he talks about the evolution of the sector, the challenges of regulation, his partnership with Super Afiliados and also reveals an unusual story involving karting and a motorsport idol.
A different — and better — market
Participating in BIS Sigma for the first time does not have the same weight as doing it now, in 2026. Bruno Barroso noticed this difference in his first contacts with the event.
“I was very happy to participate in the BIS Sigma this year because it showed a professionalization and consolidation of our market, moving towards a maturity that has been sought since we started conversations to implement the regulation”, he states.
For him, what caught his attention the most was the quality of the conversations — both from the companies and the affiliates. The profile of those who attended the event changed noticeably.
“Before, at other events, it was an adventurer’s event. Everyone was there looking for a solution, trying to understand the market. Around 90% of the conversations I had until last year were with people who didn’t understand much about the market, wanted to learn and see some opportunity. Not anymore. People already know each other much better, the conversations are deeper, on another level, even more mature.”
This does not mean that adventurers have disappeared — after all, as he himself points out, every large enough market always attracts this profile. But the sector’s center of gravity has clearly shifted.
Two trophies, a recognized trajectory
The night of the BIS Awards held surprises for Bruno. He took the stage twice: first when he was elected Outstanding Professional of the Yearand then when representing the Super Affiliates in the category of Best Affiliate of the Year.
“It was a great honor to receive these awards. It is a recognition of the work that has been done — a challenging work. Starting a business in Brazil is already a challenge in itself, even more so in the iGaming market, which is being regulated, still very immature, and which brings changes all the time, requiring great dynamism to adapt quickly and be able to generate real value for the ecosystem.”
The outstanding professional award had a special flavor. Bruno says that, when he saw the other names nominated in the category, he felt the weight of that moment in a different way.
“Just knowing that I was there, alongside names that have inspired me all this time and that inspire me to this day, made me very happy. And being the professional who received the most votes in this category makes me even happier knowing that the market, the people who make the market, are seeing my work, they are seeing Betpass’ work, and they are trusting. There was no way to get better feedback than that.”
The timing also makes sense when looking at the company’s recent history. In the last 12 months, Betpass was recognized four times as one of the most promising startups in the world — at BIS Sigma 2025 itself, at ICE in Barcelona, at IGB in London and at SBC in Lisbon, emerging as winner in the editions of BIS Sigma and IGB.
Partnership with Super Afiliados: news on the way
Represent the Super Affiliates on the BIS Awards stage generated curiosity. After all, what is behind this approach?
Bruno explains that the relationship between Betpass and Super Afiliados is not new — it dates back to the company’s own beginnings in the affiliation market. But the current moment brings a different energy.
“Betpass and Super Afiliados have been long-time partners, since we started in the affiliation market. Super Afiliados had existed for a long time and we started a partnership that has lasted until today. Especially in this new moment of Super Affiliatesa new repositioning, we have been working a lot together.”
Regarding what’s coming, Bruno was direct — and encouraging: “There’s definitely going to be a lot of good things coming soon. People can get ready, because there’s a lot of new stuff coming.”
The challenge of regulation and how Betpass positioned itself
When it comes to the main challenge of the market today, Bruno does not hesitate: the professionalization required by regulation is the great test of survival for companies in the sector.
“There is a great need for adaptation in compliance, security, monitoring and new rules that need to be followed. And we had the privilege of being part of this transition, having in our hands our own technology that has been recognized worldwide.”
This advantage, according to him, was decisive for Betpass not only surviving the regulatory transition, but emerging from it in a leading position.
“All the necessary adaptations, all the adjustments, we carried out while the market was changing. And today we can have the peace of mind to speak as a powerhouse in the affiliation market — in terms of technology, compliance, anti-fraud and campaign monitoring. Today, when we talk about this, it goes through Betpass. And I am very proud to have been part of all of this, to have led this movement towards professionalization of the iGaming market.”
Kart, Rubinho and an unexpected trophy
To conclude, a story that completely deviated from the corporate script and that says a lot about who he is Bruno Barroso outside the office.
He received an invitation from SoftSwiss to participate in a karting event alongside Rubens BarrichelloRubinho. For a motorsport fan who woke up on Sundays to watch Formula 1 races, the opportunity was undeniable.
“I’m a big fan of motorsport, a big fan of Rubinho. And it was a very special event for me.”
What Bruno didn’t expect was to walk away with the first place trophy, even though he admitted to being “rusty” after years without competing in professional kart championships.
“I’ve been a professional kart rental driver, I’ve competed in national championships in São Paulo, at KGV, in Brasília and in Belo Horizonte, which is my home, at the Betim and Vespasiano kart tracks. But after I opened Betpass, I started to not have much time for this hobby.”
With the honest caveat that Rubinho even had a better time, but didn’t compete directly for the prize, Bruno took the trophy home. And he left the event with a renewed desire.
“I confess that I wanted to go back. It was always something I really enjoyed doing, and it was a pleasure to participate in this event. Who knows, I might be able to return to this hobby.”
Betpass: from startup to global reference
The trajectory of Bruno Barroso and Betpass is, in many ways, a mirror of the evolution of the Brazilian iGaming market — from the phase of exploration and uncertainty to a maturity built on technology, compliance and international presence. The two trophies BIS Awards they arrive not as a point of arrival, but as fuel for what comes next.
And, in the words of the CEO himself, what comes next is promising.
Bruno Barroso is Co-founder & CEO of Betpass, a technology platform specialized in connecting affiliates and operators in the iGaming market.
Fonte: Gaming365 – Brasil
