In this interview, David Santinoli, Chief Technical Officer and partner at GOL Games, discusses the process that led the company to obtain GLI-19 certification, a key milestone in its expansion into international markets. Having driven and overseen the entire process, David shares his insights on how GOL Games managed the technical and regulatory challenges to achieve this significant goal. The interview explores the strategic and technical implications of the certification, highlighting the importance of this step in strengthening the company's position in the online gaming sector beyond national borders.
Can you explain what the GLI-19 certification means and why it is important for GOL Games?
GLI-19 is a technical benchmark for interactive online gaming. It has been defined by Gaming Labs International as a synthesis of best practices, regulations and standards from various countries and regulatory bodies. It is increasingly being adopted by operators and even regulators as a requirement for game providers. It was therefore a necessary step for us to expand our presence abroad.
How much effort did this certification require?
GOL Games is an Italian company and our first market was Italy, whose regulations have often been used as a model by other jurisdictions. For this reason, meeting the requirements of GLI-19 was not particularly difficult. The only significant change was the rewriting of the RNG (Random Number Generator) to more stringent criteria, which we completed in a matter of days. Paradoxically, the most challenging part was creating and adapting the technical documentation. We have to thank both the IT and Compliance teams who did an excellent job.
How does the GLI-19 certification affect player and operator confidence in GOL Games? Does it affect the gaming experience?
This certification is further proof of our quality, which will certainly be appreciated by our future and current customers. GLI-19 has no noticeable effect on the game mechanics, which is a good thing because it allows us to avoid changing a successful product. Players will receive an indirect benefit: they can continue to rely on GOL Games' full compliance with market regulations. Will the GLI-19 certification improve GOL Games' position in the online gaming market?
I don't expect any significant change in our market share in Italy, where the regulatory framework is exclusively defined by the ADM, the regulatory and supervisory authority in Italy. However, abroad the impact will be significant. It's worth noting that GLI-19 is a prerequisite for access to entire jurisdictions, so for us it acts as a passport that will finally allow us to cross national borders and distribute our products in new markets. The first will be Quebec, with other North American states and provinces likely to follow, while in Europe we plan to start with Spain and Portugal, with other regulated countries to follow. This is a concrete step along the development path outlined by our CEO, which I have enthusiastically supported as a partner, and this year we reached another milestone with Andrea Stojanovic joining GOL Games as CCO.
Are you aiming for further certifications?
Yes, we are about to start the process for ISO27001, which is required in some markets, such as Switzerland, but will be important anyway, thanks to its positive effects on the trustworthiness and security of the company. This will be an even more challenging adventure!