Dee Maher, Gaming CEO at Celesta, believes that now is the perfect time for crypto investments in gaming.

In an interview for SBC Noticias, the CEO highlighted that the DeFi space has significantly matured over the past few years, with the technology now possessing qualities that offer optimised efficiency and competitive transaction costs.

Evidence of just how far the technology has come can be seen in the US and the approval of Bitcoin ETFs by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – something unthinkable at the turn of the decade.

Across the pond we’ve also seen a more favourable sentiment towards cryptocurrencies. Europe has adopted the hallmark MiCA framework to protect consumers with strict business transparency rules and compliance unification across all EU members.

Pro-crypto licensing regimes also continue to spring up further down East, like in the UAE and Hong Kong for example. Maher observed that crypto has ‘seen major advances across infrastructure, regulation, and utility’ over the past few years.

“AI-driven trading tools and zero-knowledge proofs are enhancing security and scalability,” she adds. “Real-world asset tokenisation and institutional adoption are bridging TradFi and DeFi. Regulatory clarity from regions like the EU is legitimising the space. Meanwhile, stablecoins and Bitcoin NFTs are expanding crypto’s global use cases.”

The time is right

This growth has naturally been carried over to every other sector that has tapped into crypto payments for one reason or another, including gambling – though in many jurisdictions the practice of crypto betting remains a regulatory grey area.

Maher highlighted that the global crypto gambling market was estimated to be valued at $50m in 2019, only to go up to $250m in 2024. With the gaming industry expanding to more and more markets, including very crypto favourable ones like Brazil, and interest in crypto reaching new heights, it seems there is plenty of room for more growth.

“With a multitude of operators now supporting crypto payments, driven by player demand for anonymity, speed, and decentralisation, these numbers are set to soar. Proprietary token ecosystems are becoming mainstream for loyalty, in-game staking, and promotional utility.

“However, regulatory uncertainty remains as regulators come to grips with trying to align on definitions, along with crypto volatility and the inherent risks associated with it.”.

The gambling sector is also usually quick to adopt the latest advancements in AI, which can only serve as a platform to trampoline the integration of crypto even further based on the fact that it significantly improves analytics and fraud detection.

Maher shared that Celesta – part of venture capital firm La Royale Group – has taken note of all the above, and has placed its focus on positioning itself as a leader in the Web3 space.

“Integrating crypto wallets, enabling seamless crypto-fiat conversions and ensuring compliance through blockchain-based KYC solutions is key to staying relevant, accompanied by the introduction of token-based loyalty programmes, creating transparent and tradeable in-game economies.”

Maher will be discussing all things payments and crypto at the upcoming SBC Summit Lisbon next month.

SBC Summit will take place from 16–18 September at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena, bringing together 30,000 industry stakeholders for an unmissable three-day experience.Looking to attend? Here’s how:

• Secure your place with a VIP Event Pass – Enjoy full access to all conference sessions, the exhibition floor, exclusive networking events, and complimentary food and drink throughout the summit.

• Bringing the team? Take advantage of our Group Pass Discount — purchase three or more VIP Event Passes and pay just €400 per ticket (saving €200 off the standard price).

• Operator or affiliate? You may be eligible for a complimentary VIP Event Pass, which includes full access to the exhibition, conference, and exclusive networking events. Apply now to reserve your spot.

Expo+ Pass: Gain access to the full exhibition floor and all conference sessions across the three days. This does not include access to our exclusive VIP evening networking events.

September 15 will see SBC organise a ground breaking charity football event in Lisbon. Make sure you get the chance to see some of the most legendary names in football by securing your ticket today at https://www.legendscharitygame.com/