“‘The Wall’ is just a mental hurdle”: FGN founder Fernando Saffores shares his core business values

Tough competition requires keen awareness and the ability to stay several steps ahead of competitors. Fernando Saffores, founder of Focus Gaming News, discusses the discipline and core values you need to run a successful business, as well as showing what running a marathon and piloting a plane have in common with managing a company.

SLOTEGRATOR: After 20 years in iGaming, you must have a wealth of fascinating experiences. What was the most surprising and exciting event in gambling you would like to share with our audience? What impact did it have on your life and career?

Fernando Saffores: In over two decades, the most surprising and exciting shift has been the transition from a niche, unregulated “Wild West” into a sophisticated, multi-billion-dollar global industry. The most impactful event for me was witnessing the overturning of PASPA in the US, which acted as a catalyst for professionalisation worldwide. This shift benefited us at Focus Gaming News immensely; it forced us to evolve from a news outlet into a strategic intelligence partner. Early on, we began integrating preliminary AI tools to categorise and analyse regulatory trends, which allowed us to provide our readers with a level of foresight that was previously impossible. It transformed our workflow from reactive to proactive, ensuring our audience stayed ahead of the curve.

S: We did some background research and found out that you love running in marathons. How would you compare running 42 kilometers straight to running a business, in terms of planning, preparation, overcoming competitors, etc.?

FS: The correlation is absolute. In both, success is 90% preparation and 10% execution. You don't run a marathon on the day of the race; you run it during the months of training at 5:30 AM. In business, as in a marathon, you must manage your energy. If you sprint at the start, you won't make it to the 42nd kilometer. Planning, discipline, and understanding that “the wall” is just a mental hurdle are the core values that I apply daily at Focus Gaming News.

S: Amazingly, aside from running both marathons and a successful business, you find time to be a private pilot. How do these experiences interact? How was the idea of piloting born?

FS: The idea of piloting was born from a passion for challenges and a desire for a new perspective. Although flying is a hobby and not my profession, the discipline it requires has a profound impact on my role as CEO. Both worlds require extreme focus and the ability to make split-second decisions under pressure. In a cockpit, just like in the boardroom, you are responsible for the flight path and the safety of the craft. As a private pilot, I have learned that a “checklist” and technical discipline are the best tools to ensure that, in business, nothing is left to chance.

S: What are the biggest challenges for emerging gambling operators in the upcoming years, in your opinion?

FS: The biggest challenge is, without a doubt, meaningful differentiation in a saturated market. Today, simply having a solid platform is just the price of entry. Emerging operators must face soaring customer acquisition costs (CAC) while navigating increasingly complex and fragmented compliance requirements across different jurisdictions.

Beyond that, there is the challenge of relevance. To survive the next few years, new players must move away from 'copy-paste' strategies. They need to find a unique niche, whether through hyper-localised content, superior user experience (UX), or innovative gamification that actually resonates with a younger, more tech-savvy demographic. At Focus Gaming News, we often see that the most successful emerging brands are those that prioritise agility and community building over massive, unfocused marketing spends. They understand that in a world of giants, being the most adaptable and specialised player is the ultimate competitive advantage.

S: What are the main obstacles preventing operators from becoming global players in the industry?

FS: The main obstacle is regulatory fragmentation. Scaling a brand globally requires navigating a patchwork of different laws, tax structures, and cultural nuances. Many operators fail because they try to apply a “one-size-fits-all” strategy rather than deeply understanding the local player's DNA in each territory.

S: Can you please share your thoughts about the future of iGaming — which markets will be the leaders in the next few decades? Why do you suppose so? What other tendencies in the industry should we expect?

FS: What a good one! I believe Brazil and the wider LatAm region will be the undisputed heavyweights of the next decade. This is not just due to their sheer population size, but because of a unique cultural passion for sports that, when combined with a maturing regulatory framework, creates a perfect environment for sustainable growth. We should also keep a close eye on Africa, where we are seeing a fascinating phenomenon: mobile-first innovation is leapfrogging traditional technology, creating an entirely new landscape for digital payments and player engagement.

As for global trends, the industry is moving rapidly toward hyper-personalisation driven by real-time data. The next generation of players will not settle for a static interface; they expect a tailored experience that anticipates their preferences. We can also expect a massive shift toward integrating social elements into the betting experience—turning gambling from a solitary activity into a shared, community-driven event. At Focus Gaming News, we are already seeing how the convergence of entertainment, streaming, and betting is redefining what it means to be an iGaming operator in a truly digital age.

S: Important question that could help young entrepreneurs: When you started your business 10 years ago, who did you first turn to for support? And what core challenges did you face? What was the turning point for your brand’s success?

FS: In the beginning, my biggest support came from the long-standing relationships I had built over my previous decade in the industry. I am incredibly proud to say that many of the companies that backed Focus Gaming News from the very first moment are still working with us today, ten years later. Industry leaders like Evolution, BetConstruct, FBM, Ortiz Gaming, and EGT believed in our vision when we were just starting out, and our journey together over this decade is a testament to the trust we have built.

The core challenge back then was starting from scratch in a digital world that was already becoming very crowded. The turning point for our brand's success was when we decided to pivot from being a standard news site to a high-quality, original editorial platform. We stopped just reposting press releases and started providing deep-dive analysis and unique perspectives. That commitment to editorial integrity, backed by the continuous support of our long-term partners, is what allowed Focus to scale and become the global authority it is today.

S: In how many countries is Focus Gaming News popular nowadays?

FS: Today, Focus Gaming News is a truly global reference, with a presence spanning the world's most dynamic markets. We have strategically expanded our footprint through dedicated editions for Africa, APAC, Europe, North America, and, of course, Latin America. This multi-regional approach allows us to deliver hyper-localised content in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. We don't just report global news; we have a local voice in over 150 countries, ensuring that an operator in Lagos or a developer in Manila gets the specific insights they need for their unique regulatory environment.

S: Your company uses AI-driven personalization for the news feed. What are your thoughts and concerns about the global AI-boom? How will it impact the market in the future?

FS: AI is a powerful tool, but it is not a replacement for human insight. At Focus Gaming News, we have a clear philosophy: we use it to enable AI-driven personalisation, ensuring our readers get the news that actually matters to them, not just a generic feed. This is exactly why we developed myFocus, our tailored platform that lets users customize their news experience based on their interests, regions, and professional needs. It acts as a smart filter, ensuring that every professional can find the precise intelligence they need without getting lost in the shuffle.

Our main concern with the current trend is the “sea of noise” — AI can generate massive amounts of content, but it cannot generate “truth,” “context,” or “influence.” While the market will certainly benefit from greater data processing efficiency, the value of a trusted, human editorial voice will become even more precious. We see myFocus as the perfect synergy: the efficiency of AI to organise and deliver information, backed by the integrity and deep-dive analysis that only our team of experts can provide. In an era of automated noise, we prioritise curated relevance.

S: Focus Gaming News has a solid record of consistent growth. What are your plans for the upcoming year?

FS: This is our 10th anniversary, so our focus is on high-impact activations and deeper multimedia integration. We are expanding our video and podcast offerings and strengthening our presence in emerging markets through strategic local partnerships. We want to celebrate a decade by being more “present” than ever for our clients.

S: What are your biggest values in team building? How do you make sure the company’s members are moving in the right direction for business growth?

FS: I would say that my biggest value is autonomy within a shared vision. I don't believe in micro-management; I believe in empowering experts. I understand that our team is moving in the right direction when I see them taking full ownership of their regions and innovating without being prompted. For me, business growth is a byproduct of human growth. We foster a culture where every member feels like a “partner” in the brand's success. When your team in Africa or APAC can make strategic editorial decisions that align perfectly with our global standards, you know you have built a resilient and scalable structure.

S: And finally — what inspires you most in private and business life?

FS: In my private life, my two daughters are my greatest inspiration; they are a constant reminder of why I work so hard to build a lasting legacy. They keep me grounded and focused on the future. In business, I am deeply inspired by the resilience of entrepreneurs who start with nothing but an idea and have the grit to see it through to the end. That same grit is what I take with me to the start line of every marathon. There is a specific kind of inspiration that comes from pushing your limits, whether it is finishing a 42k race or launching a new regional edition of Focus Gaming News. Both require the same thing: the courage to start and the discipline to never stop.