Carlos Fonseca - CEO and Managing Partner at Fonseca Abogados S.A.C. & Gaming Law S.A.C
Carlos Fonseca – CEO and Managing Partner, Fonseca Abogados S.A.C. & Gaming Law S.A.C
First as a regulator starting in 1995, and later through Gaming Law SAC and Fonseca Abogados SAC, Carlos has advised governments, operators, and suppliers across multiple jurisdictions in the region, supporting regulatory analysis processes, legal framework design, and the legal structuring of land-based and online gaming operations. His work includes research and advisory roles related to markets such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, as well as countries in Central America and the Caribbean, among others.
Throughout his career, he has actively participated as a government consultant in the development of regulatory frameworks for gambling and betting, collaborating with authorities in countries such as Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. This experience has allowed him to develop a comparative view of the different Latin American regulatory models, their strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Carlos holds a Master’s degree in Constitutional Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Ortega y Gasset Institute in Madrid. He is also a PhD candidate in Law. This academic background complements his professional practice with a solid theoretical foundation. He is also the author of the book “Gambling and Betting. Technical and Legal Aspects”, a reference work in Spanish for the legal analysis of the sector.
Currently, he serves as CEO and Managing Partner of Gaming Law SAC, as well as Managing Partner of Fonseca Abogados SAC, leading specialized teams in foreign investment, arbitration, public procurement, administrative law, and gaming law.
We spoke with Carlos Fonseca Sarmiento to learn more about his professional journey, his perspective on the regulatory evolution of gaming in Latin America, and the human side behind one of the most experienced legal specialists in the industry, in a new edition of More than a Game.
Professional Journey
What did you dream of being as a child before entering this industry?
Like most kids of my generation, a football player.
What was your first paid job?
Legal advisor to the National Commission of Gaming Casinos of Peru.
And your first job in the gambling industry?
The same one. Practically my entire professional career has been as a gaming lawyer, first in the public sector and later in the private sector.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
Its dynamism and its international nature. I practically have friends all over the world and you are never bored.
What current trends will shape the future of betting in the next 5 years?
Artificial intelligence will shape the future in ways that are hard to imagine today. Remote gaming will clearly outperform land-based gaming.
How do you see the relationship between responsible gaming and sustainable market growth?
Everyone involved in this sector must promote responsible gaming.
What concerns you most about gambling addiction?
That it is used as an excuse for irrational regulation. Gambling addiction must be discussed based on evidence and research to assess its real dimension. The first question is whether it is truly a public health issue like morbid obesity, diabetes or hypertension.
What skills do you consider essential for a leader in this industry?
The skills of any leader in any industry, plus strong technical knowledge of the gaming sector.
What was the most difficult decision in your career and what did you learn from it?
I have the privilege of doing what I love. Being a gaming lawyer is not a job but a passion, so I have not had to make difficult decisions.
What is the best professional advice you have received?
If they ask for 10, give 11. That’s how you make a difference.
If you had to summarize your leadership philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?
Carpe Diem. Make the most of every day. Learn something new every day.
If you had not worked in this industry, what other profession would you have chosen?
I don’t see myself in another profession or industry. I will be a gaming lawyer until the day I close my eyes.
Quick Fire Rounds
A book you recommend?
Any book by Mario Vargas Llosa
A movie that impacted you?
Life Is Beautiful, by Roberto Benigni
Favorite food?
The best in the world, Peruvian food
A place in the world to live?
Anywhere by the sea with waves to surf
An unfulfilled dream?
Many. The most immediate one is finishing this interview
A hobby or passion outside work?
Surfing, traveling, collecting stories
Coffee or tea?
Coffee
Remote work or office?
Remote work
Casino or sports betting?
Any form of betting
Messi or Cristiano?
Paolo Guerrero and Messi
Sweet or savory?
Savory, like seawater
Netflix or Disney+?
YouTube channels
Early riser or night owl?
Depends on the country I’m in
Beach or mountains?
Beach
Printed book or e-book?
Printed book, old school
Data or intuition?
Data for work, intuition for hobbies
Cold or heat?
Heat
Formal or casual dress?
Formal for work, casual for hobbies
Window or aisle?
Window
Wine or beer?
Wine, preferably Port
Are leaders born or made?
Made. Discipline beats intelligence
The Legacy
How would you like to be remembered?
However people want. I’ll already be gone.
A question you’ve never been asked but would like to answer?
If you met God, what would you ask Him? My answer would be: what time is it?
Which industry colleague would you like to see answering this interview?
Other fellow gaming lawyers.