Fellipe Fraga - Chief Business Officer at Stellar Gaming (EstrelaBet & Vupi)
Fellipe Fraga – Chief Business Officer, Stellar Gaming (EstrelaBet & Vupi)
A lawyer by training from PUC Minas with a postgraduate degree in Public Law, Fellipe brings a distinctive technical depth to the sector. His experience ranges from sports and international law consultancy to critical roles in AML Compliance (Anti-Money Laundering) and operational management as the former COO of EstrelaBet. This 360° vision, blending legal rigor with commercial agility, has allowed him to successfully navigate complex regulatory and compliance processes across international jurisdictions.
His influence also extends to institutional and journalistic spheres. He served as a collaborating member of the Sports Law Commission of the OAB/MG and as a full auditor for the STJD of American Football. Furthermore, his background as a former sports journalist specializing in rugby gives him a unique ability to communicate and understand the fan's passion from the inside out.
A polyglot fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, and currently studying Hebrew, Fellipe personifies the modern global executive: someone capable of building bridges between international markets and Brazil's vibrant iGaming ecosystem, always with integrity and transparency as the pillars of his management.
We spoke with Fellipe Fraga to learn more about his career path, his vision for the Brazilian regulatory landscape, and the human side of one of the industry's most active leaders, in a new edition of More than a Game on iGaming.bet.
The Origin
Where were you born?
Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
If you could walk through the neighborhood where you grew up as a child today, what would you remember?
The hills, my school, the square, and the Church.
If you could go back in time to those years, what would you like to be doing?
Talking with friends, reading a good book in the school library, and practicing a sport.
What part of that child is still present in your life?
Talking with friends and reading good books; practicing sports is a bit harder now!
What did that child dream of being when they grew up?
Something in international relations or sports. Fortunately, today I do both!
Professional Journey
What was your first paid job?
Intern at a startup focused on participatory democracy.
What was your first job in the world of betting/gambling?
The same one I have today: EstrelaBet, seven years ago.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
The people. It is an industry full of intelligent, interested, and spontaneous people.
What trends will mark the future of betting in the next 5 years?
The use of Artificial Intelligence will continue to grow, with increasing personalization of the user experience, which tends to find a place alongside the metaverse.
What concerns you most about gambling addiction?
What concerns me most is the lack of control over illegal operations that do not promote any type of care. Legal operations are always in constant sectoral dialogue with health organizations to prevent customers with compulsive tendencies from developing gambling addiction. Without control over illegal ones, the customer is vulnerable.
If you had to choose a boss who marked your professional career, who would it be?
I had many who marked me, but I will highlight Dr. Jason Albergaria Filho, a lawyer from the last firm I worked at. He always took the care to sit and talk with me about diverse subjects, always carrying a professional lesson, even if we were talking about 1950s football.
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
A phrase our CEO always says: wake up to be better every day.
If you had to summarize your leadership philosophy in a single phrase, what would it be?
The work is done by people and for people.
What do you value most in a job, beyond salary?
Development opportunities.
If you hadn't worked in this industry, what other profession would you have pursued?
A diplomat: ambassador or consul, representing my country around the world; or a football executive!
Quick-Fire Rounds
A book you would recommend?
The Holy Bible, but to name another: Don Quixote.
A movie that marked you?
Invictus.
A favorite food?
Chicken fricassé.
Wine or beer?
Wine.
A place in the world to live?
Porto, Portugal.
A pending dream?
Watching the SuperBowl live.
A hobby or passion outside of work?
Collecting football shirts.
A personality you admire?
Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil.
Working in the office or at home?
Office.
A day at the beach or in the countryside?
Countryside, preferably in the cold.
Employee or entrepreneur?
Currently, an employee.
Are leaders born or made?
Leaders are formed, provided they have the will to be.
Family & Friends
If your parents had to describe you without mentioning your title or achievements, what would they say about you?
Tough question! I think they would say I am a respectful son.
How would your friends describe you?
As someone fun.
Who is that person who still dares to tell you "you are wrong" when everyone else says yes?
My wife.
How much has your family influenced you to be where you are today?
100%. If it weren't for my wife and daughters, I wouldn't have such a desire to give my best every day. And also, with my brother being my boss, family is present all the time; a good professional result helps my younger brother as well.
To which person who is no longer here would you like to give a hug? What would you say to them?
My grandfathers Elio and Ismael and my grandmother Iracema. They are greatly missed, and I would tell them that I continue seeking to honor the surnames they gave me.
Successes and Failures
What would you say to your younger self who was about to give up at some point?
Trust in God. All things work together for good to those who love Him.
What was the most difficult decision you made in your career and what did you learn from it?
Leaving law and entering a new and uncertain world in 2019: iGaming. I learned that trusting in inner peace is worth it.
What has been your greatest achievement and what did it mean to you?
On a personal level, my family. Waking up and seeing my wife and daughters fills me with gratitude. Professionally, seeing EstrelaBet as a partner of the CBF, effectively helping the Beach Soccer and Futsal national teams win the World Cup.
The Legacy
Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
Traveling the world with my family, sharing market news, and cooperating with companies to bring entertainment to people.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who spread joy and good news wherever they went.
A piece of life advice?
Always trust in God. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.
What question have you never been asked in an interview?
Is there a possibility of a jurisdiction over iGaming created by international bodies, such as supranational regulations? It’s a question involving topics I like very much, and I believe that in the future there will be multinational agreements that allow for gambling offers in different countries respecting central rules.
Which colleague from the industry would you like to see responding to this?
Marc Crean, an Englishman passionate about Minas Gerais.