GAT Expo Puerto Rico positioned the island as a new gaming hub

Two academic sessions and an intense day of commercial exhibition at the Puerto Rico Convention Center enabled interaction between providers and operators, who described GAT Expo Puerto Rico as a necessary, productive, and highly comprehensive event.

Day 2: Regulation, technology, and responsibility

The academic day on Wednesday, October 29, began with the panel “Responsible Gaming”, moderated by Attorney Jaime Rivera Emanuelli (Saiber LLC, former director of the PR Gaming Commission), alongside Idalynn Ortiz (Gaming Commission) and Dr. Catherine I. Oliver Franco (ASSMCA), who emphasized the importance of education, prevention, and cooperation between public entities and operators to ensure player protection.

Next came the discussion “Regulatory Analysis: Land-Based vs. Online Gaming”, featuring Lorna Huertas Padilla, Yamile Gutiérrez (G&G Studio Legal), and Evert Montero Cárdenas (Fecoljuegos), who shared applied regulatory experiences and the current regulatory landscape in Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.

Following that, the panel “Trends in Virtual Betting”, moderated by María Cristina Mari García (Hipódromo Camarero), a renowned and qualified Puerto Rican professional, brought together experts such as Julio César Duque (Golden Race), Ramy Belhachmi (Mi Quinté RD), Edgardo Paredes (Raza Carreras), and Herminio Iglesias (Soll Systems), highlighting the growing convergence of technology, innovation, and regulatory developments in a rapidly expanding vertical.

The morning block continued with “The Online Betting Landscape in Latin America and Puerto Rico”, moderated by Víctor Arias (Arrise/Pragmatic Play), with Sean Bishop (Latam Global Tote US) and Joe Fernández (Ballers Sportsbook PR), who analyzed the sports betting and online gaming panorama from their perspectives as entrepreneurs.

The panel “State Games in Puerto Rico, Horse Racing Agencies, and Sports Betting”, led by José Carlos Figueroa (GLI Caribe), with María Cristina Mari García (Hipódromo Camarero) and Grace Santana (Winln PR), delved into the modernization of state oversight and the ongoing updates required by technology that evolves faster than regulation.

In the keynote “Advances in AML/CFT Prevention and Control”, Juan Carlos Restrepo, president of Asojuegos Colombia, presented a comprehensive overview of best practices in compliance and anti-money laundering that his organization has developed over the past 11 years, emphasizing the need for fearless engagement with the financial sector, public opinion, and authorities to legitimize the gaming industry, which has long been stigmatized.

Finally, the panel “Casino Landscape in Puerto Rico”, moderated by Alfredo Martínez, Director of the Gaming Bureau, brought together Ismael Vega (Casino Metro) and Sigfrido De Jesús (Casino del Mar), who underscored the importance of casinos in driving the island’s economic and tourism development.

GAT Expo commercial exhibition, Puerto Rico Convention Center

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the exhibition stands featured Juan Carlos Santaella and other officials from the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission. Sponsors, personalities, speakers, and representatives from international associations were also in attendance.

Local industry providers and operators, joined by executives from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United States, France, Spain, Uruguay, Colombia, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Germany, Austria, Peru, Panama, and Lithuania, toured the exhibitor booths in an atmosphere of continuous dialogue, discovering innovative games, slots, route machines, and digital solutions that diversify legal gaming operations in the island and the Caribbean.

International exhibitors and delegates praised the quality of the attendees, the presence of the regulatory authority’s staff—who had an institutional booth—and the interest of local operators in forming new strategic alliances. The event solidified GAT Expo Puerto Rico as an effective business showcase where knowledge, technology, and opportunities converged in a professional space.

Brands linked to the first edition of GAT Expo Puerto Rico include:

Platinum Sponsors: Red Wall, Raza Carreras Exclusive Sponsors: Juancito Sport, GLI Gold Sponsor: Hipódromo Camarero

Novomatic, Prometeo Oklahoma, Raza Carreras, Red Wall, Ragnes Virtuales, Caribe Gaming, Casino Parts by Casino Garage, Easylinx, Expocaribe, Gem Solutions, Golden Race, Softquo, Spinmatic Center, Xpress, Juancito Sport, G&G Studio Legal, Casino del Mar, Ocean Casino, Kawal Real Casino, Caribbean Cage, Tropical Casino.

Supported by: Puerto Rico Tourism Company, International Federation of Gaming, FIJA.

The great combo of GAT Expo Puerto Rico: academia, tourism, commercial exhibition, and epic networking

The Redwall brand, officially launched at GAT Puerto Rico, sponsored the grand closing party featuring the famous orchestra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. This networking event, held at the T-Mobile District in San Juan, delivered a world-class experience for Puerto Ricans and visitors alike, with stunning screens and special effects, all to the rhythm of the best salsa.

José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT, commented: “It is a great joy for me to say that GAT Expo Puerto Rico is now a milestone for the GAT Events circuit and for the entertainment industry in Latin America. We experienced a climate of harmony, dialogue, and knowledge during two days of conferences where providers, authorities, and operators interacted. Reaching this point was made possible thanks to the alliance with the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, whose leadership and vision were essential to making this meeting a reality.

The gaming industry is contributing to the island’s moment of development and visibility. Thanks to the sponsors and all the exhibitors who believe in this project. I’ve received many positive comments from residents and international attendees urging that GAT Expo Puerto Rico become an annual platform for business and sector integration. Lastly, I want to highlight the closing party of this first arrival to the Pearl of the Caribbean, as it was an unprecedented networking experience that will remain an unforgettable life moment.”

Next destination for the GAT Events circuit

The organization confirms its next stop: GAT Expo Santo Domingo 2025, on November 12 and 13 at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel, Dominican Republic, where regional cooperation in regulation, innovation, and social responsibility in gaming will continue to be strengthened.