The event will bring together international industry leaders with a program featuring keynote lectures, specialized panels, cultural networking, and a commercial exhibition, positioning Puerto Rico as an emerging hub for gaming in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Over the course of two days, the exhibition will showcase the global gaming industry, highlighting Puerto Rico’s potential and reach as a new gaming hotspot in the Caribbean and Latin America.
In recent years, the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission has led a process of regulatory modernization and institutional strengthening, which has enabled the proper management of casinos and slot machines, regulated sports betting and fantasy contests, horse racing, and eSports. This transformation has revitalized the sector, creating jobs and fostering trust with a solid regulatory framework, making the island a model of development, legality, and responsible allocation of tax revenue to social funds, such as police pensions, education, and tourism.
GAT Academy Puerto Rico: Regulation, Technology, and Regional Cooperation
Lorna Huertas Padilla, a recognized professional in the gaming ecosystem, will lead the GAT Academy Puerto Rico, bringing together authorities, operators, associations, experts, and international manufacturers.
The opening ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 28 at 8:30 a.m., featuring Juan Carlos Santaella, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission; Cristina Torres, Director of Advertising for the Puerto Rico Tourism Company; José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT Events; and a representative of the Puerto Rican government.
Highlights of the first day of the GAT Academy include:
Evolution of Puerto Rico’s gaming legal framework: A panel moderated by Juan Carlos Santaella with directors of the Gaming, Horse Racing, Sports Betting, and Slot Machine divisions of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission.
The New Era in Casino and Slot Machines, featuring Novomatic and Royal Gaming Logistics.
eSports Betting, with entrepreneurs from Red Rooster Team, Betby, and Mobadoo.
Keynote by Evert Montero Cárdenas, President of Fecoljuegos Colombia and the International Federation of Gaming (FIJA), on the role of associations as industry spokespersons.
The day will conclude with Cultural Networking in Old San Juan, courtesy of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, followed by a welcome cocktail hosted by Hipódromo Camarero, a symbol of the island’s legal gaming tradition.
On Wednesday, October 29, the second day of the GAT Academy will open with a panel on Responsible Gaming, moderated by Jaime Rivera Emanuelli (Saiber), followed by discussions on Land-Based vs. Online Gaming in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, Trends in Virtual Betting, CRM applied to Land-Based Operations, and State-Run Gaming in Puerto Rico.
Key industry representatives include José Carlos Figueroa (GLI), Daniel Arias (Amusnet), and María Cristina Mari García, General Manager of Hipódromo Camarero, sharing insights on the evolution of regulated gaming on the island and the role of horse racing in the local ecosystem.
The program will also feature a keynote by Juan Carlos Restrepo, President of Asojuegos (Colombia) and leader of LAFT América, on “Advances in AML/CFT Prevention and Control”, highlighting the importance of regulatory compliance for responsible industry growth.
The academic program will close with the “Panorama of Casinos in Puerto Rico” discussion, moderated by Alfredo Martínez, Director of the Gaming Division, with participation from representatives of Casino Metro, Casino del Mar, and Casinos Caguas Real.
Puerto Rico Convention Center Showcases Gaming Industry Exhibition
The inaugural ribbon-cutting for the commercial exhibition will take place on October 29 at 2:30 p.m. in Ballroom A. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet company executives and explore products and services from brands including:
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.
Platinum Sponsors: Red Wall, Raza Carreras, Ragnes Virtuales
Exclusive Sponsors: Juancito Sport, GLI
Gold Sponsor: Hipódromo Camarero
Supported by: Puerto Rico Tourism Company, International Federation of Gaming (FIJA)
The grand closing on October 29 from 8:00 p.m. will be a farewell party at T-Mobile District, featuring the legendary orchestra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, sponsored by Red Wall, Raza Carreras, and Ragnes Virtuales.
The arrival of GAT Expo Puerto Rico 2025 marks a milestone for the entertainment industry in the region, positioning the island as a platform for dialogue, investment, legality, and technological development.
