With the auditorium of the Puerto Rico Convention Center filled to capacity, the first day of conferences and panels of Gat Expo Puerto Rico 2025 took place on the morning of Tuesday, October 28.
The event is organized by Gaming & Technology Expo in alliance with the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission.
The opening ceremony was led by Lic. Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission; Lic. Héctor Vázquez Muñiz, representing Governor Jenniffer González Colón; Cristina Torres, Director of Advertising at the Puerto Rico Tourism Company; and José Aníbal Aguirre, Ceo of Gat Events. They officially welcomed attendees and expressed their satisfaction with the realization of this international gathering on the Island of Enchantment.
The academic agenda was hosted by Lorna Huertas Padilla, a recognized professional in the industry, who as master of ceremonies introduced the presentations and interventions of 18 speakers representing both the public and private sectors. They discussed topics such as regulatory updates and cutting-edge technology trends.
The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, through its senior officials Alfredo Martínez, Mónica Andreu, and Loraine Irizarry, led by Juan Carlos Santaella as panel moderator, presented the most recent regulatory developments and changes in gambling, horse racing, sports betting, and route machines.
The panel “New Era: Casino and Route Machines in Puerto Rico,” moderated by Alexandra Fuertes, Legal Director of the Gaming Commission, brought together Luis Del Valle (Novomatic) and Jaime Alex Irizarry (Royal Gaming Logistics). They analyzed technological evolution and the impact of the mixed model on local operations, highlighting a constructive dialogue between government and business leaders.
The conference cycle continued with Jorge Rojas Rumilla, Ceo of Prometeo It México, who presented on interconnection and operations control, emphasizing the importance of online monitoring systems to ensure transparency and traceability in gaming operations. He invited attendees to share experiences and perspectives from other countries.
Next, José Carlos Figueroa, Caribbean Regional Manager at Gli, gave a presentation titled “Certification: The Other Side of the Coin.” He explained the scope of the laboratory’s validation process when verifying the certification factors of each machine or game before the regulator — not only technical and operational aspects but also consumer protection, responsible gaming, innovation verification, and quality standards.
The panel “Betting on eSports,” moderated by Loraine Irizarry, featured Ricardo Román (Red Rooster Team), José Aníbal Aguirre (Gat Events – Mobadoo), and Juan Pablo Barahona (Betby).
The discussion provided insights into the growth of electronic sports, their integration with betting, and development opportunities for this ecosystem in the region.
The program concluded with two keynote presentations. The first, “Crm Applied to Land-based Operations,” was delivered by Daniel Arias, Director for Colombia, Central America, and the Caribbean at Amusnet, who highlighted the advantages of using data intelligence to strengthen customer relationships.
The academic session closed with “The Role of Trade Associations as Industry Spokespersons,” presented by Evert Montero, President of Fecoljuegos (Colombia) and of the International Federation of Gaming (Fija). He emphasized the importance of unifying the industry’s voice before regulators and public opinion across Latin America.
The day concluded with a lunch hosted by Gat Events, followed by a historical and cultural tour of Old San Juan organized by the Gaming Commission of Puerto Rico, and a welcome cocktail sponsored by Hipódromo Camarero, all of which strengthened networking and connections between business leaders and authorities.
José Aníbal Aguirre, Ceo of Gat Events, stated: “I am very pleased with what we have achieved and witnessed in this first Gat Events experience in Puerto Rico. We found entrepreneurs with a winning mindset, strong representation from government and local operators, and highly qualified international providers interested in investing in Puerto Rico. The audience was deeply engaged with every presentation, responding with warm applause. It was a full house at the networking lunch, with an extraordinary atmosphere of camaraderie.”
Gat Expo Puerto Rico 2025 continues today, Wednesday, October 29, with its second academic day and the official opening of the commercial exhibition, featuring global and local brands showcasing casino machines and online gaming platforms.
