GAT Caribe Punta Cana 2023, which took place on June 1 and 2, brought together manufacturers, suppliers, authorities, unions, and visitors from Dominican and multinational companies. Attendees were able to interact and share networking activities, conferences, panels, and an exhibition at stands that lasted until 8 pm on Friday, June 2.
After the event, the organizers highlighted the presence of delegates from the Gaming Directorate of the Ministry of Finance and leaders from the Dominican Association of Gaming Casinos (ADCJ), Dominican Association of Sports Banks (ADOBAD), and the National Federation of Lottery Banks (FENABANCA). “This shows how this tradeshow consolidates its credibility in the market and is a reference of institutionalism for the Caribbean and Central America,” the organizers stated.
José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of Gaming & Technology Expo, expressed his satisfaction with the results of the event: “We have exceeded our own expectations. The balance in attendance numbers is as follows: 200 executives were present at the exhibition of products and services, including the elite of casino managers of the Dominican Republic, 70 businessmen attended the academic day, three major guilds of the country came to the Puntacana Club with their casino delegates and lottery operators, eight sponsors and 15 exhibitors, made possible with their investment and confidence the success of GAT Caribe.”
And he added: “The networking on the beach attended by 100 people, an event sponsored by Pragmatic Play, TodoMás, GLI, MiQuinté, and Evolution, deserves special mention because a cheerful atmosphere with music, percussion show, juggling, and catering, allowed fulfilling the purpose of this format, at the highest level,” also recalling that on this occasion, GAT Caribe registered the presence of visitors from 15 countries: Armenia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Spain, Russia, Venezuela, Slovenia, United States, Guatemala, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Cyprus, and of course, Dominican Republic and Colombia.
One of the main activities was the academic day that took place on the morning of June 2, sponsored by Loteka and Juancito Sport, Dominican companies that, since 2021, have joined forces with key sponsorships and support for the realization of GAT Caribe.
The panel on Caribbean Casino Market Update, moderated by David Moniz, President of the Dominican Association of Gaming Casinos, counted the participation of Jorge Gomez from IGC, Igor Cimerman, Director Latam Zuum; Manuel Del Sol, Director for the Caribbean and Colombia of Novomatic and Jose Anibal Aguirre, CEO of GAT Expo.
The topics discussed in this forum were the recovery of the land-based sector after the pandemic, responsible gaming, the conditions of Punta Cana to assume the role of headquarters of a Caribbean casino hub, the increase of controls for the protection of the legal businessman, and his machines, as well as the need to update the regulations in the Dominican Republic.
The panel Games of Skill, eSports, and Virtual Betting, moderated by José Aníbal Aguirre, focused on trends and the future of entertainment, with emphasis on the imperative of adapting regulation to the digital transformation to ensure new audiences that can opt for legal online betting in the region. The panelists were Milton Gómez, Director for the Dominican Republic Golden Race, Nathalie Barreto, Account Executive Mobadoo eSports, Oscar Murueta from SIS.TV, Víctor Arias Pragmatic Play, Emilio F. Escamilla, Checkin and Francisco Pérez from Juancito Sport.
José Aníbal Aguirre
Aguirre said: “In my already long experience in the organization of fairs and the vision of markets, I am convinced that the idea of having chosen Punta Cana as the place to hold this meeting has contributed to its success because of the magnificent business tourism conditions it offers us, its easy access from the airport, the international and local airlines that serve it, the connections with the different islands of the Caribbean and the Antilles, the facilities of transitory free zones, its qualified hotel and casino offers, in short… Punta Cana offers it all.”
On the other hand, Aguirre thanked the presence of roulette, slots, and land-based equipment manufacturers: Elizabeth Romano from Technogamecorp, Galy Olazo from Interblock, and Peter Zorc from Gambee, as well as the active involvement of Manuel Del Sol and the Novomatic team; the IGC staff, headed by Jorge Gómez, as well as Igor Cimmerman from Zuum.
In the online gaming vertical, Golden Race and its staff of executives, Javier Cicciomessere, Julio Duque, and Multon Gómez, the impressive presentation of the French betting company PMU and its product MiQuinté+, exclusive for the DR, as well as the launching of the Todo+ multiservice transactional network.
Exhibitors Alfastreet, Golden Race, Betconnections, Amavito Tech, Checkin, Novomatic, Mobadoo, Fenabanca, ADCJ, Todo +, SIS.TV, MiQuinte+ and Zuum, offered their products and services to executives from renowned casino groups and companies such as Casinos Barceló, Casinos CIRSA, Meliá Casino, Casino Hard Rock, Casino Génesis, Kviar Casinos, Pomar Casinos, Betcris, Interblock, Gambee, Spintec, Grupo Comar, Play Zone Entertainment SAS, Divercol Electronic SAS, Grupo Caribant, A&M Sport, CNB Sport, Rogelio Sport, Soñadora Sport, La Marca Game, Sala de Juego Pueblo Nuevo, Tite Sport, Cyber 1065, Talentaks, WM Soluciones, Land Vegas, Paramo Sport, Coral Reff, Linkpartners RD, Progetti Gaming SAS, Banca Deportiva 411 Sport, Bravo Sport, Presidente Sport, Overtime Sport, Todo Sport, Lucky Laz Sport, CNB Sport, Colombo Sport, Casa Avalon, Marca de Prestigio TV, Inversiones HBS, Olam Contructions SRL, Castro Sport, Arte Luz, Galco EGI, Puntacanízate, Princess Casino, TV Dominicana, and Casino Bavaro.
At the close of GAT Caribe, the organizers are moving forward with preparations for the Bogotá 2023 Showcase, to be held on September 7, with the participation of renowned brands in the industry, which are expected to experience 8 hours of intense business at the Sheraton Hotel in Colombia’s capital city.
