Today, Wednesday, September 9, marks the second edition of GAT Expo Puerto Rico at The Condado Plaza Hotel. Authorities, business leaders, operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and experts from the gaming and betting industry will take part in what promises to be an intensive day of business, trade exhibition, and networking, sharing knowledge and industry updates.
The show’s agenda brings together key players from Puerto Rico’s gaming industry, the Caribbean and the Americas. Organised by GAT Events, the second edition in San Juan combines a one-day trade exhibition, conferences, panels, business meetings and networking, with the participation of authorities, regulators, operators and national and international companies.
The morning begins with participant registration and accreditation. At 10:00 a.m., the official opening ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place, marking the formal opening of the trade exhibition. The GAT Talks academic programme will follow, while the exhibition will remain open until 7:00 p.m., when the closing cocktail sponsored by Hipódromo Camarero will mark the conclusion of GAT Expo Puerto Rico 2026.
Exhibition opens with strong industry participation
The opening of the exhibition will be led by the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and its Executive Director, Juan Carlos Santaella, accompanied by José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT Events, authorities, and representatives of participating companies.
The exhibition will feature Novomatic, Fortune Group Games, EAS Systems, EEZE, Counting Equipment & Supplies, Bad Dog Games, TVC Gaming, Bloomcrest, Caribbean Gaming Technologies, Royal Gaming Logistics, Amusnet Interactive, Hipódromo Camarero, Prometeo, Oklahoma, Caribe Gaming, Gem Solutions and Caribbean Gaming Distributors.
New additions to the exhibition include cabinets and equipment from recognised global brands such as IGT, Win Systems and EGT, expanding the range of gaming technology and solutions available to visitors in the Royal Gaming Logistics area on Level 2 of The Condado Plaza Hotel.
Throughout the day, operators, business leaders and industry professionals will have the opportunity to explore products, technologies, services and solutions from leading suppliers designed to meet the needs of Puerto Rico’s regulated gaming sectors. The exhibition will also provide an environment for meetings, business opportunities and strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening commercial ties between the Puerto Rican and international markets.
GAT Talks to focus on regulation, market and innovation
The GAT Talks academic programme begins at 11:00 a.m. Following the official opening and welcome remarks, the agenda will feature keynote presentations and panels examining the current state and future development of Puerto Rico’s gaming industry.
At 11:10 a.m., Juan Carlos Santaella, the government’s senior authority for the sector, will deliver the keynote “Puerto Rico: From Today’s Market to Tomorrow’s Industry,” addressing the current landscape and future prospects for gaming on the island, including the potential expansion of existing sectors over the medium and long term.
At 11:40 a.m., Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) will present “Puerto Rico: Leading the Evolution of Regulated Gaming in the Caribbean,” delivered by José Carlos Figueroa, GLI’s Regional Manager for the Caribbean.
One of the most anticipated GAT Talks sessions will be the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission panel, “The Next Move: Innovation, Regulation and the Future in Puerto Rico,” taking place from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
The discussion will be moderated by Lorraine Irizarry, Director of the Commission’s Games of Chance Bureau, and will feature Julio Rivera, Director of the Sports Betting Bureau; Javier Soto, General Manager of Cage Puerto Rico, Inc.; and Liza García, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce.
The panel will bring together public- and private-sector perspectives on innovation, regulation and industry development, as well as the challenges and alternatives that could support the growth of the Puerto Rican market.
Following a break from 12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., the programme will resume with a presentation by Jaime Rivera, former director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and partner at Saiber LLC, on “Multiple Laws, One Industry: The Legal Framework for Gaming in Puerto Rico.”
Amusnet will then host the Master Class “Slot Product Analysis,” led by Daniel Arias, Amusnet’s Director for the Caribbean, Colombia and Central America.
At 3:00 p.m., José Aníbal Aguirre will moderate the panel “The DNA of Gaming in Puerto Rico: A Look Back and a Sustainable Future.” The discussion will examine the development of the island’s main gaming verticals and the sustainability and coexistence of its different sectors.
Panelists will include María Cristina Mari García, Vice President of Hipódromo Camarero; Lorna Huertas, advisor to the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and former Assistant Secretary of the Lottery Bureau; Jaime Alex Irizarry, Director of Operations at Royal Gaming Logistics; Joe Fernández, President and Co-Founder of Ballers Sportsbook; and Eric Rodríguez, Director of Foxwoods Casino.
The panel will explore the evolution of lotteries, horse racing, route-based gaming machines, casinos, and sports betting before turning to integration, innovation, and opportunities for collaboration between the different segments.
José Aníbal Aguirre said: “I would like to thank all our friends in the Puerto Rican industry for their willingness to participate in this discussion. For more than 25 years, we have travelled across the continent and the Caribbean, bringing authorities, operators and suppliers together to work toward a united industry. The trust and credibility in what we do are our most valuable assets today.”
Strong business presence across GAT Puerto Rico 2026
The second edition of the event includes the participation of major companies and institutions from the industry. The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission is the event’s Main Sponsor, Novomatic is Platinum Sponsor, and Aristocrat is Exclusive Sponsor.
Special sponsorships are also provided by Hipódromo Camarero, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), Royal Gaming Logistics, Gamanza and Mobadoo, joining the academic, commercial and networking activities offered during the event.
“GAT Expo Puerto Rico represents our commitment to the growth of a regulated, innovative and integrated industry, here and in all the jurisdictions where we organise GAT Events. Today, important local and international stakeholders are gathering in San Juan to share knowledge, generate business and strengthen ties between Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and the other markets of the Americas,” Aguirre added.
At 7:00 p.m., once GAT Talks and the trade exhibition conclude, Hipódromo Camarero will host the closing cocktail, bringing the second edition of GAT Expo Puerto Rico in San Juan to a close while providing an opportunity to continue the conversations and connections generated throughout the event.
Tickets available here.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/09/09/126316-gat-expo-puerto-rico-2026-opens-its-doors-today-in-san-juan
