GAT Expo Puerto Rico Closes Second Edition with New Alliances

Puerto Rico.- 15 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com GAT Expo Puerto Rico concluded its second edition in San Juan, strengthening its role as a meeting point for regulators, operators, manufacturers, suppliers and representatives from the island’s principal legal gaming verticals.

Held on 9 September at The Condado Plaza Hotel, the event brought the trade exhibition, conference programme and networking activity together into a single day, with strong participation from the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and representatives of casinos, sports betting, route gaming machines, horse racing and lotteries.

Organisers highlighted the commercial activity generated during the show and confirmed that GAT Expo will return to Puerto Rico in 2027.

Five Legal Gaming Segments

A distinguishing feature of the event was the participation of all five major legal gaming segments:

  • Land-based casinos.
  • Route gaming machines.
  • Sports betting.
  • Horse racing.
  • Lotteries.

The conference programme explored how these verticals can coexist and collaborate within the same regulated ecosystem.

Puerto Rico Gaming Commission

The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission played a central institutional role.

Executive Director Juan Carlos Santaella addressed the development of each vertical and the importance of legality and responsible gambling.

The regulator’s involvement also created direct dialogue between public authorities and private-sector participants.

Compact One-Day Format

The second edition used a concentrated one-day model.

Trade exhibition, educational content and networking were held in the same venue and timeframe.

This allowed participants to move directly between commercial meetings and regulatory or technical discussions.

Strong Commercial Activity

The exhibition featured technology and equipment aimed at both land-based businesses and newer gaming verticals.

Exhibitors reported constant activity at their stands and generated high-level commercial contacts.

Several conversations are expected to develop into partnerships and commercial agreements.

Novomatic Records Immediate Sales

Novomatic introduced a product line specifically designed for Puerto Rico.

The portfolio generated strong interest and produced sales during the event itself.

That immediate activity provided a clear commercial indicator for the exhibition.

Royal Gaming Logistics

Royal Gaming Logistics brought products from:

  • IGT.
  • EGT.
  • Win Systems.

The portfolio attracted attention from casino and route-machine operators.

Localised Technology

The exhibition highlighted the importance of adapting gaming products to Puerto Rico’s own operational and regulatory environment.

International suppliers are increasingly tailoring solutions rather than simply transferring global catalogues unchanged.

GAT Talks

The educational programme examined regulation, technology, operations and responsible gambling.

Market Development

Puerto Rico’s gaming verticals are at different stages of regulatory and commercial maturity.

One of the event’s central themes was how they can continue developing within a more integrated industry framework.

Caribbean Technology and Regulation

José Carlos Figueroa of GLI examined a range of issues affecting the Caribbean gaming market, including:

  • Regulation.
  • Currency.
  • Market structures.
  • KYC providers.
  • Artificial intelligence.
  • Responsible gambling.
  • Player monitoring.

Behavioural Monitoring

Monitoring player behaviour and identifying risk patterns received particular attention.

Data-driven analysis is becoming increasingly important for responsible gambling and regulatory reporting.

Artificial Intelligence

AI also emerged as an increasingly relevant operational technology.

Potential applications extend across risk analysis, player monitoring, personalisation and security.

Integration and Innovation

A Puerto Rico Gaming Commission panel discussed integration, entertainment, innovation and greater collaboration between sectors.

Sports Betting

Sports Betting Bureau Director Julio Rivera participated alongside private-sector and business representatives.

Sports betting remains one of the island’s newer and more technology-driven gaming segments.

Chamber of Commerce

Liza María García Vélez, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, contributed a wider business perspective.

This connected gaming development with Puerto Rico’s broader economic ecosystem.

eSports

The discussions also considered esports as an emerging variable.

The vertical creates potential links between digital entertainment, younger audiences and wagering products.

Legal Structure

The session “Multiple Laws, One Industry: Puerto Rico’s Gaming Legal Framework” examined the island’s complex regulatory structure.

Former Gaming Commission Director Jaime Rivera reviewed the historical development of gaming regulation.

Casinos, Hotels and Tourism

Land-based casino gaming in Puerto Rico has traditionally been closely connected with hospitality and tourism.

That relationship remains an important feature of the market.

Route Gaming Machines

The formalisation of route gaming machines has created another substantial regulated segment.

Its development has required the industry to consider how it coexists with traditional casino operations.

Horse Racing

Horse racing retains an established cultural and commercial position.

Its combination of physical and digital distribution allows it to continue evolving alongside newer forms of gaming.

Slot Product Master Class

Daniel Arias of Amusnet delivered a Master Class on slot products.

The session examined:

  • Machine performance.
  • Technology.
  • Marketing.
  • Player behaviour.
  • Retention.
  • Profitability.

Puerto Rico’s Gaming DNA

The panel “The DNA of Gaming in Puerto Rico: Retrospective and a Sustainable Future” brought all five major legal sectors together.

Hipódromo Camarero

Vice President María Cristina Mari García highlighted horse racing’s historical importance and its capacity to evolve for new generations.

Lotteries

Lorna Huertas discussed the long-standing social and commercial role of lotteries and the need to adapt to changing customer habits.

Route Gaming

Royal Gaming Logistics Operations Director Jaime Alex Irizarry examined the growth of regulated route gaming machines.

Sportsbook Perspective

Ballers Sportsbook President and Co-Founder Joe Fernández discussed the rapid development of sports betting and the importance of digital interaction.

Land-Based Casinos

Foxwoods Casino Director Eric Rodríguez addressed the need for traditional casinos to keep evolving the customer experience.

Collaboration Rather Than Competition

One of the event’s strongest messages was that these sectors do not necessarily need to view one another only as competitors.

Casinos, lotteries, horse racing, sports betting and route gaming can identify areas of complementarity.

Industry Integration

GAT Events aims to act as an integrator between sectors that historically developed independently.

Greater collaboration may support investment, innovation and regulatory stability.

Puerto Rico as a Regional Bridge

Organisers see Puerto Rico as a strategic connection point between:

  • The United States.
  • The Caribbean.
  • Latin America.

Its location and regulatory environment provide opportunities for companies operating across those regions.

New Commercial Alliances

Commercial contacts generated during the exhibition are expected to continue after the event.

Discussions included opportunities involving:

  • Distribution.
  • Equipment sales.
  • Integrations.
  • Representation.
  • Partnerships.

Participating Companies

Companies and organisations involved included:

  • Aristocrat.
  • Novomatic.
  • Hipódromo Camarero.
  • Gamanza.
  • GLI.
  • Mobadoo.
  • Royal Gaming Logistics.
  • Fortune Group Games.
  • EAS Systems.
  • EEZE.
  • Counting Equipment & Supplies.
  • Bad Dog Games.
  • TVC Gaming.
  • Bloomcrest.
  • Caribbean Gaming Technologies.
  • Amusnet Interactive.
  • Prometeo.
  • Oklahoma.
  • Caribe Gaming.
  • Gem Solutions.
  • Caribbean Gaming Distributors.

2027 Return Confirmed

GAT Events confirmed that the show will return to San Juan in 2027.

The decision provides continuity following positive feedback from this year’s edition.

Responsible Gambling in 2027

Responsible gambling will become one of the major academic themes of next year’s programme.

AML/CTF Congress

Organisers also plan to introduce a congress focused on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.

Compliance Moves Higher on the Agenda

The additional focus reflects a wider regional trend.

As regulated gaming expands, AML, KYC, financial monitoring and integrity become increasingly important alongside product and technology.

Industry Context

Puerto Rico’s gaming industry is undergoing a period of transformation.

Casinos, sports betting, horse racing, lotteries and route gaming create a diverse market, but one that increasingly requires coordination between regulators and commercial stakeholders.

The second edition of GAT Expo demonstrated strong interest in creating a more integrated industry agenda.

Next Steps and Impact

GAT Expo Puerto Rico 2026 brought all five legal gaming segments together with regulators and international suppliers in a single venue.

The exhibition generated immediate sales, new business contacts and discussions expected to develop into partnerships over the coming months.

The conference programme addressed regulation, KYC, AI, responsible gambling, esports, slot profitability and collaboration between gaming verticals.

Confirmation of a 2027 edition ensures that this dialogue will continue.

With responsible gambling and AML/CTF already identified as future themes, GAT intends to strengthen Puerto Rico’s role as a bridge between the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America and as a platform for new partnerships across regulated gaming.

Editó: @fonta

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