The official ribbon-cutting ceremony featured key industry figures such as Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos; Elizabeth Maya from Cornazar; Manuel Del Sol from Novomatic Colombia & Caribbean; Luz Estella Correa from Fedelco; Maribel Córdoba from the Cundinamarca Lottery; Gustavo González from the Cauca Lottery; Mario Yepes from Colombia’s Extraordinary Draw; and Luis Felipe Aponte Landínez from the Boyacá Lottery.

Coljuegos’ Message In his opening remarks, Marco Emilio Hincapié emphasized the increased efforts to combat illegal gambling in Colombia during his tenure, resulting in the seizure and destruction of approximately 10,000 slot machines, online betting modules, bingo setups, and poker tables operating outside the legal framework. He stressed that controlling illegality is essential for boosting tax revenue that supports Colombia’s subsidized healthcare system. He also highlighted the importance of granting new licenses to brands that meet Coljuegos’ legal requirements. Additionally, he announced new regulations requiring manufacturers, suppliers, and importers of gaming machines to register with Coljuegos, aiming to strengthen collaboration with the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN) and enhance oversight of gaming equipment entering Colombia.

The annual presence of Colombia’s regional diversity at GAT Expo Bogotá reinforces the event’s national impact and its role in decentralizing and expanding the gaming sector. It also offers entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to engage with the country’s leading associations and regulatory bodies. Visiting executives received not only innovative equipment designs and features but also special pricing tailored to the needs of large, medium, and small gaming venues.

The event’s success was reflected in over 1,000 registrations, ensuring a steady flow of visitors throughout the afternoon. In addition to a strong turnout from Colombian operators, international delegations from 20 countries attended, solidifying Bogotá’s status as a premier meeting point for the global gaming industry. Attendees came from Argentina, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela, as well as Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Russia, and China.

The expo was lively and engaging, with all booths receiving visitors throughout the day, demonstrating strong market interest in the showcased solutions and technologies. Exhibitors praised the excellent cost-benefit ratio of participating, achieving both direct sales and future business connections in a single day.

José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT Events, shared: “This edition was a complete success. We received congratulations for the coordinated effort with our exhibitors, as the booth presentations delivered great value and featured innovative brand activations. Every exhibition area was packed with attendees well into the evening. These results reaffirm Bogotá as a strategic venue for industry growth in Colombia and Latin America.”

Aguirre concluded by inviting attendees to the next GAT circuit event, scheduled for October 28–29 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan. The event promises to continue the dynamic mix of business, innovation, high-level conferences, and networking that defines the GAT brand, along with new regulations and investment opportunities for foreign stakeholders in the Island of Enchantment.

Participating Brands BetPlay, Novomatic, Pragmatic Play, BetConstruct, Gaming Laboratories International, GATEL, Win Systems, IGT, Alfastreet, PlayGroup, Betting Software, RPCol, Mobadoo, Mer Design, and Gem Solutions.

GAT Expo Bogotá reaffirms its position as a prime business platform for the Latin American gaming industry and sets the stage for upcoming GAT events in San Juan at the end of October and in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on November 12–13.