GAT Expo Bogotá closed an edition with a focus on business and innovation

An international call

GAT Expo Bogota concluded on Thursday, October 15 with a positive balance in sales, commercial opportunities and business relations. The event reaffirmed its position as a business platform for the gaming industry, by connecting manufacturers and suppliers with operators interested in renovating their rooms, incorporating technology and expanding their portfolios.

The fair brought together representatives from 19 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, the United States, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. It also had commercial delegates from operating companies from more than 30 Colombian cities and municipalities, which favored direct contact between participants and the generation of new alliances.

For its part, Coljuegos participated with an institutional stand in the exhibition area of the Sheraton Hotel, where it promoted legal gambling and dialogue with businessmen interested in investing or expanding in the Colombian market.

Technology, the protagonist of the exhibition

The commercial offer included slot machines, state-of-the-art cabinets, progressive jackpots, electronic roulettes, management systems, payment solutions, casino furniture, marketing services and digital platforms for the land-based and online gaming segments.

The live demonstrations allowed operators to learn about alternatives to modernize their establishments, diversify the offer and respond to new technological trends.

Among the companies present were Novomatic, Win Systems/Gold Club, Interblock, Gambee, Play Group, Pragmatic Play, Gamanza, BetConstruct, Royal Gaming, BetPlay, Oklahoma, Mobbili, JCM, Gem Solutions, Global Technology Services, Mer Design, RPCOL, UP Gaming and BYADS.

GAT Talks: Dialogue on Industry Challenges

In parallel to the trade exhibition, GAT Talks offered a space for exchange between union representatives and executives of the sector. With the sponsorship of Gamanza and YaJuego, three panels were developed on central issues for the future of the industry in Colombia and Latin America.

Responsible gaming: a shared commitment

The panel "Responsible Gaming in South America" was moderated by Luis Zanazzi, Training Advisor of ALEA, and included Juan Carlos Restrepo, president of Asojuegos; Elizabeth Maya, president of Cornazar; and Willington Ortiz, president of Fedelco.

Participants discussed the initiatives promoted by the unions, the challenges in promoting safe practices, and the importance of legality in operations. They also highlighted the need to strengthen education and the prevention of risky behaviors, especially among children and young people.

The exchange between Colombian representatives and the Argentine experience highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and the development of new training initiatives in responsible gambling.

Land-based casino and retail gaming: regulatory and technological challenges

The second panel was led by Georges Didier, regional director for Latin America at Gaming Laboratories International (GLI). Participants included Laura Marcela Arévalo, legal advisor of Cornazar; José Luis Osorio, CEO of Retailsoft Solution; Laura Ruiz, attorney at Vásquez y Asociados; and Julio Duque, director for Latin America of Golden Race.

The debate focused on the approval processes, the incorporation of new products and the need to streamline procedures to accompany technological evolution. The panelists also addressed the necessary conditions for authorized operators to innovate and respond to the demands of the regulated market.

Gamification: Beyond Bonuses and Promotions

The academic agenda concluded with the panel "Gamification is not a Bonus Engine: why the industry confused the mechanism with the experience", moderated by Andrés Blanco, CEO and Product Director of Gamanza Engage.

The conversation brought together Lina Gallego, Country Manager of Luckia Colombia; Paola Gayón, Marketing Manager of BetPlay; Diego Fernando Vargas Cortés, Director of Strategy at YaJuego; and Favián Granados, CRM Manager LATAM of Xpanzia.

The specialists analyzed how gamification can improve the user experience, strengthen loyalty and build long-term relationships between operators and players. They also highlighted the importance of going beyond traditional bonuses through personalized proposals, without neglecting the protection of users and the principles of responsible gambling.

During the panel, examples of limits to these strategies were shared, including the suspension of campaigns in situations of public calamity, as occurred in territories affected by the recent earthquake in Colombia.

In evaluating the conversations, José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT Events, said: "The three conversations made it clear that the growth of the industry requires a balance between innovation, competitiveness, sustainability and user protection."

The executive added that it is essential to maintain spaces for dialogue in the different jurisdictions where the organization operates and summarized the central message of the day: "responsible gambling is sustainable development."

GAT Events highlights business results

The balance of GAT Expo Bogotá once again highlighted the value of face-to-face meetings to connect technology developers with those responsible for investment, purchase and renewal of equipment.

José Aníbal Aguirre, founder and CEO of GAT Events, highlighted the response of the exhibitors and the commercial movement registered during the day.

"We received very positive feedback from exhibitors, especially in terms of sales. Machine manufacturers and suppliers were permanently busy serving their operator customers, which shows that GAT Expo Bogotá is much more than a technological showcase: it is a scenario where business is done," he said.

Aguirre explained that the objective was to organize a dynamic event, of short duration and with tangible commercial results, and he considered that this goal was met.

Santo Domingo will be the next stop for GAT Events

The organization announced that it will close its 2026 calendar of events on November 18, at the Renaissance Hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The event will maintain the format of GAT Expo Bogotá, combining commercial exhibition, networking and an academic agenda of GAT Talks, with new proposals for manufacturers, suppliers and operators in the gaming industry.