GAT Showcase Santo Domingo: shaping the Future of Caribbean Gaming
2 minutos de lectura
(Santo Domingo, SoloAzar Exclusive).- GAT Showcase Santo Domingo 2024, held from September 18-19 at the Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino, positioned itself as a benchmark event for the region. Next year’s edition is set for November 06-07, at the same venue, promising further growth and innovation in the Caribbean gaming industry.
In an exclusive interview with José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT Events, coordinated and elaborated by the GAT Communications Department under the direction of Natalia Moreno and Lida María Roldán, we explore the key objectives behind the GAT Showcase Santo Domingo and the impact of the evento on the gaming industry in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean.
Aguirre emphasizes that the event was designed to be a benchmark in the region, fostering dialogue between government authorities and business leaders, and creating a secure regulatory environment for local and foreign investments.
He highlights GAT’s role in promoting innovation and driving the growth of the gaming industry throughout the Caribbean.
Additionally, Aguirre shares insights into the challenges of organizing the event, the diversification of exhibitors and visitors, and lessons learned from past editions. Looking ahead, he outlines plans for the future of GAT, taking into account their 25 years organizing events in this industry, including potential markets and cities for expansion.
What were the main objectives you set for this edition of GAT Showcase Santo Domingo? Do you feel you achieved those objectives?
The main objectives we set for GAT Showcase Santo Domingo were to position the event as a reference in the region, to generate a space for exchange between government and business authorities.
I am proud to say that we exceeded our expectations in terms of quality, attendance and impact. The presence of representatives from five countries in the academic agenda and visitors from 12 nations during the two days of the event is evidence of a determined spirit of integration of the Latin American industry that goes beyond an objective, since that is the mission of the GAT events.
For the first time we have the support of the Directorate of Casinos and Gaming, the Ministry of Finance, the Ombudsman's Office and the National Equestrian Commission.
This plurality of government representatives is a clear sign of the historic moment that is beginning in the Dominican Republic with the dialogue between governments and operators, in addition to the new relationships that are emerging between the entire ecosystem of the sector.
How have you seen the evolution of the gaming industry in the Caribbean and what role does GAT play in that development?
We see the Dominican Republic as a leader in the Caribbean and GAT contributes to this development, creating a network of relationships that, in a face-to-face meeting, strengthens the government's policies, bringing it closer to national and foreign entrepreneurs, eager for a regulation that guarantees the legal security of their investments.
We are facilitators of dialogue between regulators, operators and suppliers. We feel that the industry in the Dominican Republic is being managed responsibly and that, even though there has been a first regulation of online gaming this year, the sector presents great challenges in this growing and boiling topic.
What have been the biggest challenges in organising this event in Santo Domingo?
One of the biggest challenges was to consolidate local partnerships that allowed us to understand and adapt to the dynamics of the Dominican market. It was also fundamental to ensure that the event not only captured the attention of our traditional clients, but also that it integrated the industry and local authorities, which was key to its success.
The logistics of staging an event of this size in a new jurisdiction is always a challenge, but thanks to teamwork and key supporters such as the Dominican Association of Gaming Casinos, Asocol, G&G Studio Legal and of course the Corporación Iberoamericana de Loterías CIBELAE, we were able to meet and exceed the proposed goals.
What impact do you expect this event to have on the gaming industry in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region?
I am convinced that this event is marking a before and after for the industry in the Dominican Republic.
I would like to highlight the start of a responsible gaming and self-exclusion campaign, proposed by the Directorate of Casinos and Gaming.
Inescapable is the importance of crime prevention and combating crime, giving priority to detecting the risks of money laundering, a priority issue on the agenda of the Ministry of Finance of the country, which has in place a specific surveillance work through the figure of the compliance officer, included among the officials of the operators of the industry with the support of the State intelligence and the justice system.
In addition, we believe that this type of meeting strengthens relations between industry players, promoting innovation, investment and the expansion of new businesses, both in the Dominican Republic and in the rest of the Caribbean.
How has the profile of exhibitors and visitors diversified over the different editions of GAT?
We are experiencing an unprecedented technological revolution. With a track record of 25 years organising events in the gaming industry, diversification is obviously total.
Today, we not only have traditional players, but also a great offer of new games, virtual games, live casino, esports-related sectors, payment platforms, cybersecurity and data and identity protection companies, which reflects the convergence of various industries in these events and, therefore, the reach in many sectors of the international economy and of each country.
We have also integrated new emerging markets in the region and representatives from various verticals who see GAT as a platform for growth and innovation.
What lessons learned from past events have influenced the organisation of this edition?
One of the most important lessons we have learned is the need to adapt to the particularities of each market. Each country has its own regulatory, cultural and commercial challenges, and it is crucial to establish local partnerships to ensure the success of the event.
We have also learned that the inclusion of a strong academic agenda, with high-level conferences, is fundamental to attract the industry's key decision-makers.
Specifically, the change we experienced by moving the showcase from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo has been very positive.
We know that the location chosen for three years in the most important tourism sector in the Dominican Republic has great attractions and yet, in terms of business, the confluence of more than 500 local operators to the country's capital speaks for itself.
Therefore, next year, on 6 and 7 November we will again be at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel and Casino as the main venue for GAT Expo Santo Domingo.
What plans do you have for the future of GAT and what cities or markets are you considering for future editions?
For the future of GAT, we have big plans. Our next stop will be Cancun, where we will hold GAT Caribe Cancun, ending November 2024 with the support of AIEJA.
In addition, we are preparing for GAT Expo Cartagena 2025 on 28, 29 and 30 April at the Cartagena Las Americas Convention Center, where we hope to further expand our focus on esports with a large event dedicated to this growing community.
We will return to Mexico from 19-21 August, continuing with GAT Expo Bogotá in September and concluding the 2025 calendar in Santo Domingo in November.
Categoría:Events
Tags: GAT EXPO Gaming & Technology,
País: Dominican Republic
Región: Central America and Caribbean
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