GAT Expo CDMX hosted the "Latin American Gaming Associations Summit ," a panel discussion that brought together leading representatives of the region's gaming industry. Moderated by Evert Montero , president of FECOLJUEGOS , the panel addressed the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in each country, highlighting the importance of recognizing themselves as part of the same ecosystem and moving forward together toward the professionalization, responsible regulation, and sustainability of the activity. The panelists included Miguel Ángel Ochoa (AIEJA), Lorena Rojas (APOJA), Fernando Calderón (SONAJA), Elizabeth Maya (CORNAZAR), Javier Milián (CIBELAE) , and David Moniz (ADCJ), who agreed on the need to strengthen regional cooperation.

What is the Latin American network of games of chance?

 Evert Montero , president of FECOLJUEGOS, opened the conference by explaining, "I want to think that today is a historic day, a day in which we take a transcendent step beyond our borders and brings us all together in a common purpose. The Latin American network of games of chance and luck is born. This network is not simply a formal structure; it is, above all, a space of trust and brotherhood where we will share information and recognize common risks and build common solutions. Surely we can find these risks and all these solutions, and we have heard them mentioned throughout this day."

 He added, "This network we are launching today has very clear objectives. To create a permanent channel for cooperation and dialogue among our associations, to share strategic information and best practices that strengthen the industry's sustainability, to identify common risks and design joint responses, anticipating regulatory, technological, and, why not, social challenges. To build a unified voice that legitimately and powerfully represents our industry before governments, regulators, and society at large. It is with deep pride and enormous hope that I present to you the Latin American Network of Games of Chance and Luck."

Then, Dr. Lorena Rojas, President of APOJA,  spoke, and began by celebrating this " regional intention to unify conduct in the face of the great scourge of unfair competition, the main threat of which is illegal gambling. So, in Paraguay, we changed the law 27 years ago. We're ready; online gambling has finally been regulated. The private sector has played a very important role in the fight against illegal gambling. We've defended it. Today, Paraguay doesn't have a monopoly on sports betting, nor on lottery betting. In fact, next week the bidding process will be called. So, these are new times for Paraguay, and we applaud this way of connecting to share our successes and avoid repeating the mistakes that occur in countries in the region. So, here we are, ready to work together."

 The work of the unions

 For her part, Elizabeth Maya, President of CORNAZAR, explained that "At this time, we have 85 localized gaming companies operating casinos and bingo halls in Colombia and two online gaming companies, Luquia and Bingo Casino."

 And he explained, “I believe the work of the unions is very important. I believe the union has a huge commitment, and that is to listen. To listen to business owners on a daily basis. To be the channel of communication for business owners to reach those places, those institutions, all those special moments where they need a voice. A channel to be heard and represented. We have worked hard. We've been together for more than 11 years. And let me tell you, we joined together in a time of adversity. In a time when we needed to be heard. And now, at that point, we are together and united to work for legality. Because we know that regulation is the way forward. Second, strengthening. And third, clear rules. Why? So that all these business owners who have invested, who have trusted in legality, who, in addition to that, have established clear standards within their own businesses, continue working. And beyond that, gentlemen, continue to sustain themselves.”

 Then it was Fernando Calderón's turn , President of SONAJA, who emphasized, "From Peru, from the National Gaming Society, whose presidency I currently hold. We have been a union in the country for 27 years and have gone through the entire issue of legislative changes, both for LandBase and online gaming legislation. I just wanted to comment on the importance of union representation. We as unions, we as operators, cannot be reactive. And unfortunately, our experience is that when the State, the Government, issues a regulation, we are reactive; we all come together. But the law is already there, the regulation is already there, and the tax is already there. So, hence the importance of union representation so that we can listen, as previously mentioned, and we can propose, we can participate."

 He also added that "In Peru, despite this experience and these years, we have to fight hard when the government holds executive working groups to address the tax. Recently, a news story broke in Casino, where in Peru they had held an executive working group to address the issue of gambling addiction in online betting. The Peruvian Gaming Department had not been invited to this executive group, much less the unions."

Javier Milián, President of CIBELAE,  then spoke. He explained that “Cibelae is the Ibero-American corporation for state lotteries and sports betting. It has been in existence for over 35 years and currently has around 30 regular members, including state lotteries, and more than 50, or around 58, members, including both providers and operators of sports betting, online casino games, and lottery games.”

 He added, "How has Cibelae been working? Basically, through six technical committees made up of professionals from the various lotteries associated with the corporation. These committees are legal affairs, products, money laundering prevention, technology, processes, and responsible gaming. Under these committees, we work along certain strategic axes, within which we have training and professional development."

For his part, David Moniz, President of the Dominican Association of Gaming Casinos, emphasized that " as representatives of the associations in each of our countries, we must strive every day to unite the axes between the regulatory body, the operators, and the collaborators. We are that gear or that tripartite hinge between these three great experiences. And we have to seek that balance, and our struggle is that balance."

And he added, "I hope that with this summit we can achieve what we have longed for, which is the summit of international regulators, and that these agreements will be respected over time and with the legacy."

 Finally, Miguel Ángel Ochoa, President of AIEJA, explained that "this association began 15 years ago with 20 members; today we have more than 70, almost 80. Today we're introducing six new ones. But I think the most important thing is José Aníbal's idea, which I applaud, that the experience I'm living in Mexico, or that each of you are living in your countries, is enriched by the generation, or the network, whatever you want to call it, of these associations."

And he added, " I believe that what they are experiencing should be enriched by a platform that unites us, and that we build upon, and pass on to future representatives of these associations for the good of the associations and the countries. And it seems to me—and this is an idea I know they've discussed—that it's not a coincidence that José Aníbal and José Ángel, who are two great friends, are sitting here, that we also have a network of regulators, who hold their positions for a shorter period of time."

 To conclude, Evert Montero , president of FECOLJUEGO, explained that “there is a mechanism at work here. There has been talk of jobs, the value chain, and leaving heirs behind in this, but I also want to invite everyone sitting there to understand how important union unity is, to understand that it is important to come together to achieve this goal we have, for everyone to participate. I always look to these beloved media outlets that are with us today and are at all the events. They play a fundamental part in all of this mechanism.”

And he closed with this message: "You're invited. Help us spread this message. Help us ensure this sector is increasingly better positioned—not just in our sector, but in our industry, because that's part of the problem we have—to ensure it's very well positioned across all industries in all countries."

Relive GAT CDMX  2025 experience with SoloAzar's social media coverage and exclusive interviews.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay in the loop!