GAT Expo Cartagena’s academic program positions LatAm as a hub for business and opportunities

On April 24, the Las Américas Convention Center hosted the opening of the 2026 edition of GAT Expo Cartagena, beginning with its traditional academic program, Academia GAT.

The conference series took place in the La Niña Hall, with attendees from 45 countries. Over eight hours of sessions, the main challenges facing the gaming ecosystem were addressed, including political and administrative issues affecting both the country and the wider region.

The opening remarks were delivered by Evert Montero Cárdenas, who led the organization of Academia GAT Cartagena for this edition. The president of Fecoljuegos emphasized the importance of coordination between the private and public sectors to drive industry growth. “The country expects the sector to continue contributing to economic development,” he said.

José Aníbal Aguirre, Gregorio Eljach Pacheco and Evert Montero Cárdenas

The conference program also featured Colombia’s Attorney General, Gregorio Eljach Pacheco, who presented the results of the country’s transparent elections plan implemented during the March 8 vote.

This was followed by a presentation from Coljuegos president Marco Emilio Hincapié, who shared data on sustained industry growth, detailing the generation of state revenues and their impact on funding healthcare for Colombia’s most vulnerable populations, particularly over the past three years.

Brian Krolicki, vicepresident of the Nevada Gaming Commission

One of the most prominent moments of the day came with the participation of Brian Krolicki, vice chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, who delivered a detailed presentation on Nevada’s regulatory model and its potential application in the Latin American context.

Regional regulators then took part in several panels discussing regulatory trends, legal frameworks, technological innovation, and business evolution. Jesús Acevedo, president of the Buenos Aires City Lottery (LOTBA), outlined Argentina’s regulatory system and the successful implementation of measures to combat illegal gambling and its promotion, in a session moderated by Néstor Cotignola.

Jesús Acevedo and Néstor Cotignola

Continuing with the agenda focused on industry associations, a panel brought together Aurea Navarro (AIEJA, Mexico), Fernando Calderón (SONAJA, Peru), Mario Trucco (ALEA), John Mario Giraldo (Cornazar), Rubén Felipe Lagarejo Rivas (FEDELCO), and Lorena Rojas (APOJA, Paraguay).

Moderated by Evert Montero Cárdenas, the discussion addressed key challenges across the region, as well as the role of industry bodies in fostering growth. Panelists consistently highlighted the need for trust-based relationships with governments and effective public-private collaboration.

Earlier, a panel of technology providers explored key topics such as innovation, traceability, and control within the gaming industry. Speakers included Pablo Bergesio (Smart Code Núcleo Inplay Software), Carlos Arturo Guerra Ospina (Grupo Gelsa), and Cristian Barbosa (Insightplay.ai), with moderation by Víctor Arias, VP LATAM at Arrise Powering Pragmatic Play.

Daniel Velandia, chief economist at Credicorp Capital, also delivered a presentation on Colombia’s economic outlook in what will be an election year in 2026.

Another key session focused on sports integrity and betting, including match-fixing prevention, institutional cooperation, and the protection of fair play. The panel featured Carlos Zuluaga (Dimayor Colombia) and César Camargo Serrano (Deportes Tolima), moderated by Germán Segura, president of BetPlay.

To close the day, a panel addressed the current challenges facing land-based casinos. Participants included Georges Didier Flores (GLI), Manuel Del Sol (Novomatic Gaming Colombia), Juan Carlos Afanador (Vicca Group Colombia), José Casapía (Novomatic), and Jhon Mario Giraldo (Cornazar), moderated by Laura Ruiz of Vásquez & Asociados.

The Academia GAT program concluded with a final panel on the current state and sustainability of Colombia’s gaming market. Participants included Jhon Jairo Altamiranda (Betano), Álvaro Remiro (Grupo Orenes / Zamba), Julio César Tamayo Betancur (Wplay), and Orlando Carrillo Buitrago (YaJuego), moderated by Dr. Ana Burbano of Vásquez Asociados Consultores.

Ahead of the networking event — a catamaran tour around Cartagena Bay — GAT CEO José Aníbal Aguirre highlighted the growing relevance of the academic agenda. He noted that attendance exceeded 300 participants, with strong engagement throughout the day, underscoring the platform’s role as a knowledge hub for Latin America’s gaming industry.

Activities will continue on Wednesday, March 25, with the opening of the commercial exhibition at 2:00 p.m. at the Las Américas Convention Center.