Colombian in-person trade show set to return with 1st World eSports Betting Congress

The Gaming & Technology Expo will run from August 16 to 20 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, marking the return of the in-person events for the gaming industry in the American continent.

The program officially begins on August 17 with 'The Preview', an activity that includes a catamaran ride on the bay of Cartagena de Indias. On August 18, the World eSports Betting Congress, CMAe, will be held, and the exhibition of online and land-based gaming stands will open at 4:00 p.m. (GMT-5), followed by a business roundtable and an outdoor networking event. On Thursday, August 19, between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., CMAe's talks and presentations will continue in the Gran Salón Barahona and the exhibition in booths in the San Francisco Esplanade. 

The organizers, the venue and the District Mayor's Office of Cartagena de Indias are coordinated in terms of permits, review and enforcement of special measures related to biosafety protocols and seating capacity in the various stages that will host the participants outdoors and within the physical structure of the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center. 

The sponsors of GAT Expo 2021 are SoftGamings, Premium Sponsor, BetConstruct, Platinum Sponsor and Altenar, Golden Race and Mobadoo, Digital Sponsors.

Confirmed exhibitors are SoftGamings, BetConstruct, Universal Soft, Golden Race, BMM, Digitain, Mobadoo, Ezugi, Jazz Gaming, Vibra Gaming, WorldMatch, Evenbet, WinSystems, Alfastreet and Aruze. 

The design and construction of biosecure stands and space management are in charge of the company City Group, which will offer its general turnkey services to exhibitors for "excellent organization and time optimization." This company has partnered with 3A Producciones for this and the following events at the Sheraton Hotel in Bogota in September and at the Westin Hotel in Punta Cana in November. City Group will also be responsible for special services at the Gaming & Technology Expo, again at the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center, in March 2022. 

The I World eSports Betting Congress, CMAe 

GAT Expo and LATAM Media Group LMG have joined forces to present, through experts, knowledge, basic resources and tools for digital transformation towards an omnichannel service. This will be the central theme of the first day of CMAe, on August 18, divided into modules, under the coordination of Jorge Gómez, CEO at LATAM Media Group, and the participation of specialists in the choice of platforms, content and types of negotiation suitable for each operator. 

On August 19, the second day of CMAe will feature presentations by executives and representatives of the authorities and trade bodies of the gaming industry in Colombia. The Vice President of Commercial Development of Coljuegos, Jhon Jairo Altamiranda; and the presidents of Asojuegos, Juan Carlos Restrepo; Cornazar, Elizabeth Maya; and Fecoljuegos, Evert Montero, will take part of the activities. 

Among the speakers will be Mateo Lenoble Nessar from Sportradar; Henry Tapia from Universal Soft; Miguel Angel Perez from ODDIN; Luciana Beccassino, specialist in eSports player psycho marketing; Alonso Jibaja from Latam Genius Sport Group; Alexander Ospina, president of the Colombian Federation of Electronic Sports; Ivan Gimeno, manager of Paid Spain and Latam Kafé Rocks.

Esports tournaments in land-based casinos will be discussed by David Fica, CEO Siempre Games. Esports in Ibero-America, multi-jurisdictional gaming is the specialty of Mobadoo's Commercial Director, Alejandro Kowalski. Opportunities for affiliates in eSports is the lecture given by Joaquín Gago, Affiliate Igaming Betandeal. 

At the end of the conferences, there will be business rounds between land-based operators and eSports entrepreneurs and online platforms. 

CMAe's Director is Ángel Beccassino, a well-known publicist and expert in motivational marketing for the entertainment sector. 

Positive feedback from the gaming industry

"You really miss the face-to-face events and networking, even more seeing friends and customers and sharing life, travel, work and business. Coming back, it generates a lot of hope for me," said Jorge Gomez, CEO at LATAM Media Group. 

Victor Arias, Pragmatic Play LATAM, commented: "Excellent news! Really excited about the reactivation of face-to-face. To all colleagues and friends: see you in Cartagena." 

"This is going to be a great show and a lot of fun. First real show in 1.5 years. Hope I meet you all in August!," said Staffan Cnattingius, EveryMatrix LATAM. 

"Cartagena de Indias, GAT Expo 2021 and CMAe will welcome its most illustrious guests and friends in an outstanding atmosphere of fraternity with precise biosecurity measures and every minute guaranteed for an extraordinary personal and commercial experience," said José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO 3A Producciones. 

The organization is offering booths available for both online and land-based exhibitors. It also announced that the form to purchase tickets to the exhibition and academic events, separately and together, must be completed through the following link: https://www.gatexpo.net/registro-2019/ 

Capacity and seats are limited due to sanitary measures of the National and District Governments.