San Juan, September 11, 2026. GAT Puerto Rico brought together regulatory authorities, led by the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, as well as representatives from the five segments of legal gaming on the island, including licensed route gaming machine operators, representatives and experts from the land-based casino and lottery sectors, along with a strong presence of executives from the gaming, horse racing and sports betting bureaus.

The event’s compact format made it possible to bring together, in a single venue and on a single date, September 9, the products and services offered by the local gaming ecosystem, while fostering knowledge exchange among the key players of an industry that continues to advance in regulation and in the adaptation of both traditional and emerging gaming products to today’s technological demands and the needs of a steadily growing tourism industry.

Manufacturers, Operators and Business

The exhibition floor featured machines and cabinets for the land-based segment, with eye-catching designs tailored to the local market. Novomatic made its debut with an exclusive product line that was very well received and generated immediate sales throughout the day. Royal Gaming Logistics showcased products from the brands it represents, including IGT, EGT and Win Systems, quickly capturing the attention of casino and route gaming machine operators on the island.

Exhibitors highlighted the continuous interaction and strong commercial activity at their booths. In addition to closing deals, they established high-level business contacts with the potential to lead to alliances, partnerships and agreements in the short and medium term.

GAT Talks: A Major Opportunity for Open and Collaborative Dialogue

The central role of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and its Executive Director, Juan Carlos Santaella, was evident in the opening conference, which highlighted the regulator’s leadership and in-depth understanding of the evolution, adjustments and current status of each gaming vertical under the principles of legality and responsible gaming. These remain key priorities of the PRGC in its administration, development and oversight of gaming activities across the island’s 78 municipalities.

José Carlos Figueroa of GLI presented an overview of the different areas the company addresses throughout the Caribbean region, covering relevant topics such as currency, regulation, market dynamics, industry bridges, KYC providers, the scope of AI and the challenges involved in promoting responsible gaming. He also addressed the role of technology in player monitoring and the identification of betting behavior patterns for reporting to regulatory authorities.

The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission panel, moderated by Lorraine Irizarry, Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Bureau, addressed integration, entertainment, innovation and collaboration among sectors, highlighting opportunities to create new experiences. She first gave the floor to panelists Julio Rivera, Director of the Sports Betting Bureau, and Javier Soto, General Manager of Cage PR, a sports betting operator, who exchanged views with Liza María García Vélez, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce. Representing an organization that encompasses a broad range of economic sectors on the island, García Vélez has also placed the strengthening of the gaming ecosystem among the topics of growing interest, including emerging areas such as esports. Her participation brought a business perspective to the discussion on the development and regulation of the regional industry.

“Multiple Laws, One Industry: The Legal Framework for Gaming in Puerto Rico.” Attorney Jaime Rivera, a distinguished legal professional with extensive experience as a former Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and currently a partner at Saiber LLC, delivered a masterful overview of the legislative path that has shaped Puerto Rico’s gaming and betting regulatory framework from the 20th century through the second decade of the 21st century. His presentation traced the history of land-based casino regulation, traditionally linked to the hotel and tourism industries, through the disruption brought about by the approval of route gaming machines and the process of adapting both models. Rivera also made frequent reference to horse racing as a particularly significant segment due to its unique characteristics and its extensive land-based and digital ecosystem in both the United States and Puerto Rico.

The Master Class on slot products, presented by Daniel Arias of Amusnet, took on particular relevance as it provided a detailed explanation of how slot machines operate and the multiple variables that influence profitability and player behavior. The session offered key tools for customer retention, addressing both technological aspects and marketing strategies.

One of the most representative moments of GAT Talks was the panel “The DNA of Gaming in Puerto Rico: Looking Back and Building a Sustainable Future,” led and moderated by José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT Events, who brought together, on the same stage, voices representing the five major segments of Puerto Rico’s legal gaming industry.

The discussion explored the distinctive characteristics of each vertical, its evolution and the challenges it faces, while also identifying a common denominator: they are all part of an entertainment industry with opportunities to collaborate, complement one another and grow sustainably.

Representing horse racing, María Cristina Mari García, Vice President of Hipódromo Camarero, highlighted the history of an activity deeply connected to Puerto Rican culture and tradition, as well as its ability to evolve and continue providing entertainment to new generations.

From the lottery sector, Lorna Huertas, advisor to the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and former Assistant Secretary of the Lottery Bureau, a segment independently regulated by the Department of the Treasury, shared the perspective of a vertical with a long tradition and broad social reach. She highlighted its evolution within a changing market and the importance of continuing to adapt to new player habits.

Jaime Alex Irizarry, Operations Director at Royal Gaming Logistics, addressed the current landscape of route gaming machines, a segment that has established its own place within Puerto Rico’s regulated market and represents an entertainment alternative available at numerous establishments. His remarks brought attention to the development of this vertical and its coexistence with other forms of gaming.

From the sports betting sector, Joe Fernández, President and Co-Founder of Ballers Sportsbook, shared the perspective of one of the newest and most dynamic segments of the Puerto Rican market, driven by technology, digitalization and new forms of consumer interaction. His contribution demonstrated how the introduction of new gaming formats expands the entertainment offering and attracts new audiences.

Eric Rodríguez, Director of Foxwoods Casino, presented the perspective of land-based casinos, a well-established vertical that remains a fundamental part of Puerto Rico’s tourism and entertainment offering. His participation provided an opportunity to examine the need to continue evolving the casino experience and its relationship with the new alternatives now available to players.

Drawing on these five perspectives, José Aníbal Aguirre steered the conversation toward a central issue: collaboration among segments that have traditionally developed their businesses independently. Rather than positioning them as competitors, the panel opened the door to identifying common ground among casinos, horse racing, lotteries, sports betting and route gaming machines.

The discussion outlined a vision of the industry in which entertainment, innovation and collaboration can become unifying elements, while respecting the regulatory and commercial characteristics of each vertical. The coexistence of different gaming formats expands consumer options and creates opportunities to share experiences, knowledge and best practices.

For Aguirre, bringing these five voices together in a single conversation reflects the role GAT seeks to play in Puerto Rico as an industry integrator, fostering dialogue among authorities, operators, manufacturers and the different gaming bureaus.

“Puerto Rico showed us a diverse industry, with five gaming segments that can find common ground for healthy coexistence. The feedback we received was very positive and confirmed the industry’s interest in continuing to create spaces for dialogue and collaboration. Next year, during the academic program, we will address responsible gaming and host the AML Congress as part of our commitment to strengthening the industry,” said José Aníbal Aguirre.

Puerto Rico: A Strategic Commitment

GAT Events reaffirmed its commitment to Puerto Rico as a strategic connection point between the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, bringing together technology, business and networking. The organization thanked the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission as well as the event’s sponsoring and exhibiting brands: Aristocrat, Novomatic, Hipódromo Camarero, Gamanza, GLI, Mobadoo, Royal Gaming Logistics, Fortune Group Games, EAS Systems, EEZE, Counting Equipment & Supplies, Bad Dog Games, TVC Gaming, Bloomcrest, Caribbean Gaming Technologies, Amusnet Interactive, Prometeo, Oklahoma, Caribe Gaming, Gem Solutions and Caribbean Gaming Distributors.

GAT Expo Puerto Rico will return to San Juan in 2027, with the goal of expanding the event, welcoming new industry players and further strengthening the connection between entertainment, technology and business.