Cartagena de Indias, March 24, 2026. High-level conferences and panel discussions marked the opening of GAT Expo Cartagena this Tuesday at the Las Américas Convention Center, officially launching the event’s program. Authorities, regulators, business leaders, and gaming industry experts gathered for eight continuous hours of technical, regulatory, and economic analysis in a dynamic sector-wide dialogue.

From early morning, La Niña Hall recorded strong attendance from delegates representing 45 countries, in a space focused on addressing the main challenges of the gaming ecosystem. For the first time, the agenda openly explored political and administrative dynamics affecting both Colombia and the wider region.

The official opening featured the presence of Colombia’s Attorney General, Gregorio Eljach Pacheco, who presented the results of the Electoral Peace Plan, ensuring transparent congressional elections nationwide on March 8. Evert Montero Cárdenas, President of Fecoljuegos and organizer of this year’s GAT Cartagena Academy, emphasized the central concept of the day: the need for ongoing collaboration between the public and private sectors as a condition for effective policymaking and regulatory development.

Marco Emilio Hincapié, President of Coljuegos, highlighted the sustained growth of the gaming sector, its contribution to state revenues, and the increasing volume of transfers allocated to healthcare for Colombia’s most vulnerable populations, particularly over the past three years. Regarding new regulations, he referred to the upcoming launch of Keno, set to begin operations on April 1, as a new market alternative expected to generate approximately COP 500 billion in taxes for social investment.

The agenda then moved into an international perspective with Brian Krolicki, Vice Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, who delivered a comprehensive presentation on the Nevada regulatory model and its applicability to Latin America. His intervention was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from Zamba and Vicca Group.

Throughout the day, panels featuring Latin American regulators, industry associations, and legal experts addressed regulatory trends, compliance, technological innovation, and business evolution.

In the final segment, the keynote presentation by Daniel Velandia, Managing Director of Research and Chief Economist at Credicorp Capital, provided a comprehensive overview of Colombia’s economic outlook and global trends.

His analysis outlined a scenario of stable growth driven by household consumption, supported by remittance flows and interest rate adjustments. He also addressed exchange rate fluctuations, declining investment in Colombia, reduced state revenues linked to the energy transition, and key short-term challenges such as inflationary pressures influenced by political and fiscal dynamics, particularly in a decisive electoral year.

José Aníbal Aguirre, CEO of GAT, stated: "The academic agenda in Cartagena continues to gain relevance, and today, in particular, the demand for content and participation is significantly higher, confirming its positioning as a knowledge hub for the gaming industry in Latin America. The GAT Cartagena Academy welcomed over 300 attendees, maintaining an engaged and attentive audience until 5:30 p.m., clearly reflecting the strong interest generated by the topics discussed."

At sunset, networking took center stage in Cartagena’s bay. On board the Bona Vida catamaran, attendees, speakers, and industry leaders took part in an experience that combined conversation, relationship-building, and business vision in an informal Caribbean setting.

The event continues this Wednesday, March 25, with the opening of the commercial exhibition at 2:00 p.m. at the Las Américas Convention Center, kicking off two days focused on direct interaction between manufacturers, operators, and technology providers.

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