This week, the city of Cartagena de Indias will be the epicenter of the first regional meeting of face-to-face of the gaming industry, on the occasion of GAT Expo, starting on Thursday.
It has been a challenge to overcome many difficulties imposed by the pandemic, but there is much eagerness to share innovation and look positively to the future, aiming at the growth of their companies. There will be participation of regulators from Mexico and Colombia, who will share their vision on the future of gaming as a relevant economic sector for both nations.
There was no activity in face-to-face events, certainly. For this time the fair will be implementing a different model of registration, design and construction of stands.
With limited seating capacity within a rigorous concept in which the health and care of the attendees is a priority. The mask is mandatory in all areas, both outdoors and in the conference room, and we have all the permits from the Mayor's Office, in addition to meeting the protocols required by the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center, which is not just any fairground, since it has international certifications and high standards of professionalism. They are recognized as leaders in the business meetings industry in the continent.
The Ministry of Health has announced that August will end with 35 million doses applied. We are at a good moment in epidemiological terms, with a substantial drop in the number of cases and serious illnesses.
The novelty of the exhibition in an open-air plaza with incredible views, which will be impressive. Homogeneous stands with ecological designs and complying with all biosafety protocols will operate from 5 pm. A central bar with a spectacular dome and lighting will be a meeting point for clients, partners and friends. The San Francisco Esplanade will house the online gambling exhibitors, and the land-based is concentrated in the Gran Salón Barahona, within the convention center structure.
The greatest weight of the crisis fell on the casinos and physical gambling halls, due to the restrictions to the public. All the halls adapted their spaces for the new normality. At this moment, the economy in Colombia is completely open and people have returned to their regular entertainment habits.
As for online gambling, its growth and pandemic development are astonishing worldwide. The phenomenon does not exempt Colombia and, of course, is reflected in the numerical difference between online gambling exhibitors and exhibitors of traditional casino gaming machines and roulettes.
The registration database to attend both the exhibition and the congress, executives from 30 countries are coming, something that was not expected, as there is still fear for the sanitary situation in the world.
The guilds have been a very important factor due to their constant work as spokespersons for the gambling industry before Coljuegos, the Ministry of Finance and the media, always seeking economic reactivation and more guarantees for its operation in times of crisis. This work has ensured that the industry remains alive, and this favors us as organizers of the fair that represents all legal operators in the country.
Asojuegos, Cornazar and Fecoljuegos will participate in the conferences with presentations. They will also have a stand to attend to their affiliates. Camazar, on the other hand, as a guild that mainly groups operators from the Atlantic coast of Colombia, will have an exclusive exhibition area
