GAT Official Launch Brazil 2026 brings together regulators, operators and investors in São Paulo

Market regulation and enforcement, sports integrity, responsible gaming, B2B licensing, the bill on land-based casinos (PL 2234), the regulatory frontier of prediction markets, and the federal lottery issue will be the key themes at GAT Official Launch Brazil 2026. The event takes place on 29 and 30 July at the Jockey Club of São Paulo.

The programme will feature GAT Brazil Ambassadors—prominent figures who accepted the invitation to support the arrival of the Gaming & Technology Expo in the country. Alex W. Pariente (Chair, GAT Official Launch Brasil 2026; Founder & Principal, Pariente Advisory), along with Neil Montgomery, Liliana Costa, Bárbara Teles, Ricardo Magri, Plínio Augusto Lemos Jorge, Bruno Omori, Amilton Noble, Sávio Prado, Iuri Castro, Georges Didier, and Hugo Leite, will play a pivotal role as moderators and panelists alongside government officials, business leaders, and industry experts.

Brazil in the spotlight

José Aníbal Aguirre, founder and CEO of GAT Events, a prominent industry trade show brand in Latin America for over 27 years, states: “I am thrilled with the work we are doing to expand into Brazil, a long-held dream.

“The generous and wholehearted response from so many friends offering their support is truly motivating. As our friend Liliana Costa—a companion on so many journeys—puts it, ‘the giant has awakened and is no longer asleep.’ On the evening of 29 July, we will gather at the Vicky Barcelona restaurant—an invitation-only event—to toast to the future of GAT Expo Brazil 2027. On 30 July, the Jockey Club of São Paulo awaits us for an in-depth immersion into the present and future of this ecosystem—one that is as complex as it is promising—alongside the best ambassadors.”

Alex W. Pariente, chair of the event and with three decades of experience opening and operating integrated resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean, summarises the spirit of the event: “Brazil is no longer debating whether it will have a regulated market; it’s debating how investable it will be. Legalisation is the event. Investability is the condition” (more analysis at parienteadvisory.com).

Liliana Costa, Latin America Director at World Gaming Business, highlights: “It is an honour for Clarion Gaming’s World Gaming Business to serve as a media partner for the official launch of GAT in Brazil. This market is at a pivotal moment for the consolidation of a regulated, responsible, and sustainable ecosystem. We are committed to contributing through specialised coverage, regional insight, and a platform with international reach to expand the conversations that will shape the future of the industry in Brazil and Latin America.”

Panel Schedule — July 30

The event will begin with registration at 1:00 PM. The program will run from 2:00 PM to 6:45 PM and conclude with a networking cocktail reception from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. It will bring together associations, operators, manufacturers, technology providers, and experts from Brazil and Latin America at this pivotal stage for the consolidation of the regulated market and Responsible Gaming.

GAT Official Launch Brazil features Clarion Gaming’s World Gaming Business as a media partner and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) as a sponsor.

The opening remarks will be delivered by José Aníbal Aguirre, founder and CEO of GAT Events, and Liliana Costa of World Gaming Business.

Chair’s Introduction — The state of the Brazilian market in mid-2026

To set the stage, Alex W. Pariente will present his perspective on the Brazilian market at the start of the second half of the year. He will discuss the channelling gap behind the official figures, the World Cup as a litmus test for the regulated regime, and the outlook for Bill No. 2234. The bill provides for the legalisation of land-based casinos in Brazil and is poised for a vote.

Panel 1 — From regulation to effective enforcement

Nineteen months into the regulatory process, the Brazilian market is shifting from licence issuance to a phase focused on effective oversight within an established institutional framework. Combatting the illegal market and driving traffic toward authorised operators present regulatory, technological, and financial challenges.

The session is moderated by Neil Montgomery, founder and managing partner of Montgomery. Participants include Hazenclever Lopes Cançado, former president of Loterj; Fabiano Jantalia, of Jantalia Advogados and president of the Gaming and Betting Commission of the OAB/DF (Brazilian Bar Association – Federal District); and Eduardo Ludmer, from the legal and compliance department at BetMGM.

Panel 2 — The World Cup: Integrity, Publicity and Responsible Gaming

Brazilians have been betting for years. What makes this World Cup unique is the scale: it is the first global event to channel significant volumes through a regulated framework. The panel will analyse the impact on sports integrity, responsible advertising, and consumer protection tools within an environment of intense media exposure.

The session will be moderated by Bárbara Teles, co-founder of the Association of Women in the Gaming Industry (AMIG). Ricardo Magri, co-founder of EBAC—an organisation dedicated to preventing compulsive gambling—will participate, alongside other experts yet to be confirmed.

Panel 3 — B2B Licensing and Technology Infrastructure

Laboratories and high-standard technical certifications form the invisible infrastructure underpinning the market’s development. The discussion will examine the progress of B2B licensing, the foundations ensuring the process, and persistent challenges.

Moderated by Hugo Leite of Gaming Laboratories International (GLI). Participants include Thiago Garrides, CEO of Cactus Gaming, and Ana Bárbara Costa Teixeira, head of regulatory affairs at Playtech.

Panel 4 — Integrated resorts and tourism potential: Bill No. 2234 and next steps

One of the event’s central themes. The session will present an overview of land-based casinos in Brazil and the bill proposing their authorisation. Discussions will focus on the potential of integrated resort complexes to drive investment, employment, economic development, and responsible operations. What lessons can be drawn from international experience to ensure Brazil successfully implements this model?

Moderated by Alex W. Pariente, chair of GAT Official Launch Brazil 2026 and founder & principal of Pariente Advisory. Joining him are Roberto Carvalho Brasil Fernandes, founder of Brasil Fernandes Advogados; Plínio Augusto Lemos Jorge, president of ANJL (National Association of Games and Lotteries); and Bruno Omori, president of IDT-CEMA (Institute for the Development of Tourism, Culture, Sports, and the Environment).

Panel 5 — The future of land-based casinos in Brazil: opportunities, challenges, and omnichannel integration

With Bill No. 2234 on the horizon, what will a regulated land-based casino market require? Supply chain and certification, talent development, responsible operations, and omnichannel integration between physical venues and the digital environment.

Moderated by event chair Alex W. Pariente, the session features Max Bauer, Novomatic’s director for Latin America, alongside representatives from the industry’s leading land-based manufacturers.

Panel 6 — Prediction and betting markets: the regulatory frontier in Latin America

Brazil was one of the first major markets to take a stance on prediction markets. A coordinated response came from financial and gaming authorities. The panel will analyse this institutional response, the scope of what remains permitted regarding event contracts linked to economic-financial benchmarks, and the implications of this precedent for other markets in the region.

Moderated by Sávio Prado, Secretary of ALAE. Participants include Fabricio Tota, director at Mercado Bitcoin and Estadão (a Brazilian newspaper) columnist, along with two other speakers to be confirmed.

Closing Panel — A federal issue: lotteries, the states, and the year ahead

State and municipal lotteries, the legal precedents set by the Supreme Federal Court in cases ADPF 492 and 493, and the role of Caixa define an ongoing debate regarding Brazilian federalism.

Moderated by Amilton Noble, CEO of Hebara. Panellists: Fabíola Esteves, president of Loterj; Ricardo Amado, president of FEBRALOT; Roberto Quattrini, managing director of Novomatic; and Iuri R. Castro (Eng., M.Sc., Ph.D.), former undersecretary of lotteries and betting.

The event will conclude with closing remarks from Alex W. Pariente, chair of the GAT Official Launch Brazil 2026. A networking cocktail reception will follow (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM), bringing together authorities, associations, operators, and companies to strengthen institutional ties and generate new business opportunities.

More information and participation options: [email protected]  [email protected]

Tickets: https://controlticket.co/2026/gat/buy_tickets/brasil/registro.php