JAMAICA | BGLC – Bringing a broader vision to oversight

KINGSTON, Jamaica July 31, 2025 - Like any other billion-dollar industry employing thousands and impacting many thousands more, the betting and gaming industry (including the Sport of Kings) requires a different level of oversight than it did in previous generations.

The values and imperatives have arguably remained the same over the course of the past 50 years - protect the public from unscrupulous and illicit operations, protect and enhance the operations of the industry players, and encourage the growth of the industry in a manner that benefits all. 

As the regulator heads to another eagerly anticipated Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) Race Day, this, the 21st staging, Executive Director  of the Commission Vitus Evans emphasizes the need to keep the regulator in step with the changing industry conditions.

"We need to look at advancing the legislative framework to properly recognize and address the increasingly tech-driven nature of gaming and the various impacts of that shift, whilst also finding the most efficient and judicious ways to regulate the physical gaming spaces."

One of the ways to achieve that is in the unified vision of oversight functions. Mooted from as far back as 2011, the merger of the BGLC, Jamaica Racing Commission and the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) continues toward finalization, as the Gaming Commission. 

 Presently, Evans says, the BGLC and JRC maintain a close working relationship in the pursuit of their defined regulatory spaces - the JRC overseeing the operations of the Sport of Kings, and the BGLC monitoring and sanctioning the betting that takes place both at the track itself and at off-site locations.

And the latter part of that equation, both the bets off the track and the bets placed on simulcast racing (from tracks overseas) have become increasingly important. For 2024, simulcast racing increased by 75.9 percent, contrasted with a 15.8 percent drop in betting overall, and a roughly 3 percent growth for the gaming sector.

 With fewer overall race days, the betting public has been showing a preference for the marquee and immersive experiences that the BGLC Race Day represents. Coinciding with the regulator's Golden anniversary is the 21st edition of the Raceday, now an Emancipation Day (August 1) staple at Caymanas Park. The feature races include the BGLC Trophy with a purse of $2 million, and the Emancipation Day Trophy.

Evans says the organization is pleased to note that the event has quickly become engrained in the public's mind, not only on the day of the event, but serving to drive greater attendance and participation even on "ordinary" race days

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