KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), in entering its next strategic phase of elevating regulatory standards and building a more responsive and resilient organisation, has appointed Timar Powell as the new executive director, effective April 20.

According to the BGLC, his appointment reflects the board’s commitment to leadership that is equal to this pursuit and ensures that Jamaica’s betting, gaming and lotteries sector operates with the highest levels of integrity and accountability.

It said the elevated regulatory standards are reforms to modernise Jamaica’s locally made gaming machine sector and strengthen oversight of an industry that has grown rapidly in recent years.

In driving these reforms, the executive director will be tasked with leading the strategic merger of the three gaming authorities — the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, the Jamaica Racing Commission and the Casino Gaming Commission — a critical transformation aimed at streamlining regulatory functions, eliminating fragmentation and establishing a unified, modern regulator capable of responding to the sector’s rapid growth and emerging risks.

The new executive director brings to the role a distinguished career spanning statutory body leadership, regulatory compliance, investigations, and strategic management within Jamaica’s public sector.

He joins the BGLC from the Ports Security Corps Limited, where he served as deputy managing director, delivering sustained operational cost reductions and securing new revenue-generating service contracts with major infrastructure partners. Prior to that, he held senior positions at the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, and served as an investigator at the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).

“His appointment marks an exciting moment for the commission,” said Board Chairman Ryan Reid in a statement on Monday. “His career reflects a deep commitment to governance, accountability and public service; values that are central to BGLC’s mission.”

Speaking on the appointment, Powell said, “I am honoured to join the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission and to serve the Jamaican public in this capacity…BGLC plays a critical role in ensuring integrity, fairness and accountability across the sector, and I look forward to working alongside the board, staff and stakeholders to build on the commission’s strong foundation and advance its strategic priorities.”