THE Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) has again urged gaming machine operators to regularise their operations by obtaining the necessary licences ahead of enhanced enforcement activities across the island.

BGLC Executive Director Timar Powell used the commission’s latest stakeholder engagement session held in Westmoreland, on Saturday to reiterate its commitment to ensuring compliance within the gaming sector and warned unlicensed operators of impending enforcement actions.

“We advise all gaming machine operators to take advantage of this particular period to get licensed with the commission so that you are operating legally.

“We have a robust enforcement team and robust enforcement plans which will be rolled out in short order and will be very inconvenient for those who are found operating outside the law,” declared Powell.

He also used the session to tell gaming machine operators that they will no longer be required to transition from Pulse technology to SAS-compliant machines within a prescribed time frame, following a significant policy adjustment.

According to Powell, the change is in response to concerns raised by industry participants and provides operators with greater flexibility in meeting future technology requirements.

Rather than mandating a transition to SAS-compliant machines by a specified deadline, the commission’s primary requirement will be that all gaming machines are capable of communicating with its soon to be introduced central monitoring system (CMS).

“What the commission requires is information at the machine level,” Powell explained. “Once the CMS is operational, every machine must be connected to that system.”

To achieve compliance, operators can explore two options. They can either upgrade to SAS-compliant machines or install compatible adaptation devices that enable existing Pulse machines to connect to the CMS.

Powell further announced that, effective August 1, the BGLC will no longer process new applications for gaming machines that cannot be made compliant with the CMS technology.

This policy adjustment provides operators with additional time to procure and install the necessary adaptors while ensuring they are prepared for future licensing periods.

Powell said the commission remains optimistic about the roll-out of the CMS and is working closely with consultants to ensure the system meets the needs of the industry and regulators alike.

“We fully anticipate the CMS being operational in the near future. We are working with consultants to ensure that the system we procure is fit for purpose, scalable and future-focused. Our objective is to minimise disruption to business operations while providing the information necessary to regulate the sector effectively and efficiently going forward,” added Powell.

He noted that the policy adjustments were informed by feedback received through previous stakeholder engagement sessions, underscoring the commission’s commitment to maintaining open dialogue with industry participants while advancing its regulatory objectives.

The stakeholder engagement sessions form part of the BGLC’s efforts to provide regulatory updates, support compliance and foster collaboration across Jamaica’s gaming sector.