Business Opportunities In Gaming Industry – BGLC

Local entrepreneurs are being encouraged to take advantage of new and emerging opportunities in the gaming industry.

Representatives from the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), who were guests at a recent JIS Think Tank, said several opportunities now exist in the industry,  as technology continues to change the face of gaming.

These business prospects will be highlighted at the 2^nd annual Gaming Industry Summit scheduled for Thursday (June 18) at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

“We invite our entrepreneurs, who are looking for new and interesting niche markets, to start to develop and grow a business, to come,” said Manager of Communications and Research at the BGLC, Jana Bent.

Ms. Bent told the JIS Think Tank that a presentation on emerging trends in the global gaming industry with emphasis on mobile betting, digital cash and more, will be among the main areas of focus at the upcoming summit.

“The point of this is really to share with the public what is happening on the cutting edge of gaming in many areas,” she said.

Director of Legal Services at the BGLC, Karla Small-Dwyer, noted that due to the rapid pace at which technology evolves, the gaming industry “is often left to play catch-up”.

“Technology has really changed the face of gaming internationally and some of the traditional ways that we see gambling now, I think, in the next 10 years and in the future, are going to change dramatically,” she said.

She noted that the presentation on the ‘Future of Mobile Betting’ by United Kingdom-based Gaming Consultant, Christina Thakor-Rankin, “will seek to address all that a potential entrepreneur and investor need to know about how to keep up with the industry”.

“Some of the areas that Christina will be dealing with are sports betting, virtual reality and voice activated betting. So, her presentation should be very interesting and we are really looking forward to that presentation, so we can start preparing ourselves for the future of gambling in Jamaica,” Mrs. Small-Dwyer said.

President of the Association of Racing Commissioners in the United States, Edward Martin, will highlight opportunities in horseracing.

“His presentation will help to show people the way as to how to diversify and embrace new concepts for racing, that possibly could include new forms of businesses that could enhance and expand that sector as well,” Ms. Bent pointed out.

Persons wishing to attend the summit can register by emailing the BGLC at info@bglc.gov.jm or by calling 630-1353.