The chief executive of the island’s gambling watchdog said he is expected to lead the training of Bermudians to become industry regulators.

Jean Major said: “It is the intent of the commission that I lead the recruitment and training of Bermudians to regulate gaming during my tenure to ensure local expertise is developed over the long term.”

Mr Major, who was chief executive officer and registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for 16 years, arrived on the island last October and took up his post at the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission in November last year.

He said: “I was tasked to initiate the licensing process and to establish a regulatory compliance framework for casino gaming in Bermuda.

“A compliance framework entails functions such as inspection, investigation, auditing and testing.

“These functions are critical to ensure gaming is operated in accordance with the law and in accordance of principles of honesty, integrity and social responsibility.

“There is quite a bit involved in the oversight of casino gaming which is outlined in the Casino Gaming Act and its accompanying regulations.”

Mr Major was speaking after the BCGC advertised for a chief regulatory officer.

He said that the role was “a new position intended to oversee the licensing and compliance activities for the commission”.

An advert for the role said the successful applicant would “manage regulatory functions and ensure regulations are bespoke to the market”.

The post-holder will also make sure that licensees are “compliant with the law”.

Duties and responsibilities will include developing and managing regulatory programmes “that secure, support and enhance the integrity of gaming”.

The chief regulatory officer will make “all final regulatory determinations on behalf of the Commission” in line with its policies and rules.

Requirements for the post included at least ten years of “senior management, regulatory, compliance, finance, audit, law enforcement and / or legal experience”.

The successful candidate will have “solid understanding of the implementation of regulatory functions – licensing, audit, inspections, investigations, testing, training / education”.

A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is expected, as well as “experience in leading the development of policies and procedures based on evolving changes and industry best practices”.

Desirable “but not mandatory” skills included “knowledge of Bermuda’s regulatory and supervisory frameworks for casino gaming, betting, lotteries, cruise ship casinos, crown and anchor, financial institutions, anti-money laundering, antiterrorist financing and anti-proliferation financing”.

Knowledge of criminal investigations in areas such as illegal gambling, money laundering or fraud is also an advantage.

The job advert said that the commission was “seeking Bermudians only” and the deadline for applications is January 29.

David Burt, the Premier, said earlier this month that he expected “at least one casino” to be operating on the island this year.

He added: “We’ll continue to work on that.

“But it has not been easy.

“If it would have been easy, we would not be sitting here in 2021, about seven years after the former Government passed the Casino Gaming Act, without a casino in the country.”