Politics
Florida Gaming Control Commission announces new Executive Director, Alana Zimmer
Zimmer has extensive administrative experience in Kansas.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has a new leader at the helm.
The regulatory agency overseeing gambling in the state has appointed Alana Zimmer to be the new Executive Director of the organization. She officially took over the role Thursday.
Zimmer has administrative experience in her professional portfolio. She most recently served as Executive Director of the Kansas City Automotive Museum. In her role in that organization, she spearheaded a capital campaign worth an estimated $30 million.
In addition to her duties there, she has additional experience as a Commissioner with the Kansas Lottery, where she served from 2016 to 2019, according to a news release from the FGCC.
“Alana has shown outstanding leadership throughout her career, and I am confident she will work hard to eliminate illegal gambling and support Florida citizens and businesses,” said FGCC Vice Chair Julie Imanuel Brown. “We welcome Alana back to Florida and Tallahassee where she went to college at Florida State University. We are excited to see where all her talents and skills will take FGCC.”
The FGCC has had an elevated profile in the past few years.
In January, FGCC officials and several law enforcement agencies told state lawmakers they needed more leeway in efforts to deter illegal gaming in the state. Several prosecutors and Sheriff’s officials said they felt the state could provide more powers, noting that illegal gaming operations that were busted often involved people who returned to bogus gaming operations because there weren’t strong enough penalties from the state, outside of some fines.
Lawmakers eventually passed additional legislation (SB 2500), which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed.
There have also been several widely publicized crackdowns on illegal gaming operations throughout 2025 by the FGCC in cooperation with dozens of local law enforcement agencies.
Zimmer said she’s eager to get to work in the Sunshine State.
“I am honored to be appointed by the Florida Gaming Control Commission as its Executive Director,” Zimmer said. “My experience with modernizing the Kansas Lottery and expanding responsible gaming initiatives will transfer well to my new role as the FGCC Executive Director. I look forward to working closely with the Governor and Legislature on improving and expanding responsible gaming in Florida.”