Just one week after the UK online casino whitelist came out, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority announced they have appointed a new Chief to head their Gambling Affairs Division - and he just happens to be the former Director of the UK Gambling Commission.

Phil Brear, who is also a former policeman, will be assuming his new position on October 1 of this year. Requiring Brear to pack up his bags and relocate to the island of wealth and luxury, the job will certainly be one of great responsibility and nothing short of the challenges that Brear was faced with as Director of Operations for the UK Gambling Commission. Gibraltar is indeed a major center of online gambling activity, which seeking to keep up with precedent setters like the UK, will need to ensure their regulatory framework is updated on a regular basis.

Brear said he feels privileged to be heading Gibraltar's Gambling Affairs at such a fertile time in the online gambling industry. For Brear, knowing that Gibraltar has already established itself as one of the world's leading regulators of online casino, and is committed to continue doing so, gives him something to live up to. Brear is looking forward to taking up the responsibility of ensuring the highest standards of regulation are imposed, including the integrity of software systems and betting facilities and the protection of players against problem/underage gambling.

Both Brear and Paul Canessa, who is the Chief Executive of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, agree that Gibraltar has a great reputation to live up to. Already licensing some of the Web's top online gambling sites, like 32Red Online Casino, Ladbrokes and Coral Eurobet, Gibraltar is credited with setting very high standards in terms of transparent online gambling services and socially responsible practices. Being a part of the European Economic Area, Gibraltar is on the whitelist by default (as is Malta), and is evidently on course to continue their close relationship with UK gambling officials.