New Gambling Commission chair appointed

Brian Pomeroy has been appointed as Chair of the Gambling Commission, the government’s gambling watchdog, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, James Purnell, announced today.

Pomeroy will take up his post on 1 January 2008, after the current Chair Peter Dean steps down. He will be responsible for taking the Gambling Commission forward as it develops its regulatory role, including enforcing many of the new elements of the Gambling Act.

This will include taking action against operators who fail to comply with the Act and ensuring that gambling is fair, crime free and children and other vulnerable people are protected.

Peter Teague has also been appointed as a Commissioner and will take up his post on 1 September 2007. Both Pomeroy and Teague have extensive backgrounds in the financial services sector as well as regulatory experience at, respectively, the National Lottery Commission and OFCOM.

James Purnell said: „The Gambling Commission is a tough new regulator with stringent powers that allow them to take decisive action against operators who fail to meet the high standards required by the Gambling Act”, and added: “I am therefore pleased to announce the appointments of Brian Pomeroy and Peter Teague, whose experience will strengthen the expertise of the Commission’s board.”

„Brian has a strong background in both the private and public sectors and his leadership experience will be invaluable as the Commission takes on the challenge of ensuring a socially responsible gambling industry. He will build on the legacy of departing chair Peter Dean, who has guided the Gambling Commission through implementation of the Gambling Act with great conviction, making it the effective regulator that it is today”, he concluded.

Brian Pomeroy is currently Chair of the Payments Council and Financial Inclusion Task Force as well as a Member of the Audit Commission. He will step down as a Commissioner of the National Lottery Commission on 30 September 2007 after over 8 years.

Pomeroy said: „My priority will be to make sure that the gambling industry meets the tough new standards required by the Act. In doing so, the Commission should not hesitate to use its array of new powers and sanctions to ensure that gambling remains fair and crime free and that proper protections for children and vulnerable adults are in place.“