Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
Encyclopedia
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) was established by the Gibraltar
Regulatory Act in October 2000. The GRA is the statutory body in Gibraltar responsible for regulating electronic communications. This includes telecommunications, radio
communications and broadcasting
transmissions. The GRA serves as both the national supervisory and regulatory authority for these sectors. The supervision and regulation of these sectors in done in accordance with EU law
that has been rendered into national law.
Since inception the GRA has seen its responsibilities extended to data protection and gambling
.
The GRA policy is designed to make Gibraltar recognizable as a world-class telecommunications centre to do business. As well as ensuring that Gibraltar has a high quality telecommunications service that offers consumers a better deal by providing high performance and standards, as well as competitive prices.
The Communications remit of the GRA includes: traditional telephone wire, dial up and ADSL internet
, mobile operators providing voice and data services, VOIP services, television
and radio, radio communications including fixed wireless services, and licensing frameworks for satellite
services.
nominated the GRA as the Supervisory Authority for the enforcement of the Date Protection Act 2004. With the powers imbued upon the Data Protection Commissioner, the GRA has made assurances that a system is in place to monitior the executory function of the Data Protection Act. The GRA works closely with foreign regulatory authorities tasked with a similar role. The GRA also continuously develops a comprehensive online guide that is designed to encompass the wealth of information available about Data Protection.
.
The Gambling Act of 2005 was brought in to replace the Gaming Act, that was originally enacted in 1958. The 2005 act was designed to modernize Gibraltar's legislation
and to create a statutory licensing and regulatory framework to match Gibraltar's status as the "home to the world's leading online gambling
operators".
The systems that are required to undergo testing or auditing are: the random number generator (RNG), payment protocols (deposit/withdrawal), gambling assistance programs, and player dispute resolution systems. However tests and audits of the following are not performed: systems security, game evaluations, game payout calculations, live dealer systems, and segmented player funds.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
Regulatory Act in October 2000. The GRA is the statutory body in Gibraltar responsible for regulating electronic communications. This includes telecommunications, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
communications and broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
transmissions. The GRA serves as both the national supervisory and regulatory authority for these sectors. The supervision and regulation of these sectors in done in accordance with EU law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
that has been rendered into national law.
Since inception the GRA has seen its responsibilities extended to data protection and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
.
Electronic Communication
The GRA attempts to enhance competition in the communications sector by regulating network access to develop effective choice for business and residential consumers alike and by helping the facilitate entry to the communications market through authorizations and licenses.The GRA policy is designed to make Gibraltar recognizable as a world-class telecommunications centre to do business. As well as ensuring that Gibraltar has a high quality telecommunications service that offers consumers a better deal by providing high performance and standards, as well as competitive prices.
The Communications remit of the GRA includes: traditional telephone wire, dial up and ADSL internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, mobile operators providing voice and data services, VOIP services, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio, radio communications including fixed wireless services, and licensing frameworks for satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
services.
Data Protection
The Gibraltar GovernmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
nominated the GRA as the Supervisory Authority for the enforcement of the Date Protection Act 2004. With the powers imbued upon the Data Protection Commissioner, the GRA has made assurances that a system is in place to monitior the executory function of the Data Protection Act. The GRA works closely with foreign regulatory authorities tasked with a similar role. The GRA also continuously develops a comprehensive online guide that is designed to encompass the wealth of information available about Data Protection.
Gambling
On the day the Gambling Act 2005 came into operation (26 October 2006), the GRA was appointed to the position of Gambling Commissioner. It is the objective of the Commissioner to ensure licence holders conduct business within the terms of the licences and in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005; and that business is conducted by licence holders in a manner that maintains the good reputation of Gibraltar as a first tier jurisdictionJurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
.
The Gambling Act of 2005 was brought in to replace the Gaming Act, that was originally enacted in 1958. The 2005 act was designed to modernize Gibraltar's legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
and to create a statutory licensing and regulatory framework to match Gibraltar's status as the "home to the world's leading online gambling
Online gambling
Online gambling, also known as Internet gambling and iGambling, is a general term for gambling using the Internet.-Online poker:Online poker tables commonly offer Texas hold 'em, Omaha, Seven-card stud, razz, HORSE and other game types in both tournament and ring game structures...
operators".
Independent Testing and Auditing
In order to be granted a license by the GRA an online gambling operator must undergo verification by an approved testing and auditing body to ensure it complies with legislation and standards.The systems that are required to undergo testing or auditing are: the random number generator (RNG), payment protocols (deposit/withdrawal), gambling assistance programs, and player dispute resolution systems. However tests and audits of the following are not performed: systems security, game evaluations, game payout calculations, live dealer systems, and segmented player funds.