A federal prosecutor with a strong background in gambling laws will be the next director of the Arizona Department of Gaming.

Gov. Jan Brewer on March 31 named assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Brnovich to the post. Brnovich replaces Paul Bullis, who had served as director since 2003.

Brnovich was added to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix in 2007 as part of a joint program with the Department of Gaming and various tribal leaders that focused on gaming-related crimes. He prosecuted a number of cases involving theft and embezzlement from tribal casinos in Arizona, and oversaw the recent indictment of a man accused of making counterfeit money at Harrah's Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino.

Prior to his time at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Brnovich served the state of Arizona as assistant attorney general, where he was primarily responsible for representing the Department of Gaming and providing advice regarding legislation, contracts, licensing and regulation involving gaming and tribal casinos. He is also a former judge pro tem at Maricopa County Superior Court, deputy Maricopa County attorney and command staff judge advocate in the U.S. Army National Guard.

In addition to his law enforcement background, Brnovich has strong conservative credentials. He has worked as a senior fellow at the Goldwater Institute and as a special adviser to the Federalist Society.