Player Protection for Top Poker Sites
LONDON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- On the back of a boom in online poker,
top quality poker rooms and networks will now be able to demonstrate their
adherence to best practices by undergoing a rigorous independent assessment
designed to give more protection to the player and improved efficiencies to
operators.
eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) is
introducing a set of generally accepted practices for online poker rooms on
the same basis that have been successfully implemented at 44 top Internet
casinos over the past two years, developing practical inspection and
monitoring regimes through independent and outsourced professional services in
the process.
"The online poker sector is growing at an unprecedented rate, and there is
a clear need for sensible and properly implemented regulation that will
improve poker room performance and service to the playing community," says
eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge. "Improved service means more customer
satisfaction and better business.
"This is the first self-regulation of online poker, and we have been
active for the past year in consulting with a wide range of experts to frame a
range of Generally Accepted Practices (eGAP) that are relevant and effective.
These embrace operational imperatives like fast and efficient payouts, player
dispute procedures, fair gaming tenets, efficiency in customer support and
relationships, marketing and operator probity.
"The next step will be for software providers and operators prepared to
commit to the Poker eGAP to submit to eCOGRA's compliance inspections that are
independently carried out by an audit panel including globally respected firms
like PricewaterhouseCoopers. If they are successful in passing this, the
eCOGRA Seal will be awarded but ongoing monitoring and reviews will be regular
occurrences.
"We expect that, as is the case with casinos, players will recognise the
benefits of playing at regulated poker rooms where they have independent
dispute facilities in the unlikely event of any difficulties."
Already various prominent poker software companies and operational poker
rooms have expressed a strong interest to submit their systems and procedures
for assessment.
eCOGRA is a non-profit, non-partisan body with a full time staff in
London, England. Founded by major online software and casino operator groups
in early 2002, the organisation spent considerable time researching the
concept of player protection with experts throughout the world before
constructing a working set of requirements essential to fair and efficient
gambling operations, together with an independent inspection and monitoring
system for enforcement. The first online casinos were accredited early in
2004, and since then a steady stream of online casinos has committed to the
eCOGRA ideals and achieved Seal status.
The eGAP requirements, inspection and monitoring and the award of Seals
are the responsibility of independent directors on the eCOGRA Board, all of
whom are well known and highly respected gambling industry personalities.
For full details please visit http://www.ecogra.org .
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SOURCE eCOGRA
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Related links:
http://www.ecogra.org
CONTACT:
Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCOGRA,
+44-20-7887-1480, pr@ecogra.org
NOTE FOR EDITORS: eCOGRA is a privately funded, non-profit self-
regulatory initiative supported by leading software providers and
top operators with the goals of player protection in an
unregulated industry, and fair, efficient online gambling
practice. Approved gambling sites are identified by a seal, and
commit to a set of internationally formulated operational
requirements which are independently enforced through inspection
and monitoring by major international business groups. The
infrastructure includes a Fair Gaming Advocate for any player
disputes that cannot be resolved at operator level.
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