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Copyright 2004 PR Newswire Europe Limited
PR Newswire Europe
September 29, 2004 Wednesday
HEADLINE: Online
Poker to Get the eCOGRA Seal of Approval
BODY:
- Player Protection for Top Poker Sites
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
.eCOGRA
CONTACT:
/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./ /CONTACT: Andrew Beveridge, CEO of
eCOGRA, +44-20-7887-1480, pr@ecogra.org /
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