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PR Newswire US
June 14, 2005 Tuesday 01:31 PM GMT
HEADLINE: International Poker Giant Awarded
eCOGRA Seal
BODY:
Self-regulation Comes to Online
Poker Rooms
Following closely on the heels of eCOGRA's recent approval and
acceptance of poker software supplier Ongame as a member, the
online gambling regulatory body has announced the award of the
"Play It Safe" seal to PokerRoom.com.
The international online
poker giant boasts over 3.8 million global players from more
than 140 countries and these will now have the benefit of eCOGRA
regulations governing every aspect of poker
operations from fair gaming to timeous payouts and efficient customer
service.
The award of the seal followed weeks of intensive onsite probity
and systems inspections by an independent professional services
group, which will continue to review and monitor the business
activities of PokerNetwork and PokerRoom.com, including the central
clearing house operations and anti-collusion measures.
The award of the first poker
seal has significant implications for the booming online poker
industry, representing as it does real and enforced self-regulation.
Ongame-owned PokerRoom.com becomes the 56th venue in a global
regulatory framework within which 55 top online casinos powered
by leading companies Microgaming and Casino on Net operate, handling
well over fifty per cent of the online casino gambling market.
eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge says the successful PokerRoom.com
accreditation is an important milestone for both the poker industry
and his organisation. "This is the first application of independent
regulations to elements within the online poker industry,"
he said "PokerRoom.com is a highly respected brand handling
a significant proportion of the international online poker market,
and their commitment to player protection and responsible gaming
through the G4 organisation is well known."
The eCOGRA initiative is open to all and provides practical player
protection through a carefully developed set of regulations that
are applied through third party international professional services
organisations to member casinos and poker rooms.
Online gambling operations
that successfully pass the inspection are identified by the eCOGRA
"Play It Safe" Seal, awarded by the three independent
directors on the eCOGRA Board who control the organisation's operational
activities.
The eGAP regulations cut across political and geographic barriers
to address every aspect of online
casino and poker room
activity, including FATF-relevant money handling procedures, fair
gaming, responsible gambling and efficient customer service.
The London-based staff of the regulator includes a Fair Gaming
Advocate to whom players can appeal if any disputes cannot be
settled at casino or poker
room level.
Patrik Selin, CEO of PokerRoom.com
commented: "This is the culmination of tough, detailed on-site
inspections and probity checks, but we believe it is an important
step forward for our PokerNetwork and partners, and for the industry
as a whole. Real and practical regulation such as eCOGRA offers
has benefits for everyone, protecting the players and at the same
time enforcing high levels of professional and business conduct
at both the software provider and poker room level."
Website:
http://www.ecogra.org/
About PokerRoom.com
PokerRoom.com was introduced in 1999 as one of the first poker
rooms on the Internet. Initially the company launched with
'play money' only and have continually developed and improved
its services for its members. In 2001, PokerRoom.com
introduced real money games and has since introduced a number
of new casino games and innovations. At PokerRoom.com there are
classics such as Texas Hold 'Em, other poker and casino games
available with just the click of a button. In addition, PokerRoom.com
is the only online poker
site that offers a java version of the game and doesn't require
downloads, so members can play from PC, Mac or Linux computers.
CONTACT: Andrew Beveridge, CEO, Telephone: +44-207-887-1480,
Email:
pr@ecogra.org
SOURCE eCOGRA Ltd
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com
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