Casinos & eCOGRA Reduce Problem Gambling

Representatives from over 100 of the largest internet casinos and poker rooms recently descended on London, UK to attend the second global training session held by eCommerce and Online Gaming, Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA), the world's foremost independent online standards and player protection body.

Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCOGRA, described the course as an ongoing requirement for online casinos and poker rooms holding the eCOGRA 'Play It Safe' Seal of approval. To receive and display this seal, each online casino and poker room must have trained members of staff overseeing effective, practical and responsible gaming measures.

Due to the ever-increasing popularity of online gaming, with tens of millions of players now playing worldwide, responsible operators of online gaming establishments understand and realize that keeping their site and players safe is critical to their long-term business goals and the collective good of the online gaming industry. The first training session for eCOGRA 'Play It Safe' Seal holders was held in Cape Town, South Africa last year and the London training session will involve two full days of intensive training by a team of specialists from eCOGRA.

Attendees will be trained in identifying problem gamblers using Brief Intervention Techniques (BIT) such as the Balinth method through lectures, homework, practical workshop sessions and exercises in intervention and determent of problem gambling.

Beveridge views responsible gambling best practices as vital to the industry, not just from a compassionate and moral perspective, but from a business perspective also. "Allowing underage or problem gamblers to play is morally wrong, and could have industry wide commercial and legal consequences. Our third party audit teams pay particular attention to compliance by eCOGRA certified casinos and poker rooms and there are very few, if any online gambling venues that can match the effort and commitment our operators have invested in this area."

About eCOGRA (from the Press Release):

eCOGRA, the independent standards authority for the online gaming industry, is committed to protecting online casino and poker players around the world. The non-profit organization addresses the most important issues to players: fast payouts, fair gaming, responsive and efficient service and responsible operator conduct.
eCOGRA provides an international framework of best operational and player practice requirements enforced through inspections, reviews, and continuous monitoring by independent global audit companies. To date, 76 sites comply with these requirements and have been awarded the coveted "Play It Safe" Seal that identifies to players the safest online gaming sites on the Web.

Ed note: Play in an eCOGRA verified casino at CasinoRoom.

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