LAS VEGAS, Nevada – (PRESS RELEASE) -- eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online
Gaming Regulation and Assurance), the online gambling
industry's player protection and standards authority, has unveiled plans
for one of the world's largest online gambling research initiatives. It is
expected to provide the first player perspective following continued
phenomenal growth of the worldwide online gambling industry.
Researchers aim to capture the opinions of 20,000 players through a
quantitative internet based survey, supplemented by qualitative focus
groups in six of the industry's major markets. Over 200 players in the US,
UK, Japan, Canada, Germany and Sweden will be asked for their opinions in
the qualitative exercise, in what is believed to be the first attempt to
empower the player community and put figures on anecdotal feedback about
their concerns and priorities for the industry.
Leading gambling research teams from the University of Las Vegas and
Nottingham Trent University start work on the research immediately with the
resulting 'eCOGRA Global Gambler Report' launching in January 2007. It will
provide the most comprehensive insight into player's attitudes globally,
with a focus on what constitutes fair gaming, perceptions of operator
conduct, including customer service standards and will canvas opinions on
what further player protection measures can be put in place.
The report's contents will also focus on who gambles, how frequently,
why and with what consequences including its impact on finances and well
being. Importantly, it will also differentiate between poker and casino
players.
The eCOGRA announcement comes amid current legislative and regulatory
issues in the United States and the broad concern that the industry is not
doing enough to identify and curb problem gambling. eCOGRA's Generally
Accepted Practices (eGAP) provide an international framework of best
operational and player protection standards and its "Play it Safe" seal is
currently the industry's only independently verified certification that
consistently rechecks recipients through a globally recognised
international auditing firm.
Andrew Beveridge, CEO, eCOGRA comments, "We believe this is the first
time that the industry has tried to really identify what its customers -
the players - want and what motivates them. Online gambling attracts people
from so many diverse regulatory regimes that it has been impossible up
until now to conduct research of any scale. It is essential however that
player concerns are fully understood by organisations like eCOGRA which
provide the only effective monitoring and resolution protection procedures.
We think the results will inform regulatory decisions, operator conduct and
even software design for years to come. This announcement represents a step
forward for everyone and a real sign of a maturing industry."