NEW YORK – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Poker players across the world will
now find the familiar eCOGRA "Play It Safe" seal on 7 more quality Internet
poker sites belonging to some of the most successful and reliable online
gaming groups in the business.
Bringing to 76 the number of online casinos and poker rooms committed
to the international standards of eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation
and Assurance (eCOGRA), the new seal-holders have successfully passed stiff
probity, game fairness and operational efficiency tests and will undergo
continuous monitoring. As a result, players can be assured that some of
their favorite online poker sites meet the highest standards on the
Internet today.
eCOGRA's independent directors awarded the 'Play It Safe' seal this
week to the following poker rooms from the Ongame and Prima Poker networks:
Europoker.com (Ongame network)
Trident Poker (Prima Poker network)
3 Piggs Poker (Prima Poker network)
Gaming Club Poker (Prima Poker network)
River Belle Poker (Prima Poker network)
7 Sultans Poker (Prima Poker network)
Royal Vegas Poker (Prima Poker network)
eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge says that each operation underwent
extensive independent testing and inspection by professional teams from an
international business services and auditing group: "This is to ensure
compliance with the standards and requirements of eCOGRA concerning
operational efficiency, fair and responsible gaming and player protection,"
he said.
Beveridge revealed that further top tier sites are currently under
consideration, and that the eCOGRA initiative to present the online
gambling community with a wide range of safe, honest and efficient online
casino and poker room venues is now well established and handling a
substantial share of the available online gaming business in a global
sense.
In terms of its specifically constructed poker standards, eCOGRA
requires that poker seal holders are financially stable and have adequate
reserves. The probity of poker room management is scrutinised, together
with player protection measures, payout times and financial facilities,
games fairness, responsive Support and general operational efficiency.
Policies have to be in place for communicating with clients and dealing
with any player complaints, together with satisfactory technical
capabilities and anti money-laundering systems.
"We expect to make further announcements in the near future as our "100
'Play It Safe' Seals by 2006" campaign unfolds," he said. "Interest in the
eCOGRA standards is growing from players, casinos, leading poker rooms and
software providers alike, and membership continues to be open to any
software provider that is prepared to commit to our goals and principles."