LONDON – (PRESS RELEASE) -- 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."