PLAYER PROTECTION AND STANDARDS BODY, eCOGRA, ACCREDITS FOUR MORE TOP ONLINE GAMBLING SITES

(533) (27-September-2006)

There are now 90 online casinos and 21 Internet poker rooms on the "Play It Safe" seal-holder list

eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance), the online gambling player protection and standards body has awarded its accreditation and "Play It Safe" seal to a further four tier one online gambling websites.

In an announcement today, eCOGRA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Beveridge listed the new awards as:

Pacific Poker www.pacificpoker.com (Random Logic software)

Colosseum Poker www.colosseumpoker.com (Microgaming software)

Wildjack Poker www.poker.wildjack.com (Microgaming software)

Big Dollar Casino www.bigdollar.com (Microgaming software)

The latest accreditations bring to 111 the number of online gambling venues that have successfully passed the thorough probity, inspection and independent monitoring regimes applied by the organisation since it commenced its voluntary initiative in 2003.

21 well established and quality online poker rooms and 90 online casino sites operated by some of the largest and most successful business groups in the industry bear the "Play It Safe" seal, which assures players of fair games and efficient and responsive treatment.

"Professional interest in improving business through better and more player-sensitive operational conduct continues to attract applicants to the well-proved eCOGRA system," Andrew Beveridge commented. "Several significant online gambling operations are currently undergoing our acceptance inspection process and we hope to make further announcements before the end of the year.

"The initiative remains open to all online gambling software providers and licensees prepared to commit to the eCOGRA principals and requirements for better service and player protection." 

eCOGRA is currently undertaking what is believed to be the largest research initiative into player behaviour and attitudes - the eCOGRA Global Online Gambler Survey . Launched on September 6th, the survey aims to capture the views of 20 000 online
poker and casino players, with the findings set to be made public in January 2007. The survey is expected to remain open for the next few months and anyone wishing to take part should visit - www.ecogra.org/playersurvey . Early reports from the Nevada University and Nottingham Trent University research teams carrying out the survey are that 25 percent of the 20 000 respondents sought have already made their views known.