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09 August 2005
eCOGRA Launches Major Responsible
Gaming Initiative
Barring
under-age aspirant players and protecting addicted gamblers
from harming themselves financially is at the centre of the
latest initiative launched by self regulatory body eCommerce
and Online Gaming, Regulation and Assurance
(eCOGRA).
The 56 major online
casinos and poker rooms bearing the organisation’s seal
will be implementing specific in-house policies and a
comprehensive range of independently enforced requirements
designed in collaboration with the G4 responsible gambling
group.
The introduction of the
regulations follows an intensive training session for seal
casino managers which took place recently, and cover a wide
spectrum of problem gambling activities from warning
under-aged players off to excluding gamblers with a
problem.
All sites will be required
to carry a prominent Responsible Gaming section in which the
dangers of under-age and problem gambling are explained. 7
day "cooling off," 6 month self-exclusion or deposit
limiting mechanisms will be provided for gamblers who
suspect they may be in difficulties. Staff will be on the
alert for playing and financial patterns that may indicate
an addictive gambler.
Scientifically developed,
short self-help diagnostic questionnaires will be included
together with links to problem gambling assistance bodies
around the world.
Training programs are
being set up at each casino to give staff tuition on how to
identify and handle problem gamblers, and the use of ID
verification technology as part of the registration process
has been formalised, although this is already in use at many
operations.
Special attention is being
devoted to preventing underage gamblers from getting through
the casinos’ screening processes, using the latest
technology, ID techniques and strong warnings that underage
players will be disqualified and barred.
The new requirements
caution marketing departments of seal casinos against
sending any promotional or marketing literature to any
player who may be a problem gambler, or those who are
underage, or using media primarily targeted on
teenagers.
"Play for free" games on
the sites will be linked to the same age restriction,
responsible gaming and player protection information as the
"real money" sections.
eCOGRA has taken the
position that players must be of legal gambling age in their
home jurisdictions, but has in any case set an absolute
minimum of 18 years.
CEO Andrew Beveridge says
that the new initiative is one of the most comprehensive and
widespread responsible gambling efforts yet seen in the
online gaming industry.
"We’re very serious
about this, and have the full backing of our seal casinos.
Knowingly allowing or enticing under-age or problem gamblers
to play is morally wrong, and once the regulations have been
implemented the independent accounting firms on our Audit
Panel will be paying particular attention to the consistent
application of these rules by seal casinos," he
said.
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