Gambling review news
eCOGRA introduced this initiative last October and has been joined by a number of leading industry bodies in the development of a new operator Code of Conduct. Bodies that support the initiative and have been involved in its development include The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) and the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC). Online casino gambling is an ever-evolving business. Millions of people engage in some form of gambling every day, and there all industry stakeholders have a responsibility towards players to ensure safe and responsible gambling.
This new program is the first attempt of its kinds to establish a single set of global standards for the online casino industry that are aimed at protecting players. The Code is being developed by the above bodies in partnership with the UK-based gambling support charity Game Care as well as the Remote Gaming Association (RGA)."We hope that the adoption of this Code will better enable the gambling public to make informed decisions with regards to their remote gambling participation, secure in the knowledge that operators are required by condition of license to protect the welfare and enjoyment of their customers," said Andrew Poole from Game Care.
The Code will cover, among other, these key areas:
Underage gambling strict use of age verification tools and prominent warnings / policies on underage gambling links to filtering programmers which enable players and parents to control access. Check out our online casino reviews page with all the info on the top online casinos to play at.
Player protection measures
The ability for customers to self-exclude set deposit limits and access up-to-date account balances. Links to player protection and responsible gaming sites.
Customer communication
Signposts to sources of help for customers who may be experiencing difficulties. Policies on responsible online gambling clearly set out on websites.
Staff training
Social responsibility training provided for all staff who deals with customers. Refresher courses delivered to ensure that training is up-to-date and relevant. Advertising and promotion - particular care taken not to direct advertising messages to fewer than 18s.
Legal, decent, honest and truthful advertising
e COGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge , said: "Any way you look at it, the new Code is a landmark development taking the industry into a more caring, player-sensitive and responsible future by using practical and proven measures firmly based on experience and research-backed knowledge. "With the right sort of unpartisan approach, its merits are clear and the potential for good is significant. The groundwork has been done; the challenge now is acceptance and a commitment to use the Code to provide the player protection it makes possible."The current parties involved in the Code are currently in discussions with European licensing bodies to gain further support and input.
SAFE AND SECURE INTERNET GAMBLING
It is hard to believe but there seems to be the odd occasion when Republicans and Democrats will agree, and this in the unlikely world of online gambling. GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul and House Financial Services Panel Chairman Barney Frank have teamed up to oppose the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act).
This latest move has added even further momentum to Frank's attempts to legislate online gambling, and put s stop to UIGEA which attempts to block gambling transaction and force banks to enact the laws. The legislation presented by Frank will would in essence block implementation of the anti-online gambling law and replace it with regulation. Frank has steadily been gaining a lot of support for his proposed Bill, with various democrats already pledging their support. UIGEA attempts to ban financial transactions that could be related to gambling by blocking them in the financial system. The law specifically targets transactions involving offshore-based Internet gaming sites.
Frank and Paul are both known advocates of Internet freedom and their latest steps are aimed at eliminating what is seen by many as a burden on the US financial service industry with possible dire consequences for the banking system. A recent workgroup involving many industry stakeholders unanimously agreed on the impracticality of the UIGEA. Frank's new legislation, co-sponsored by Paul, would put a stop to the implementation of the UIGEA by stopping federal officials from implementing it. Reports from the banking industry yare that the banks unanimously welcome the initiative, called the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI).