eCOGRA Welcomes First Pan-European Consumer Protection Agreement

Posted by Gambling News | Gambling Industry News,Gambling News | Thursday 24 February 2011 5:14 am

eCOGRA CEO and the Chair of the CEN workshop agreement on "Responsible Remote Gambling Measures", Andrew Beveridge, today welcomed the publication of this first Pan-European consumer protection agreement by CEN.

CEN is the European Committee for Standardisation, one of three European Standardisation Organisations officially recognised by the EU (http://www.cen.eu/). CEN draws up voluntary technical specifications, such as a CEN workshop agreement, to help facilitate a single market for European industry and consumers across its members in 31 European countries.

This CEN workshop agreement on "Responsible Remote Gambling Measures" (16259) defines 9 policy objectives for the protection of online players in the European Union and 134 concrete measures to ensure that those objectives are actually met.

The 9 policy objectives are:

  • 1. The protection of vulnerable customers
  • 2. The prevention of underage gambling
  • 3. Combating fraud
  • 4. Protection of privacy
  • 5. Fair gaming
  • 6. Accurate customer payments
  • 7. Responsible marketing
  • 8. Customer satisfaction
  • 9. Safe operating environment

CWA 16259 shows consensus across a wide range of remote gambling stakeholders – from experts on problem gambling and players to industry representatives and addiction and criminology academics – showing that there is real desire to work together to ensure consumer protection issues are fully addressed as important EU developments unfold.

Andrew Beveridge, Chief Executive Officer of eCOGRA and Chair of the CEN workshop agreement, said "Over the last 7 months, CEN has provided the platform for us to make this agreement to secure the high level of protection for consumers across Europe that is vital for the online gambling industry as it matures. eCOGRA intends to bring into line its own eGAP Requirements with these CWA control measures, thereby benefiting eCOGRA, its sealholders and players."

He added "This is self regulation at its best, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from across the world for the benefit of the consumer. This agreement can only complement existing industry standards and inform both national and EU regulation of online gambling. It has been an honour to be part of and chair this process."

About eCOGRA

eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) was founded by competing online gambling companies seven years ago to improve operational standards and player protection. Accredited companies must comply with practical business and integrity standards, coupled with an impartial inspection, review and monitoring program that authorises them to display the organisation’s revocable Safe and Fair seal.

Since its formation, the organisation has extended its services to cover online casino and poker room operations, Internet bingo, sports betting, mobile and live gambling businesses, and affiliate program best practice through an Affiliate Trust Seal, positioning its influential accreditation within reach of all online gambling companies.

Many of the top software providers in the industry have already been assessed by the organisation, which is recognised by several international online gambling regulators and by bodies such as the European Gaming and Betting Association, which counts most of Europe’s major online operators among its members.

Since 2003, the eCOGRA seals have become synonymous with tier one levels of fair and responsible gaming, professional conduct and high operating standards when displayed on an online gambling website.

Accreditation remains open to all software companies and their operators and affiliate programs. For more information, go to http://www.ecogra.org

About CEN

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is a business catalyst in Europe, removing trade barriers for European stakeholders such as industry, public administration, service providers, consumers and other stakeholders. Its mission is to foster the European economy in global trading, the welfare of European citizens, and the environment. Through its services CEN provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other specifications.

CEN’s 31 National Members work together to develop voluntary European Standards (ENs) in various sectors to build a European Internal Market for goods and services and to position Europe in the global economy. By supporting research, and helping disseminate innovation, standards are a powerful tool for economic growth. More than 60,000 technical experts as well as business federations, consumer and other societal interest organizations are involved in the CEN network that reaches over 480 million people.

For further information, please visit: http://www.cen.eu

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Titan Online Poker Room Improves VIP Loyalty Program

Posted by Gambling News | Poker News | Monday 21 February 2011 6:19 am

New players can achieve VIP status and be eligible for special benefits shortly after signing up to play at the leading online poker room in Europe.

It’s easier than ever before to become a VIP player at Titan Poker and to receive the many special benefits geared for the room’s loyal online poker players.

Titan Poker, the leading online poker room in Europe, has announced improvements to Club Titan Poker VIP, its already popular VIP club which rewards poker players for their regular game play with cash bonuses and tournament entries. Players receive VIP ranking based on the number of Points they generate at Titan Poker’s cash tables and tournaments. In the improved Club Titan, players can qualify for VIP status after earning only 50 Points in a calendar month.

The introduction of additional VIP levels allows Titan Poker to grant its newest players access to special weekly and monthly freeroll tournaments, and to allow these newcomers the ability to cash out their Points in the Club Titan Store. Titan Poker will also begin upgrading players’ VIP status and give them more rewards if they retain their VIP ranking consistently.

Increased benefits are offered to loyal players who meet the higher entry requirements of the room’s elite VIP levels. In addition to full access to all of Titan Poker’s VIP freeroll tournaments, top players with VIP Titanium and VIP Diamond status will compete in exclusive month-long $5,000 Gladiators Races, awarding them cash prizes on top of their regular Club Titan perks and benefits.

Titan Poker regularly stages satellite tournament series awarding winning players with seats at the world’s most well-known live poker events, including the WSOP*, the ECPokertour, and the Asian Poker Tour. New players are invited to try out the free poker download and benefit from the VIP program improvements at Titan Poker.

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eCOGRA Awards Two More Safe and Fair Seals

Posted by Gambling News | Casino News,Gambling News | Thursday 10 February 2011 11:50 am

The independent player protection and standards body eCOGRA has announced the award of two more Safe and Fair accreditation seals to online gambling sites, bringing to 150 the number of tier one operations that have successfully met eCOGRA’s international requirements.

The latest seals were awarded to Red Flush Casino and Casino La Vida by eCOGRA’s Independent Directors on January 25 following an extensive on-site inspection and audit process that examined every operational aspect and the financial systems in use.

To ensure continued compliance, Red Flush and Casino La Vida will be consistently monitored through regular onsite reviews and eCOGRA’s Total Gaming Transaction Review regime, which involves analysing every live gambling transaction for software fairness.

The accreditation inspection was supervised by eCOGRA compliance manager Louise Chunnett CA (SA), CISA Certified, who commented in her report to the Compliance Committee:

"These operations have a successful management with well trained, motivated and competent individuals servicing their players. The review was well and comprehensively structured, with full buy-in from management and the staff in attaining certification."

Red Flush Casino and Casino La Vida are part of the Club Red Gaming Group of casinos. Each of these gaming destinations currently hosts over 450 games powered by Microgaming software.

Casino manager Alex Roberts commented: "We’re certainly proud of our newest accomplishment and glad to be recognised for our ongoing transparency, integrity and satisfactory operating standards."

eCOGRA chief executive officer Andrew Beveridge congratulated the new seal holders, noting the full cooperation that the eCOGRA auditing team had been given throughout an extensive process toward accreditation.

"This achievement provides internet players at Red Flush Casino and Casino La Vida with an added layer of assurance that the games are fair and the casinos are run on professional lines and to internationally recognised best practice standards," he said.

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Team Titan Player Sam Trickett Dominates Aussie Millions Tournaments

Posted by Gambling News | Gambling News,Poker News | Sunday 6 February 2011 9:50 pm

The Titan Poker sponsored player from Britain wins the $100,000 Challenge and places second in the $250,000 Super High Rollers for total winnings of $2,925,000 AUD.

Team Titan player Sam Trickett, nominated as European Poker Player of the Year following his huge successes representing Titan Poker at tournaments around the world in 2010, has proven his poker skills by dominating two major high roller tournaments at this year’s Aussie Millions poker championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Earlier this week, Trickett won the 2011 Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge and pocketed the first place prize of $1,525,000 AUD.

Trickett took some of his winnings and bought an entry to the $250,000 Super High Rollers event, the most expensive buy-in tournament ever staged. From a starting field of 20 of the world’s best poker players, including Chris Ferguson, Tom Dwan, and Phil Ivey, Trickett fought his way to heads-up play against Erik Seidel, the eventual winner of the event.

For his second place finish, Trickett took home $1,400,000 AUD. The two tournaments combined place Trickett as the fourth top tournament money earner in the world so far in 2011. Trickett’s winnings this week at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia, already surpass his entire live tournament income from 2010.

Trickett, a 24-year-old player from East Retford in the United Kingdom, enjoyed a stellar year in 2010 with a total of $1,071,356 in poker winnings. He had six cashes at the 2010 World Series of Poker*, including a second place finish in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em event for $505,725. In August, Sam finished in fourth place at the EPT Vilamoura for a prize of €139,680 and in September he was the winner of the PartyPoker World Open in London, taking home the first prize of $200,000.

Titan Poker regularly awards its players with seats at the world’s most well-known live poker events, including the WSOP*, the ECPokertour, and the Asian Poker Tour. New players are invited to try out the free poker download and win an amazing poker package at Titan Poker.

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Accredited Operators Maintain Low Dispute Rate

Posted by Gambling News | Gambling Industry News,Gambling News | Wednesday 2 February 2011 11:44 am

Tex Rees, the Fair Gaming Advocate at the independent player protection and standards body eCOGRA, has released statistics for the year 2010 on disputes involving online gambling sites accredited by the London-based company.

The report reveals that certain complaints submitted to the FGA came from a player syndicate fraudulently manipulating bonuses, which an in-depth investigation uncovered.

"Security considerations prevent the disclosure of the location and modus operandi adopted by the swindlers, who were all subsequently discovered and blocked," Rees recounts.

A total of 846 disputes (2009: 826 complaints) were submitted online to eCOGRA throughout 2010, an increase of 10 percent over 2009. 67 of these concerned companies not accredited through eCOGRA and therefore outside the ambit of the FGA’s authority.

A further 125 were found to be invalid, being fraudulent, non-specific or abusive and anonymous in nature.

The remaining, or valid, 654 disputes (2009: 628 complaints) concerned cash-in problems (44 percent); Bonus issues (25 percent); and Locked accounts (19 percent).

12 percent were categorised as ‘other’ and involved software fairness, responsible gambling and spamming allegations.

Over the 12 months, an average of 43 percent of disputes was resolved in favour of the player.

"The small decrease in the percentage of disputes resolved in favour of the player, and a corresponding increase in allegations of unjust bonus disqualification have been proved through detailed investigation to be connected," Rees reports.

"A fraudulent player syndicate was caught out by sophisticated security systems, resulting in its members submitting allegations which subsequently proved to be false, but had to be painstakingly followed up."

The free eCOGRA disputes resolution service has been in operation since 2004, and has handled a total of almost 4 500 disputes over that period. Almost 49 percent of these were resolved in favour of the player.

The level of disputes per accredited eCOGRA site was again remarkably low for the volumes of business transacted, with a typical accredited site delivering only 0.38 disputes on average per month throughout the year (2009: 0.37).

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