As reported in an
iGaming press release, Tex Rees - COGRA's Fair Gaming
Advocate - will be in attendance at the Asian Gambling
Briefing in Singapore (October 21, 2008). Along with
Melco Crown Gaming's Senior Legal Counsel and the head
of Macau University's Sociology Department, Rees will be
sitting on an expert panel with the aim of discussing
Responsible Gambling practices at large. Moderating the
the panel will be Pano Makridis, who is Galaxy
Entertainment Group's Manager of Responsible Gaming &
Compliance.
The goal of the
panel will be to raise the level of awareness of
customer service relations and responsible gambling
programs in Asia. Specifically, the panel will examine
the aspects of social responsibility and its
relationship to gambling policies. Taking a close look
at government participation in this regard, as well as
best practices in other jurisdictions, the panel aims to
gauge levels of casino operator accountability.
Considering the
massive size of the fast-growing Asian gambling sector -
largely due to Macau - such talks could not be more
relevant and timely. And with such an esteemed panel
speaking out on the issues, resolutions resulting from
the panel discussion should certainly get due
consideration from regional gambling regulatory bodies
and government agency's.
What makes eCOGRA's
Tex Rees' appointment to the panel most helpful is that
Rees represents the online gambling sector, which as we
all know, has been a hot topic in the gambling
regulatory landscape. The fact that online casinos can
be effectively regulated is proven by the successes of
eCOGRA. Not only does eCOGRA raise the bar on casino
operator responsibility, if there is ever a dispute
between a player and an
eCOGRA certified operator, Tex
Rees steps in the middle to mediate on behalf of the
player - And she has effectively done so hundreds of
times.
Much like Ms. Rees
did to help create the International Responsible
Gambling Code, which has been adopted by respected trade
organizations like the Remote Gaming Association and the
Interactive Gaming Council, there is a positive
expectation that the Asian casino gambling industry will
also get on board with international standards in a more
official manner.
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