The European Standardisation Committee (CEN) has set out nine policy objectives which it says should form the basis of future player-protection programmes. Developed in consultation with the industry, these are: protection of vulnerable customers, prevention of under-age gambling, prevention of fraud, protection of privacy, fairness in gaming, accurate customer payments, responsible marketing, customer satisfaction, and a safe operating environment.

“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,” said Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCogra, a body which accredits online gaming operators for meeting player-protection standards. Beveridge also worked on the CEN project.

In the U.S., meanwhile, the industry is hoping that New Jersey will set the standard for others to follow in player protection.

Said Joe Brennan, chairman of the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association: “New Jersey’s regulators are in a position to become the de facto primary regulators for

i-gaming in the U.S. much in the same way Nevada regulators are in the land-based industry. New Jersey regulators are the toughest in the world and those who can make it through the process will increase their value and the value of the industry itself.”

And David Pope, marketing director of 192business.com, agreed (as well he might; his firm provides age-verification systems). “New Jersey’s regulators will no doubt take great care in ensuring that their licensees implement robust age-verification technologies.

“Both the regulators and their licensees will certainly be able to draw on expertise built up in jurisdictions in Europe and beyond. In terms of what that might mean to the operators who get licences, the good news is that yes, the technology does exist, it’s proven and tested and will help operators acquire age-verified legitimate players,” said Pope.

More red tape, perhaps, but besides being the right thing to do, it may help the gaming sector fend off less-welcome attention from regulators in the future.

There are around 450,000 problem gamblers in Britain, according to the Gambling Commission's latest figures. But the bodies aiding them face their own problems.

For example, the Great Foundation, despite sending out requests for funding to more than 3000 holders of gaming licences, has received cash or pledges from fewer than 600 of them.

And the organisation GamCare says that although it provides help to more than 2000 individuals in the UK each year, nearly a third of the country is still without a dedicated counselling service for problem gamblers.

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