Sue Schneider and Rick Smith Call for Common-Sense Approach to Online Gaming, Promote Government Regulation to Protect Consumers
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 18, 2003 – In remarks during a panel discussion entitled “Responsible Online Gaming: The Proactive Approach” at the Global Gaming Expo this week in Las Vegas, officials of the Interactive Gaming Council repeated their call for rigorous, consistent regulation of the online gaming industry.
“Internet business crosses all boundaries, and as a segment of e-commerce, online gaming requires consistent global standards in order to provide important controls and protections for gamers,” said Rick Smith, executive director of the IGC, when asked about responsible online gaming. He outlined the status of regulation, which ranges from extremely stringent in a few jurisdictions to meaningless in certain others.
The prospects for government regulation are most encouraging in the countries of the European Union, Smith said. “It’s a pretty exciting road ahead in Europe, if online gaming is included in the free trade environment that the EU seeks for its members.”
Sue Schneider, chair of the IGC, said that one issue faced by regulators of the online gaming industry is that the situation is really one of “voluntary regulation,” in that operators of gaming sites can choose where they locate and therefore which jurisdiction regulates them.
For seven years, the IGC has been an advocate for licensing and regulation of online gaming. Just as land-based gaming has been successfully regulated throughout much of the world, the IGC believes that online gaming can be, and eventually will be, regulated to protect players and to combat potential problems.
“Regulation of online gaming would provide more protection for consumers as well as potential increased tax revenue for governments. This would be much better for all concerned than the current U.S. policies to prohibit this industry,” Smith said.
About the IGC
Formed in 1996, the IGC is the leading trade association for the international interactive gambling industry with its membership operating or supplying services to most of the reputable interactive sites on the World Wide Web. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the IGC champions fair and honest interactive gambling environments. To help parents protect their children, IGC members are encouraged to participate in the self-labeling system of the Internet Content Rating Association. The IGC has developed a Code of Conduct for members, and a program called Helping Hand to assist problem gamblers.
CONTACTS:
Rick Smith, Executive Director,
Keith Furlong, Deputy Director,
| Phone: 732-687-0880
