Gambling Industry Association

The Gambling Industry Association was started in mid 2007 with the aim of gathering together all participants in the online gambling industry - online casinos, casino affiliates and players - in one place for convenient networking and problem-solving.

Their mission statement reads:

We aim to bring together the gambling industry stakeholders, one and all, and to create an environment of honesty and co-operation for the betterment of the industry as a whole.

Although player help websites are not a new phenomenon - Casinomeister has offered a player assistance service of sorts for some years now, and many webmasters offer to go to bat for players who sign up through their affiliate links - the difference here is that the arbitration process has a democratic failsafe mechanism involving independent members of all sides of the casino, affiliate and player equation. As such, no player (or affiliate) should realistically feel that their side has not been fairly represented. The details are as follows:

In the case of any dispute, the Gambling Industry Association will make a private forum available that only the involved parties can access together with 2 Gambling Industry Moderators. It is the duty of the moderators to facilitate only in this instance. If at all possible, the two parties must try and resolve their differences between themselves in a proper and professional manner. We emphasize that, in addition to conducting themselves professionally, we expect participants to actively seek a compromise if the situation calls for it.

In the event that a player complaint is not satisfactorily resolved in the preliminary arbitration process and a dispute is declared, then a quorum of two senior player members, two senior casino operators, and two Gambling Industry Association moderators will take a fresh and impartial look at all the facts. Both player and casino will be expected to assist the arbitration committee by providing requested information. It will be the committee's duty to try and find a resolution, even for sensitive matters. The committee has the right to try and find middle ground where a compromise that is satisfactory to both parties may be the best option.

This process obviously requires that the casino or casino group in question be a member themselves or have an affiliate representative who is a member of the association, carrying an association "badge of approval", and this is something that will hopefully be steadily developed in the fullness of time to a point at which most casinos have some sort of representation within the organisation.

Rules of conduct have been drawn up for all participants, affiliate programmes, casinos and players, acceptance of which is de rigueur for membership. The rules are gratifyingly clear in regard to clarity of, and adherence to, all terms and conditions, including those relating to bonus offers.

While the project is in its currently foetal stage, players can file complaints in the complaints forum, for the attention of any affiliate members who have relationships with the casino in question and may be able to assist.

Given the democratic nature of this organisation, I have hopes that it will develop into a force to be reckoned with.

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