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eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), the online gambling player protection and standards authority, has announced plans to conduct the largest online research initiative as of yet.

As part of this initiative, researchers aim to seek the opinions of 20,000 players through a quantitative Internet survey. This quantitative analysis will be supplemented by a qualitative one through the hosting of focus groups in six major markets, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, Canada, Germany, and Sweden. It is hoped that this methodology will allow industry experts to gain insights regarding players concerns and priorities.

The "eCOGRA Global Gambler Report" is expected to be released in January 2007. In order to meet that deadline, leading gambling research teams from the University of Las Vegas and Nottingham Trent University will collaborate. Specifically, the research will provide "the most comprehensive insight into player attitudes globally, with a focus on what constitutes fair gaming, perceptions of operator conduct, including customer service standards and will canvass opinions on what further player protection measures can be put in place."

In addition to the above, the report will also focus on who gambles, how frequently, and why. The consequences of such gambling activities on player finances and well-being will not be spared. This initiative from eGOGRA comes as the United States is in the midst of possible legislative and regulatory reforms regarding online gambling.

Commenting on this research initiative, Andrew Beveridge, eCOGRA's CEO, stated: "We believe this is the first time that the industry has tried to really identify what its customers - the players - want and what motivates them. Online gambling attracts people from so many diverse regulatory regimes that it has been impossible up until now to conduct research of any scale. It is essential however that player concerns are fully understood by organizations like eCOGRA which provide the only effective monitoring and resolution protection procedures. We think the results will inform regulatory decisions, operator conduct and even software design for years to come. This announcement represents a step forward for everyone and a real sign of a maturing industry."

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