Online casinos came on the scene right alongside the mainstream introduction of the internet. As people found a new way to communicate and do business, gamblers also found a new outlet.  Software originators such as Microgaming and Boss Media AB were formed in the mid 1990’s with Cryptologic being credited with developing the first interactive casino able to process real money financial transactions in 1996. Literally thousands followed suit until the market became saturated with online casinos. As the online gambling boom happened, global governments had a hard time keeping up with how to control the newly budding commerce.  It became apparent that the industry needed a medium to address issues and to present a unified front to lobby for regulation and to protect the  industry.

As a solution to the rising dilemmas of integrity and regulation, the Interactive Services Association of Washington D.C. created the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), located in Vancouver, B.C. in November of 1996.  The council was established as a ‘forum’ for industry leaders and businesses to “further their common interests in the interactive gaming industry” through information and legitimate business practices.

The members of the IGC cover all of the many aspects of internet gaming. Whereas groups, such as the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) represent poker players, the IGC’s membership embodies the Software developers, marketers and operators. The businesses that run the industry join forces to garner support and to share resources. The IGC boasts membership from companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Israel, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, Denmark and Sweden.

“The industry has consolidated so much over the last few years, for example under one software developer you may find several casinos, marketing companies and so on." says Janet Viippola, the Executive Coordinator of the IGC since 2001. "So the membership is quite a bit larger than it appears.  The revenues generated by our membership represent a large portion of the online gaming industry.” 

The IGC has built a reputation for consistency, integrity and credibility based on a “Code of Conduct” that was presented at the North American Gaming Regulators Conference in 1997. The code sets high standards for membership and addresses the many avenues of interactive gambling.  Issues of legitimacy of the games; the financial stability of the casinos; and the moral integrity of the casinos and their employees are all addressed in the code and it must be adhered to receive and maintain IGC membership.

“Communication with our membership is an important task as is attracting new member companies,” says Viippola, whose position at the IGC puts her in charge of day-to-day operations and membership communications.  “Our membership process involves due diligence for each new membership application. We check backgrounds and records to make sure that the application is accurate and meets the standards of our organization.”

In addition to the Code of Conduct the IGC also put forth an “Advertising Code of Conduct” to ensure that all advertising by their constituents is truthful and legitimate.

The IGC has many roles in support of the gaming community including leading global lobbying efforts on behalf of its membership. The remarkable growth of internet gambling has many governments, most notably the United States debating suitable legislation, some suggesting an outright ban.

“The IGC has been lobbying for a solution and working with governments like the U. S. and Canada to move toward regulation, rather than prohibition” Viippola adds. “The IGC has also provided written testimony to the Gambling Review Body in the UK, worked with the governments in Australia, New Zealand and Europe and we also consult regularly with the individual governments in Canada toward regulation of the industry.”

Like prohibition in the 1920’s the IGC feels a total ban on internet gambling would push out the sites that are willing to comply with legal regulations, leaving players in the hands of dishonest operators.

“The industry has made great strides in the past few years. We are making progress in giving governments across the globe insight to the industry; which assist as decisions are made with regard to government regulation” adds Viippola.  

Not the least of the concerns of the IGC is the protection of the consumer and creating a trustworthy environment that is “absent of fraud”.  By the code of conduct members of the IGC must addresses game legitimacy in their “systems, algorithms, and practices,” must "ensure that there is adequate financing available to pay all current obligations and that working capital is adequate to finance ongoing operations.” (See: http://www.igcouncil.org/content/view/20/37/.)

To the IGC, the bottom line is the player and their experiences in online gaming. “The IGC is not a governing body, so we can’t enforce laws, but we can help players reach mutual agreements with in our membership when issues arise.”  To further reach out to the gaming consumer the IGC has set up a program “Helping Hands” to offer the tools and support needed to encourage responsible gambling and to offer support to those with gambling addictions.

Gambling has been a part of American life longer than the Constitution and has fallen to regulation and restriction since 1621. The advancement of technology has taken it to a level that no one dreamed of. With the help of the IGC the gaming community can reach its full potential and legitimately protect players, businesses and governments.

For more information about the IGC please visit: www.igcouncil.org
A special thank you to Janet Viippola for giving Woman Poker Player a closer look at the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC).