eCOGRA. Keeping players safe.

In the world of online gaming, reputation and fairness is key. To ensure consumers are adequately protected whilst playing online a non-profit and non-partisan organization, eCOGRA was formed.

To help the public to identify safe and fair casino or poker rooms to play at eCOGRA created their seal of approval program. The eCogra seal is awarded only when an operator passes a unique set of player-sensitive regulations checked by independent audit and regular inspection.

Since its establishment in 2003, with the first seals awarded in early 2004, eCOGRA has demonstrated that it’s a serious vehicle for regulation and quality assurance. Despite initial fears regarding the “independence” of its founders, eCOGRA has stuck to its mission statement to be “an independent entity that provides important player protections to consumers” and that “operators are honest, games are fair, monetary deposits are safe and winning bets are paid in a timely manner”

Andrew Beveridge, eCOGRA’s CEO, took time out to discuss eCOGRA, player advocacy and the online gambling industry with CasinoGoldPages.

What gaming software platforms (other than the giant Microgaming) have been approved by eCOGRA?

It’s important to understand that we don’t actually award the seal to the software providers; it is the online gaming sites themselves that are eligible to receive the seal. The review process however does conduct probity checks on the software providers’ major shareholders and management, including thorough inspection of the entire software development environment and comprehensive testing for software fairness.

When do you expect to have approved bingo and sportbook operators under The Seal?

Ideally we’d like to be involved in the self-regulation of this part of the industry, however it has been a significant effort just to make sure we are adequately addressing the regulation of online casinos and poker rooms. Even in these areas it’s a constant effort to make sure we stay abreast of new developments, such as multi-player and mobile technology.

In order to maintain our own credibility and that of the approved sites, we need to make sure our standards are thoroughly researched, implemented and monitored. There can be no shortcuts in this process.

How many Online Casinos have been denied the Seal and have any holders of the Seal ever “lost” their Seal?

Most of the approved casinos were denied the seal following their first inspection. The process is such that the audit firm highlights the areas of non-compliance, and the casino is then provided with an opportunity to rectify these areas. A follow-up inspection is then done on-site (as we require substantiated evidence that there is appropriate compliance) and ultimately the site will be awarded the seal once they comply fully with our standards.

Serious, detailed studies of every aspect of casino operation demand both commitment and determination from the operator. In return, the operator gets not only our seal, but also a highly professional, independent business assessment of their operation that can improve business efficiency and performance.

To date no seal holder has lost the seal. Our ongoing monitoring finds areas where compliance has slipped, and as long as the infringement is not too material; we provide the operator with an opportunity to rectify these shortcomings within a limited time frame. Non-conformance thereafter could result in the seal being revoked. The Seals Compliance Committee would not hesitate to act if they thought standards were being openly flouted.

In your opinion, what is the outlook for online gambling legally? What is eCOGRA doing politically to affect online gambling positively?

eCOGRA is not really active on the legal and political front, several industry trade associations exist to satisfy the legal and political agendas of their members. eCOGRA is essentially about player protection, fair gaming and responsible operator behavior. That being said, we are advising a number of jurisdictions helping to set out standards and appropriate testing methodologies.

Developments in the United Kingdom are especially encouraging with Provision being made in the new Gambling Act for interactive gambling. In addition a new Gambling Commission has been formed to draft and implement regulations. The indications are that the new controlling body, headed by Peter Dean who is highly experienced in regulation is taking a consultative approach that bodes well for the industry.

There is no doubt in my mind that this will be serious and highly professional regulation that is good for the industry in Britain. It means more protection for the player, a primary goal we both share.
As eCOGRA operates across international boundaries, jurisdictions such as Alderney, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man are all improving their regulatory climates, encouraging others to follow suit and improve controls and dispute handling.

The progressive developments in the UK are being closely watched by other governments, and will no doubt have a beneficial impact.

The United States remains, as always a confusing legal and political climate where we are unlikely to see positive and wide-reaching improvements in the recognition and regulation of Internet gambling in the immediate future. But I remain optimistic that the example set by the UK may help introduce a more rational approach there.

The outlook in general is very encouraging in my personal view, and we will continue to make available to others our considerable regulatory experience.

The growing number of large, successful and professionally run online gaming companies complement this more regulated environment, and we will see more industry consolidation with this new maturity.

Recently, eCOGRA launched the Responsible Gaming initiative. How will that impact on the industry? Will the addicted or underage gambler simply avoid eCOGRA approved Casinos?

That is not our objective – our goal is to identify and exclude underage gamblers as soon as possible. By providing facilities whereby gamblers with a potential problem can test themselves and then act accordingly to either give up gambling altogether or exclude themselves for a safe period (7 day cooling off or 6 month self-exclusion).

We want to ensure that our seal casinos do not promote gambling to under-age or problem gamblers. In addition we seek to train in the professional indicators of a problem gambler so that appropriate advice can be offered where necessary.

In short, our objective is to go considerably further than merely placing a GA (Gamblers Anonymous) link or something similar on seal casinos. Though we do recognise the excellent work of such bodies and continue to steer troubled players to them.

It is a complicated field and we have followed our usual practice of engaging with experts in our planning. Partnering with the specialised international G4 organisation to construct policies and eGAPs, to train management and introduce the diagnostic tests and Responsible Gaming facilities for seal operations.

Ultimately under-age and addictive gambling is a dangerous element for all. It causes untold distress and financial hardship, it is morally wrong to allow or encourage it and we are therefore committed to taking serious steps to prevent it wherever we can.

Whats next for eCOGRA?

To now I think we’ve done a reasonably good job of laying the groundwork for effective self-regulation of online gaming. That success is reflected in the performance and reputation of the sites that have earned the eCogra seal, though focus remains on our principal objective of protecting the player.

Our next step is to make consumers more aware that there are responsible organisations in this industry willing to invest significantly to ensure the well-being of the players. At the same time careful to ensure that our standards are continually enhanced and that seal holders maintain compliance.

Ultimately we’re aiming to substantially improve the credibility of the industry as a whole benefiting all involved.