eCOGRA

eCOGRAeCOGRA (e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance) is a UK based self-regulatory body that was established in 2003 as a non-profit organisation by Microgaming, Bwin and 888.com. Almost 80 leading operators and software suppliers are now reviewed by eCOGRA.

eCOGRA has approved almost 150 sites, using software from over 20 leading developers. These include many of the Microgaming casinos, 888's Casino-On-Net; almost thirty poker site members, including Microgaming's poker sites, 888's Pacific Poker and certain sites that are members of the Ongame network owned by Bwin. They have also certified various Sportsbooks, Online Bingo Halls, Mobile Game sites and Software Suppliers. [1]. eCOGRA is entirely self-funded from its compliance and advisory services carried out by its professional team which includes 10 Chartered Accountants and IT professionals.

Approved online sportsbooks, casinos, bingo and poker rooms display the group's Safe and Fair seal, and are subject to the group's player dispute mediation service. Complaints about all eCOGRA approved sites can be officially filed through the dispute form on their website[2]. According to the organization over 4,000 disputes have been addressed, in most cases ruling in favour of the player.

The group's board of directors is currently composed of CEO - Andrew Beveridge; Independent Directors - Frank Catania (ex-director of New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement), Bill Galston OBE (formerly Chief Inspector of the Gaming Board for Great Britain), Bill Henbrey (ex-head of gaming services at audit firm BDO), Michael Hirst OBE (formerly of Ladbrokes); Non Executive Directors - John Anderson of 888.com, Chris Hobbs of Microgaming Software Systems and Oliver Eckel of Bwin Interactive Entertainment AG. The independent directors are solely responsible for determining which sites may be awarded the Safe and Fair seal[3][4].

Notes

  1. ^ eCoGRA.org
  2. ^ eCOGRA.org: Dispute Form
  3. ^ Press release - New Operational Standards Introduced by eCOGRA
  4. ^ eCOGRA.org: Generally Accepted Standards

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