December 2005 eCOGRA NEWS
eCOGRA News Articles Table of Content for December 2005
ECOGRA AWARDS 10 MORE
'PLAY IT SAFE' SEALS
14 December 2005
66 top online casinos are now committed to player-protection standards
LONDON, December 14, 2005: Ten more quality online casinos have passed probity, fairness and efficiency inspections and have been awarded the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) "Play It Safe" seal by the board of directors of the standards authority.
The casinos underwent extensive independent testing and inspection by professional teams from a top international business services and auditing group to ensure compliance with the standards and requirements of the organisation concerning operational efficiency, fair and responsible gaming and player protection.
The latest casinos awarded the seal are:www.colosseumcasino.com
www.grandhotelcasino.com
www.vegas7casino.com
www.vegascountrycasino.com
www.vegasslotcasino.com
Ismael Diagne, Business Strategy Manager for the Mini Vegas group that operates the casinos said that the inspections had been intensive and time consuming with on-site visits from the inspection teams, but worthwhile.
"There is significant value in the eCOGRA initiative in terms of increased business efficiency and as a highly professional vehicle to prove our commitment to superior service and fair gaming for the player," he said.
The new awards bring the number of seal casinos and poker rooms operating to eCOGRA standards to 66. eCOGRA's members currently account for 70 to 80 percent of the online casino industry action.
eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge says that other top quality operations are currently under consideration, and that the eCOGRA initiative to present the online gambling community with a wide range of safe, honest and efficient online casino and poker room venues continues to gather momentum.
"We expect to make further announcements early in 2006," he said. "Interest in the eCOGRA standards is growing from players, casinos, leading poker rooms and software providers alike, and membership continues to be open to any software provider that is prepared to commit to our goals and principles."
eCOGRA requires that member casinos are financially stable and have adequate reserves to cover wagers. The probity of casino management is scrutinised, together with player protection measures, payout times and financial facilities, games fairness, responsive support and general operational efficiency. Policies have to be in place for communicating with clients and dealing with any player complaints, together with satisfactory technical capabilities and anti money-laundering systems.
The standards and requirements, inspection and monitoring and the award of "Play It Safe" seals are the responsibility of independent directors on the eCOGRA Board, all of whom are well known and highly respected gambling industry personalities.
TOP WATCHDOG AWARD FOR ECOGRA
08 December 2005 - TOP WATCHDOG AWARD FOR ECOGRA
Players vote eCOGRA tops in Gambling Online Magazine annual poll
LONDON, December 8, 2005: The online casino and poker room standards authority eCOGRA was voted the gold medal for Top Watchdog by over 27,000 players voting in the 2005 Gambling Online Magazine annual awards this week.
Announcing the award, magazine manager Lisa Gregory said: "The readers of Gambling Online Magazine have voted the award of a gold medal to eCOGRA in the Best Watchdog category for 2005."
"Throughout the year eCOGRA has set admirable benchmark standards for player protection and operational efficiency at its "Play It Safe" seal casinos and poker rooms, benefiting players and the industry alike. The work of the Fair Gaming Advocate in particular has been an inspiration in terms of transparent, fast and fair resolutions and highly professional communications."
Resolving player disputes with the casinos and poker rooms under its authority is a key aspect of eCOGRA as an international non-profit body which offers the free Fair Gaming Advocate mediation service to players who have been unable to resolve disputes at casino or poker room level.
Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCOGRA said that the board of directors was delighted with the accolade. "Player protection is the primary goal of eCOGRA around which our requirements and standards are framed, so it is very rewarding that players have recognised our efforts in this way," he said.
Disputes involving eCOGRA's 56 "Play It Safe" seal operations are a miniscule percentage of the large number of wagers placed every day, Beveridge noted. "Every case is assessed independently on its merits. On average, our Fair Gaming Advocate has been able to resolve the majority of issues within 48 hours. That's a standard we are proud of and will strive to maintain."
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