December 2009 eCOGRA NEWS
eCOGRA News Articles Table of Content for December 2009
- CEREUS SOFTWARE ACHIEVES eCOGRA ACCREDITATION: Cereus improvements lead to tier one software accreditation
- eCOGRA CONGRATULATES SAFE & FAIR SEALHOLDERS ON EGR AWARDS: Bwin, Unibet, 888 and PartyPoker all recognised in 2009 accolades
- Grand Privé Group Launches Investigation: eCOGRA commissioned to investigate Affiliates Program closure
- Grand Privé Affiliates Investigation: eCOGRA facilitates submission of affiliate claims
- GREENTUBE WINS eCOGRA SOFTWARE ACCREDITATION: Austrian software provider commissions full range of eCOGRA services
- PROGRESS REPORT: GRAND PRIVÉ AFFILIATES PROGRAM INVESTIGATION
CEREUS SOFTWARE ACHIEVES eCOGRA ACCREDITATION
Cereus improvements lead to tier one software accreditation
Press Release
London, 1 December 2009 - The independent standards authority of the online gaming industry, eCOGRA, has announced that the CEREUS online poker network has achieved the required standards for its Certified Software accreditation seal. eCOGRA is specifically known for their focus on fair gaming and player protection.
Determined that there should never again be a repeat of the issues that resulted in it paying out millions of dollars to disadvantaged players, management at the CEREUS online poker network tasked their poker and back end software provider1 with key product developments and vast improvements to its security and safety measures designed to protect players and enhance the overall gaming experience.
The result is one of the most tightly constructed online poker softwares in the industry, which has passed the stringent inspection regime of standards and player protection non-profit eCOGRA with flying colours.
A rigorous on-site review, which encompassed every aspect of the company’s software development activities, was conducted earlier this year by professional eCOGRA auditing and technical staff. The CEREUS software achieved full compliance with eCOGRA’s Generally Accepted Practices (eGAP), a set of industry best practice operational and management requirements.
""CEREUS management’s commitment to compliance, specifically player safety, facilitated an efficient review and certification process," Sean Roberts, Compliance Manager at the London offices of eCOGRA reported.
"The active measures taken, in light of events that impacted players, coupled with an impressive range of additional mitigating controls that have since been implemented, have contributed to the CEREUS online poker network’s software reaching the standards we require for software accreditation."
Following the inspection team's report, eCOGRA’s independent Seals Compliance Committee confirmed that the software is implemented, maintained and continuously operated in a safe, secure and reliable manner, and awarded the software accreditation seal.
eCOGRA chief executive Andrew Beveridge revealed that for the past year continuous monthly monitoring of the CEREUS online poker network's random number generator and game results has been additionally carried out through eCOGRA’s proprietary Total Gaming Transaction Review, a process that analyzes every live gaming transaction to ensure fairness of the cards dealt. The TGTR process also includes comprehensive controls to ensure verification of the completeness and accuracy of the data used in the monthly evaluation./p>
"Cereus management's complete cooperation and commitment to an in-depth inspection and monitoring process involving the network's transaction records and its software has been remarkable," the eCOGRA executive added. "Going forward, we are confident that the network's adherence to our standards and best business practice requirements will prevent any reoccurrence of the unfortunate incidents of the past."
Paul Leggett, Tokwiro Enterprises Chief Operating Officer, said that the eCOGRA inspection had subjected the company's online poker software to one of its most exhaustive reviews.
"Doing everything possible to reassure the poker community that our operation and software are completely safe and secure is a priority for us. This is why we decided to work with eCOGRA and apply for the Certified Software accreditation seal. Their inspection team was extraordinarily thorough, looking at a wide range of elements in our software. We are proud that our product passed the tough requirements to achieve this important accreditation. We have learned a great deal from eCOGRA, and we respect and support their ongoing efforts to make the online poker industry more accountable," he said.
About CEREUS
CEREUS is owned and operated by Tokwiro Enterprises, and licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. CEREUS powers both Tokwiro-owned online poker rooms UB.com and AbsolutePoker.com. It aims to deliver industry-leading features, more action, increased player liquidity, plus the safest and most secure online poker environment for players worldwide to enjoy.
About Quad Dimensions
Quad Dimensions, based in Seoul - South Korea, is a provider of innovative poker room software to the CEREUS poker network that powers both Tokwiro-owned online poker rooms UB.com and AbsolutePoker.com
eCOGRA CONGRATULATES SAFE & FAIR SEALHOLDERS ON EGR AWARDS
Bwin, Unibet, 888 and PartyPoker all recognised in 2009 accolades
Press Release
London, 1 December 2009 - The player protection and standards body eCOGRA has congratulated four of its Safe and Fair seal holders on outstanding success in the 2009 eGaming Review Awards presented in London last night..
The main award of the evening, Operator of the Year - went to the Vienna-listed eCOGRA sealholder Bwin Interactive AG despite fierce competition from some of the most reputable and prestigious online gambling sites on the Internet.
Other awards to eCOGRA-associated groups included Unibet's 'European Sports Operator of the Year' and ‘European Live Gaming Operator of the Year'; PartyGaming’s 'Poker Operator of the Year' and 888’s ‘Casino Operator of the Year'.
Andrew Beveridge, the chief executive officer at eCOGRA, congratulated the companies, commenting: "We're very proud to be associated with these well managed operations, which have once again proved that a sincere commitment to integrity and professionalism is good for the players, good for business and good for the industry."
Grand Privé Group Launches Investigation
eCOGRA commissioned to investigate Affiliates Program closure
Press Release
London, 7 December 2009 - The Grand Privé group has been following the often inaccurate information exchanges on the Internet regarding the closure of Grand Privé Affiliates with interest, mindful of its reputation as a responsible and respectable business.
Management has reached the conclusion that there is a need to present its point of view, and more importantly to address any perceived shortcomings regarding payments to affiliates genuinely impacted by the Grand Privé Affiliates closure.
The company has therefore decided to make the following factual disclosures:
- For purely commercial reasons, in August 2008 a decision to close Grand Privé effective 1 December 2008 was taken, and a communication exercise aimed at affiliates commenced.
- This was followed by payment to all affiliates of all amounts owed.
- The termination was, in Management's opinion, conducted according to the terms of Grand Privé’s contract with affiliates, and in addition to these Grand Privé also entered into mutually agreeable compensation settlements with all affiliates who at that time had players considered to be reasonably active.
- Following these initiatives, Management has not become aware of one single affiliate claim for compensation being submitted directly to Grand Privé, despite a rising noise level on the Internet.
- Nevertheless, the company is prepared to concede that certain smaller and relatively inactive affiliate accounts may feel prejudiced by the closure, and acknowledges that this needs to be addressed with both an apology and a fair and reasonable financial settlement.
Moving forward from this factual base, Grand Privé proposes to address both reputational and payment issues in a transparent and forthright manner as follows:
- By commissioning the independent, fully qualified and professional auditing services of eCOGRA to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Grand Privé Affiliates closure both within and without the company and issue a public report;
- eCOGRA will additionally facilitate the submission of claims by any affiliate that considers an amount to be owing by the Grand Privé Affiliate program as a result of player wagering activity subsequent to 1 December 2008; and
- Perform a full and professional review of the program software and data to confirm amounts owing to claimants at 21 December 2009.
Grand Privé will cooperate whole-heartedly with this process, and has asked eCOGRA to involve all leading affiliate watchdog organisations in informing affiliates of their opportunity to submit legitimate claims.
We have agreed on eCOGRA's insistence that we will be bound by its findings and recommendations arising from the investigation, remaining at arm’s length from the enquiry unless asked for pertinent information.
Grand Privé wishes to emphasise that its primary concern is to address any genuine wrongs in a fair and forthright manner, and it will lend every effort in order to do this.
About Grand Privé
The Grand Privé casinos have been in operation for more than a decade and are well established members of the online gaming community. The casino software is powered by Microgaming, a well known and respected software provider.
The following brands fall under the Grand Privé umbrella:
- Casino Grand Bay
- Jupiter Club
- Bella Vegas
- Lake Palace
- Road House Reels
Safety and security are our top priorities and we are committed to providing a secure and reliable environment to our players.
Grand Privé Affiliates Investigation
eCOGRA facilitates submission of affiliate claims
Press Release
London, 7 December 2009 - Following a number of Internet-based allegations concerning payments following the closure of the Grand Privé Affiliate Program on 1 December 2008, eCOGRA's professional services have been engaged by the management of the company.
Pursuant to an independent and fair resolution of the issues involved, eCOGRA has been tasked with:
- Independently investigating the manner in which the Program was terminated and the reasons therefore; subsequently compiling a full and transparent report.
- Gathering and verifying claims by any affiliate that considers an amount still to be owing by the Program as a result of player wagering activity subsequent to 1 December 2008; and
- Carrying out a full and independent review by suitably qualified staff of the program software and data to confirm amounts owing to claimants at 21 December 2009.
eCOGRA is open to all submissions concerning the closure and payments owed, and urges affiliate watchdog organisations in receipt of this email to assist it in order to ensure that respective affiliate members are informed of this opportunity to submit legitimate claims.
Claims can be submitted prior to 21 December 2009 at http://www.ecogra.org/grandprive.aspx. Former Grand Privé affiliates who believe they have a legitimate and verifiable claim will be asked to complete the Claim Submission Form that they will find on this link.
The following information will be required on the Claim Form, and will be treated in strict confidence:
- FIRST NAME
- LAST NAME
- BANNER TAG
- EMAIL ADDRESS
- WEBSITES
- PHYSICAL ADDRESS
- TELEPHONE NUMBER
- BANKING DETAILS
- AMOUNT OF LAST PAYMENT RECEIVED FROM GRAND PRIVÉ
- DATE OF LAST PAYMENT RECEIVED
Closing dates for submission of claims is 21 December 2009.
In the interests of transparency, eCOGRA’s findings will be publicly released on conclusion of the investigation.
GREENTUBE WINS eCOGRA SOFTWARE ACCREDITATION
Austrian software provider commissions full range of eCOGRA services
Press Release
London, 9 December 2009 - Austrian software developer Greentube I.E.S AG has joined the growing number of online gambling software providers that have passed a professional inspection and review process by the independent player protection and standards body eCOGRA.
The process includes on-site and highly detailed inspections by an audit team tasked with ensuring that all aspects of the applicant's software development operations, methodologies and management control systems comply with the international standards enshrined in eCOGRA's generally accepted practices (eGAP).
Compliance Manager Shaun McCallaghan said that the investigative compliance review for Greentube I.E.S AG was conducted at the company's Vienna base during September 2009 and examined all aspects of the multi-lingual online bingo, casino and poker software used by Stargames.
These were found to be fully compliant, and the eCOGRA Seals Compliance Committee subsequently approved accreditation for the company's products, which must be regularly reviewed going forward.
The audit confirms that the development, implementation, maintenance and security of Greentube’s games portfolio and back-office systems are representative of industry best practice standards.
Thomas Kolbabek, Head of Integration & Development at Greentube said that the review had been tough, thorough and practical.
"Fortunately, we had recently passed the European Gambling and Betting Association standards for Backgammon, which are equally stringent, and that certainly helped prepare us for that aspect of the inspection," he said
"We're very pleased that we were successful in achieving the demanding eCOGRA standards, thus vindicating the considerable investment in time, energy and resources that we have made to ensure that our systems and products meet international best practice requirements."
eCOGRA chief executive Andrew Beveridge said that Greentube's commitment to safe and fair gambling and respect for players was illustrated by the high levels of professionalism the audit team had encountered during the review.
"Greentube is a worthy addition to our growing list of accredited and regularly monitored software sealholders, and in addition the company has commissioned our services to provide monthly casino payout percentage and RNG reviews, and annual bingo and poker RNG reviews, using live data," he said.
About Greentube
Greentube AG, located in Vienna, Austria, is among the leading developers and providers of skill games for the Internet, mobile devices, and iTV. Moreover, the company regularly stimulates international interest with its cross-media formats for the PC and TV.
Founded in 1997, the company is run by the original team, which has held a majority stake since 2000. The 90-employee-strong company has since delivered a collection of well-know portals and gaming websites with gaming technology; Greentube has a total of 40 B2B customers. The company is expanding globally (with an export share of 80%). In the last financial year it broke the EUR 10 million turnover barrier for the first time. The focal point of the expansion is the development of individual gaming portals that match the look and feel desired by the customer. In March 2009 Greentube was honoured by the European Multimedia Forum with the platinum "European Seal of eExcellence", and in June 2008 with the "Multimedia- und e-Business Staatspreis" for the 3D game ‘Football Challenge’. Greentube AG’s sport games currently have a loyal following of more than nine million gamers from around the world – the figure that continues to rise.
PROGRESS REPORT: GRAND PRIVÉ AFFILIATES PROGRAM INVESTIGATION
Press Release
17 December 2009 - The audit team continues to receive and assess claims in connection with the the above and the investigation is on track.
The eCOGRA team has noted affiliate concerns regarding the lack of communications reach of affiliate representative bodies and webmasters, and Grand Privé management has consequently decided the following:
- That the communications exercise be expanded by emailing all affiliates who had active players on the Program's records during the 3 months prior to 1 December 2008 when the Program closed;
- That the deadline for submission of claims be extended to 31st December 2009.
Our mandate has therefore been amended accordingly, and the expanded communications exercise has commenced. Our investigation will also include confirming the accuracy and completeness of the database list of emails used in the expanded communications exercise.
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