June 2009 eCOGRA NEWS
eCOGRA News Articles Table of Content for June 2009
- ECOGRA AWARDS INDUSTRY’S FIRST EVER MOBILE GAMBLING PROVIDER ACCREDITATION TO SPIN3: Spin3 recognised for highest standards of best practice
- ECOGRA FINE-TUNES ONLINE AFFILIATE PROGRAM CODE: Input from program managers adds value to Affiliate Trust Seal requirements
ECOGRA AWARDS INDUSTRY’S FIRST EVER
MOBILE GAMBLING PROVIDER ACCREDITATION TO SPIN3
Spin3 recognised for highest standards of best practice
London, 04 June 2009 - Leading full service mobile gambling solutions provider Spin3 (www.spin3.com)*, powered by Microgaming (www.microgaming.com), the world's largest online gaming software provider, has today become the first specialised mobile gambling provider to earn the software accreditation seal from the independent player protection and standards organisation eCOGRA.
The accreditation was achieved following a range of comprehensive software, probity and on-site operating systems inspections by auditors from eCOGRA's compliance division, who certified that the company meets eCOGRA’s best practice business and technology standards applicable to software suppliers.
The audit confirms that the development, implementation, maintenance and security of Spin3’s mobile games portfolio and back-office systems are representative of industry best practice standards.
Since 2003, the seal has become synonymous with tier one levels of fair and responsible gaming, professional conduct and superior operating standards when displayed on an online gambling website.
Some of the most successful and established mobile casinos now bear the eCOGRA operators' Safe and Fair seal including:
- Royal Vegas (http://www.royalvegasmobile.com/)
- Spin Palace (http://www.spinpalacemobile.com/)
- 32 Red Mobile (http://www.32redmobile.com/)
- Wild Jack (http://mobile.wildjack.com/)
"Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCOGRA, congratulated the management and staff of Spin3 on the accreditation, commenting that the facilities had been impressive and were presented for a full and practical inspection in a very professional manner by Spin3 staff.
"Spin3's software had already passed with flying colours during earlier eCOGRA inspections, when some of its clients applied for our mobile casino operator accreditation," said Beveridge.
"It was pleasing to see that the same level of attention to detail, efficiency and fair gaming was found in the other facets of its business as a provider when our auditors engaged with them on this wider review. To pass our rigorous review process at the first time of asking is hugely impressive," he added.
Matti Zinder, Head of Spin3 said, "To become the first ever provider of mobile gambling services to receive eCOGRA certification is a terrific achievement for Spin3, and recognition or our industry-leading standards, processes, methodologies and services. The eCOGRA logo is an international mark of best practice, assuring operators and their customers that our games and gambling services meet the highest standards of quality, transparency and integrity, now and in the future."
* - Spin3 is a division of Spiral Solutions Ltd.
About Spin3 (www.spin3.com)
Spin3, a division of Spiral Solutions Ltd., has partnered with Microgaming, the world's leading developer of online gaming solutions, to provide turnkey solutions for the mobile gaming arena. The complete offering includes dynamic wireless real and play-for-fun casino systems, flash casino, marketing services and innovative technologies that push the interactive gaming industry to new frontiers.
For more information, visit http://www.ecogra.org/.
ECOGRA FINE-TUNES ONLINE AFFILIATE PROGRAM CODE
Input from program managers adds value to Affiliate Trust Seal requirements
London, 02 June 2009 - The independent directors of player protection and standards authority eCOGRA have approved an updated version of the requirements for an Affiliate Trust Seal, incorporating suggestions made during consultations with affiliate program managers.
The requirements now include a review of the security architecture of affiliate programs applying for the Affiliate Trust Seal, and proof that applicant programs can fully recover from unforeseen system disasters that could impair a program's level of service to its affiliate clients.
Following extensive international research last year, eCOGRA developed a set of best practice standards for affiliate programs which has to date been successfully implemented in three major affiliate programs, with others currently undergoing the inspection and compliance phase by eCOGRA's professional audit teams.
Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCOGRA, says that there is strong demand from the affiliate community for independent on-site audits conducted by qualified Chartered Accountants and IT specialists with appropriate industry knowledge in order to improve business efficiencies to international standards, and give affiliates the assurance that the tracking and revenue calculations of accredited affiliate program softwares are fair and accurate.
"The directors have decided to make available a more focused certification process which will fine-tune our certification," said Beveridge. "This will mean that the eCOGRA compliance system will concentrate on the following key areas of affiliate program activity:
- Affiliate revenue is calculated accurately and deductions are correctly allocated
- Payments are completely and accurately processed
- Preventative and detective controls are in place to ensure accurate and correct linking of players to affiliates
- Program software applications are developed, implemented, maintained and secured in a manner representative of best practice international standards
- Affiliate programs shall be able to demonstrate that they can recover from a system disaster".
Beveridge commented that this more focused approach will enable eCOGRA to reduce review fees to GBP 5 000 per annum, excluding expenses.
"Where possible, testing will be conducted remotely, however it will also be necessary to conduct certain elements of our reviews at the operator's premises," Beveridge explained, adding that his organisation would also provide a thoroughly experienced dispute mediation channel for complaints falling within the scope of eCOGRA's Affiliate Trust Seal mandate.
"I would like to make it clear that our involvement will henceforth be limited to the standards covered in the audit. We will therefore not be drawn into areas beyond our mandate from affiliate programs which we have not inspected and audited - and therefore cannot properly investigate - in disputes that may involve adequacy of funds, timing of payments to affiliates, and advertising practices,"Beveridge said.
The revised Affiliate Trust Seal requirements are available in detail at http://www.ecogra.org/affiliates
About the Affiliate Trust Seal program:
Any affiliate program can apply for the eCOGRA Affiliate Trust Seal, provided management is prepared to commit to the requirements and comply with the regular reviews and audits by eCOGRA compliance teams.
The requirements have been developed through expert international consultation and with input from leading affiliates and program managers, and are designed to make practical improvements to business efficiencies and ensure that affiliate marketers are treated in a professional and fair manner in their dealings with accredited programs.
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