eCOGRA achieves 100 online casinos target ahead of plan

14.08.2006

The online gambling standards and player protection body eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) has easily achieved its target of accrediting 100 online casinos and poker rooms before the end of December 2006.

In an announcement this week the chief executive officer of the non-profit organisation, Andrew Beveridge said that the board of directors was delighted by the positive response to the "100 Seals Campaign"- a reference to the "Play It Safe" eCOGRA seal awarded to operators who have passed tough probity and operational efficiency inspections and continuous monitoring for fair games and safe gambling.

"This campaign was launched on May 9 this year when there were 76 accredited "Play It Safe" seal casinos," Beveridge said. "At that time we set ourselves the goal of adding at least another 24 online gambling operations to our list without relaxing standards. To have achieved the target within a matter of months speaks to the commitment of increasing numbers of online gambling operators who want to commit to higher standards of player protection, service and operational efficiency."

eCOGRA now lists 107 tier one online casinos and poker rooms, using three different software platforms from major international providers 888.com, Ongame and Microgaming.

The latest "Play It Safe" seals to be awarded are to the following sites:

Online casinos:

Vegas Splendido
Aztec Riches Casino
Blackjack Ballroom
Captain Cooks Casino
Casino Classic
Casino Kingdom
Golden Tiger Casino
Lucky Emperor Casino
Phoenician Casino
Strike it Lucky Casino
Virtual City Casino
Yukon Gold Casino
Zodiac Casino

Online poker rooms:

Roxy Poker
Aztec Riches Poker
Captain Cooks Poker
Golden Tiger Poker
Poker Rewards
Virtual City Poker

"'Play It Safe' online casinos and poker rooms already handle a substantial percentage of the total global online gaming business," said Beveridge. "We intend to extend the player protection that is built into our international standards by bringing more top-tier online gaming software providers and licensees on board before the year's end, and to that end we have a number of applicants under test."

The "Play It Safe" seal helps to attract and retain players, and tells the world that these sites place players' needs-- trust, honesty and fair gaming, above all else.

Accredited online gambling operators receive:

* Cutting edge, player-sensitive standards, together with independent inspection, monitoring, enforcement and infrastructure that is applicable worldwide.

* An independent, London-based "Fair Gaming Advocate" who helps resolve player disputes in just 48-72 hours on average.

* Professional training, services and marketing support to meet best international business practices and responsible gaming standards.

* Expertly designed measures and guidelines to curb underage and problem gambling, backed by personnel training courses.

* One-step-ahead standards to meet future challenges in poker and mobile gaming.

Beveridge extends an invitation to online gambling software providers and their licensees: "If you're ready to meet the 21st century challenges facing the industry, we'd like to invite you to commit to our standards and join the ranks of some of the professional online gambling sites in the world."