ECOGRA APPROVED AS AN ISLE OF MAN ACCREDITED TESTING FACILITY

6 June 2008

eCOGRA’s Total Gaming Transaction Review recognised to assess payout percentages and Random Number Generation fairness


The independent online gambling standards and player protection organisation eCOGRA has been approved as an accredited testing facility by the Gambling Supervision Commission on the Isle of Man, a premier European licensing jurisdiction.

The accreditation followed extensive presentations by eCOGRA Chief Executive Andrew Beveridge, the organisation's independent directors and audit team to the Commission earlier this year, which delivered credentials and explained the testing methodology used.

Commenting on the accreditation, Beveridge said: “We are delighted that a regulator of the calibre of the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has accepted our credentials, audit experience and professional qualifications after intensive study. Our testing principles and methodologies have now been recognised by several international jurisdictions concerned with protecting players through the professional and continuous testing of online casino and poker room operators.

"Over 130 tier one online casinos and poker rooms currently use our test and audit services, and we number 25 leading operator companies and 16 quality software providers among our clientele. In addition, we have the added scrutiny of the leading audit firm KPMG through its annual quality assurance reviews, thus providing an unrivalled verification programme.“

The organisation's Total Gaming Transaction Review, used for continuous monitoring and data analyses to assess accurate payout percentages and certify Random Number Generation fairness, has previously been extensively evaluated and accredited by other leading jurisdictional authorities.

eCOGRA’s professionally qualified specialist team provides the most comprehensive data verification service available to online gambling operators to date.

The service includes:

* Onsite audits to ensure that software used by the online casinos and poker rooms is being developed, implemented and maintained in a manner representative of best professional practice standards;

* Independent verification of the completeness and accuracy of all data used in the calculation of the payout percentage and RNG reports;

* Annual quality assurance reviews by leading audit firm KPMG on the methodology and processes used to produce the payout percentage and RNG reports; and

* Continuous oversight and monitoring of accredited online gambling operations following approval by eCOGRA’s independent directors.

eCOGRA is a non-profit London-based organisation that sets online gambling standards and provides an international framework for best operational and player protection practice requirements, with particular emphasis on fair and responsible gambling. These are enforced through inspections and reviews, and continuous monitoring.

Companies that have achieved accreditation with eCOGRA are entitled to bear the organisation's "Safe and Fair" seal, indicating to players everywhere that all operational systems and games are fair and continuously monitored to consistently high standards.

Accreditation remains open to all software companies and their operators. For more information, go to www.ecogra.org.

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