eCOGRA ONLINE GAMBLING TEST REGIME ACCEPTED BY GIBRALTAR

18 May 2007

Total Gaming Transaction Review testing approved for Gibraltar online gambling licenses

eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) has become one of the first organisations to be approved by the Ministry responsible for Gambling of the Government of Gibraltar for testing and certifying the integrity of online gambling equipment and software used by Gibraltar licensees.

The independent standards and player protection body revealed this week that the Total Gaming Transaction Review, used for continuous monitoring and data analyses to assess accurate payout percentages and certify Random Number Generation fairness, was extensively evaluated by the Gibraltar authorities before being accepted.

Earlier this year, eCOGRA appointed a high powered and professionally qualified specialist team with a cumulative total of 18 years’ experience to operate the TGTR process, providing 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 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 CEO Andrew Beveridge said: “We are delighted that a regulator of the calibre of the GRA has accepted this advanced process after intensive study. Our testing principles and methodologies have been recognised by several other 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 widely proved TGTR services, and we now have the added scrutiny of the leading audit firm KPMG through annual quality assurance reviews, providing an unrivalled verification programme. “

eCOGRA sets online gambling standards and provides an international framework for best operational and player protection practice. These are enforced through inspections and reviews, and continuous monitoring.

Companies that have achieved accreditation with eCOGRA are entitled to bear the organisation's "Play it Safe" seal, indicating to players everywhere that all operational systems and games are continuously monitored to consistently high standards. Membership remains open to all software companies and their operators.

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