- ECOGRA
eCOGRA (e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance) is regulatory body established in 2002 as a non-profit organisation by Microgaming, and 888.com. [http://gamemasteronline.com/Archive/GM-Editorials/Editorial-TakingCareOfThePlayer.shtml]
eCOGRA has certified almost 100 casino sites (many of the Microgaming casinos, plus 888's Casino-On-Net), along with more than twenty poker site members, including Microgaming poker sites, 888's Pacific Poker, and certain sites that are members of the Ongame network owned by
bwin ). eCOGRA is partially funded by its software supplier members.Approved
online casino s andonline poker rooms display the group's Safe and Fair seal, and are subject to the group's player dispute mediation service. According to the organization, of the 457 complaints received regarding its casinos in 2006, 161 were resolved in the player's favour, 199 against the player, while a further 97 were rejected as 'invalid'. [http://www.ecogra.org/dispute.aspx?Page=1&OP=P]The group's board of directors is currently comprised of Andrew Beveridge,
CEO , Oliver Eckel, of bwin, Roger Raatgever of Microgaming, John Anderson of 888.com, [http://www.stminverltd.com/whitelabelgaming/pressrelease/CasinoWorld2.pdf] plus independent directors Bill Galston OBE, formerly Chief Inspector of the Gambling Board of Great Britain, Bill Henbrey, ex-head of gaming services at BDO accountancy, Frank Catania, ex-director of New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, plus Michael Hirst OBE, formerly ofLadbrokes [http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=186416] . The independent directors are solely responsible for determining which sites may be awarded the Safe and Fair seal.eCOGRA has been accused of lacking independence in a row over spamming by 888.com affiliates, given that eCOGRA director John Anderson is also a non-executive director of 888.com. [http://www.wager2win.co.uk/ecogra_plays_favouritism_to_888.html]
External links
* [http://www.ecogra.org/ Official site]
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