eCOGRA SELF-REGULATION SERVICES

Categories: Online Gambling Guides | Published by: Casino Casinos

24/01/2017

eCOGRA is one of the independent self regulatory services that casinos use to try and prove they are fair and not cheating players by providing true RTP values through a fully tested RNG (Random Number Generator).
The underlying philosophy of eCOGRA is based on the achievement of the objectives of player protection, fair gaming and responsible conduct by operators, software providers and relevant service providers. Accredited organisations are entitled to bear the eCOGRA seal, indicating to players and other stakeholders that operational systems and games are fair and continuously monitored to consistently high standards.
eCOGRA’s Generally Accepted Practice (‘eGAP’) requirements are enforced through reviews and continuous monitoring conducted by a team of highly specialised staff members. The majority of eCOGRA staff members have an auditing background at Big 4 auditing firms and are qualified Chartered Accountants and/or Certified Information Systems Auditors.

SELF-REGULATION BENEFITS

Player recognition
Portal and affiliate promotion
Game Fairness Reports
Fair Gaming Advocate
Accredited testing agency
Regulated markets certification
Best practice guidelines
Professional training
Accountability
Industry-wide recognition
Extensive PR and marketing efforts
Improving industry perceptions

eCOGRA’s Generally Accepted Practice (‘eGAP’) requirements are enforced through reviews and continuous monitoring conducted by a team of highly specialised staff members. The majority of eCOGRA staff members have an auditing background at Big 4 auditing firms and are qualified Chartered Accountants and/or Certified Information Systems Auditors.

Operator benefits of being eGAP Accredited:

Player recognition: Research has proven that players actively look for eCOGRA’s Safe and Fair seal before playing on a site.
Portal and affiliate promotion: Numerous webmasters and affiliates now promote the benefits to players of frequenting eCOGRA-approved sites. Google ‘eCOGRA’ to see how extensively affiliates are doing this and driving traffic to approved sites.
CEN Workshop Agreement 16259:2014 Certification: The eGAP requirements include the European Committee for Standardisation’s Responsible Remote Gambling Measures, which means operators certified for eGAP compliance will also be able to state to regulators and other stakeholders that they comply with CWA 16259:2014.
Game Fairness Reports: All approved sites have the option to receive independently prepared monthly return to player percentage reports for all categories of casino games, monthly card shuffling reviews for poker games and bi-annual RNG reports.
Fair Gaming Advocate: All players at eCOGRA approved sites have unlimited access to eCOGRA’s full-time Fair Gaming Advocate at no extra charge for resolving disputes, which are generally achieved in less than 48 hours.
Accredited testing agency: eCOGRA is recognised as an approved testing agency by most leading jurisdictions, enabling eCOGRA to address the operator’s jurisdictional compliance requirements in conjunction with eGAP review work required for the Safe and Fair seal.
Regulated Markets Certification: As an an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 UKAS accredited testing laboratory, for the United Kingdom and Denmark, eCOGRA’s software testing principles and methodologies are recognised by leading jurisdictions. eGAP approvals are an effective way of helping to prepare operators for certification in regulated markets.
Best practice guidelines: Prepared by international auditing firms and other professional organisations, operators receive these guidelines to facilitate implementation of eCOGRA’s eGAP requirements.
Professional training: For staff dealing with underage and problem gaming issues, eCOGRA utilises the expertise of relevant specialists to offer the latest training methodologies available, including a 1 day training program at a nominal cost for all eCOGRA operators.
Accountability: eCOGRA provides certified software provider and operator management with comfort that appropriate controls, policies and procedures are in place to comply with best practice operational requirements.
Industry-wide recognition: Crucial industry stakeholders such as financial institutions, payment processors, jurisdictions, affiliates and portals recognise that the organisation voluntarily complies with requirements of the highest standard.
Improving industry perceptions: Software provider and operator involvement with eCOGRA enables us to show legislators and other industry stakeholders from all around the world that the industry together is willing to act in the best interests of its customers.

CERTIFIED LIVE DEALER

Approved Software Providers :

Eaglesky Technology Amusement Inc.
Extreme Live Gaming
NetEnt Malta Limited

While eCOGRA does its utmost to ensure compliance with its principles, it cannot offer 100% assurance that the operation of any games or other activities at any given site is at all times in accordance with the eCOGRA requirements. Therefore eCOGRA cannot assume responsibility for the consequences resulting from the use of any Internet gaming site bearing the eCOGRA Safe and Fair seal. eCOGRA is not liable to any person or group of persons, firm, company or entity for losses of any description that a user of an accredited site may suffer. Accredited sites are subject to regular monitoring of their operation.

CERTIFIED SOFTWARE (SOFTWARE SUPPLIERS)

Approved Software Providers :

Digitote Software
Ivy Comptech Software
Kambi Sports Solutions
Microgaming Software Systems Limited
Random Logic Software

RNG AND RTP REVIEWS

It is worth noting that the results of an online gaming survey involving 11,000 players conducted by Nottingham Trent University showed that 88% of players rate monthly RTP reports prepared by a reputable independent third party as important, and 91% rated RNG fairness reports as important.
eCOGRA currently provides customised output-based RNG and RTP data monitoring, analysis and certification services using live gaming data to over 100 leading online gaming websites, in 15 different languages.
These reports are managed by eCOGRA’s advanced content management system, and accessed by players via an image on the casino homepage. An example of these reports can be seen by clicking on this logo:

The service is available to all online gaming software providers and operators, and can be provided independently of our jurisdiction certification work.
Data analysis based on live gaming results requires the software to have been operational in a live environment for sufficient time to provide an appropriate amount of data for effective statistical testing.
Casino payout reviews are conducted monthly on the following game categories:

All games
Table games
Slot games
Poker games

RNG reviews are typically conducted biannually, and include following game types:

Blackjack
Roulette
Video poker
Poker
Bingo
Skill games (e.g. backgammon and mahjong)

Demo eCOGRA RNG & RTP report:

Test Casino: Payout Percentage Report

We have independently evaluated the data log files as generated by the computer systems of Test Casino and calculated the average percentage payouts for the various categories as shown below.

The figures reflect the percentage of total player winnings to the total amount wagered by players for the period under review.

Product	Percentage
All games	93.77%
Slot games	93.94%
Table games	92.18%
Poker games	27.56%

The completeness and accuracy of the data used in this evaluation has been verified by eCOGRA. We have also ensured the development, implementation and maintenance of the gaming software used by Test Casino is representative of best practice standards.
Established in 2003 and based in the United Kingdom, eCOGRA is a leading independent and internationally accredited testing agency, specialising in the certification of online gaming software and systems.
The company has been awarded the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO approval ISO/IEC 17025:2005 : General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, for the United Kingdom and Denmark, and is an accredited testing agency with several online gaming jurisdictions.
RTP Evaluation Period: 01 January 2015 – 02 January 2016

Blackjack: Randomness Review

We have independently evaluated the output of the random number generator used by blackjack product during the period under review to verify it operated in such a way that all cards in the card deck were randomly dealt and had an equal chance of being dealt to both player and the dealer.We examined all transactions for the period mentioned above and confirm the random number generator embedded in the blackjack system consistently selected cards on a random basis.
The completeness and accuracy of the data used in this evaluation has been verified by eCOGRA, and we have performed standard statistical tests on the data files generated by the random number generator.
We have also ensured the development, implementation and maintenance of the gaming software used by Test Casino is representative of best practice standards.
Established in 2003 and based in the United Kingdom, eCOGRA is a leading independent and internationally accredited testing agency, specialising in the certification of online gaming software and systems.
The company has been awarded the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO approval ISO/IEC 17025:2005 : General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, and is an accredited testing agency with several online gaming jurisdictions.
RNG Certification Period: 01 January 2015 – 02 January 2016

Roulette: Randomness Review

We have independently evaluated the output of the random number generator used by ’s roulette product during the period under review to verify it operated in such a way that it consistently produced random numbers in the range from 0 to 36. This should hold true for every game and every number should have an equal chance of being selected.The completeness and accuracy of the data used in this evaluation has been verified by eCOGRA, and we have performed standard statistical tests on the data files generated by the random number generator. We have also ensured the development, implementation and maintenance of the gaming software used by Test Casino is representative of best practice standards.
Established in 2003 and based in the United Kingdom, eCOGRA is a leading independent and internationally accredited testing agency, specialising in the certification of online gaming software and systems.
The company has been awarded the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO approval ISO/IEC 17025:2005 : General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, for the United Kingdom and Denmark, and is an accredited testing agency with several online gaming jurisdictions.
RTP Review Period: 01 January 2015 – 02 January 2016

Video Poker: Randomness Review

We have independently evaluated the output as generated by the random number generator used within ’s video poker product during the period under review to verify it operated in such a way that all cards were randomly dealt.The completeness and accuracy of the data used in this evaluation has been verified by eCOGRA, and we have performed standard statistical tests on the data files generated by the random number generator.
We have also ensured the development, implementation and maintenance of the gaming software used by Test Casino is representative of best practice standards.
Established in 2003 and based in the United Kingdom, eCOGRA is a leading independent and internationally accredited testing agency, specialising in the certification of online gaming software and systems.
The company has been awarded the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO approval ISO/IEC 17025:2005 : General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, for the United Kingdom and Denmark, and is an accredited testing agency with several online gaming jurisdictions.