Senior executives from eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA)
and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) met with twenty representatives from government
online gambling jurisdictions in London last week to explore common regulatory
ground.
eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge and PwC partner Jacques Louw briefed officials
from the International Association of Gaming Regulators on the underlying principles
of applying eCOGRA's Generally Accepted Practices (eGAP) during online
gaming software supplier and operator reviews, and the outsourced software verification
methodology used by PwC.
Among those present were representatives from the Isle of Man, Alderney, The
United Kingdom and Kahnawake. The meeting was chaired by John Godfrey, chairman
of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.
Beveridge acknowledged how important it was that serious regulators get together
to pave the way for meaningful and consistent regulation of the online gaming
industry in order to bring about a safe and reputable environment.
He told the audience that eCOGRA`s chief objectives were the protection of
online gamblers and a safer and more credible industry, and stressed that his
organisation was not in competition with government licensing bodies, but complimented
their efforts in striving for fair gaming, responsible behaviour and player
protection. There were now 44 casinos displaying the eCOGRA Seal, with more
currently undergoing acceptance inspections, he revealed.
`Our presence here is not to solicit business or argue methodologies, but simply
to share with you the knowledge that has been accumulated by eCOGRA stakeholders,`
he said. `PwC has now had 6 years experience in the industry, and our membership
includes the two largest software providers, some of the most successful operators
and independent directors with impressive executive track records in the wider
gambling industry.`
eCOGRA hopes to continue to liaise with the IAGR, Beveridge concluded, `Two
of our independent directors, Frank Catania and Bill Galston are former chairmen
of this body and our goals are in general very similar. We support both the
need for regulation in an unregulated industry to safeguard the players, and
the desirability of practical regulations with a common purpose.