Several new provisions have been added to eCOGRA's eGAP (Generally Accepted
Practices) to ensure that they offer even better protection to players in line
with player demands and emerging industry trends.
eCOGRA's CEO Andrew Beveridge revealed that his organisation has had significant
feedback from players who felt that certain necessary requirements were absent.
In taking careful note of these comments, changes were made to the minimum acceptable
requirements including the following:
Terms and conditions applicable to promotional activities must now be clearly
displayed and shall not be unreasonably altered subsequent to the wagering activity.
To meet international demands for tighter controls the section on anti-money
laundering has been revised to include requirements for preventative and detection
controls addressing money laundering and fraud risks to be documented and implemented,
and where appropriate for controls to be according to the relevant points in
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines. This has been addressed in
order to accommodate the FATF`s Forty Recommendations which were published last
year.
Under `Fair Gaming`, the Total Gaming Transaction Review requirements have
been amended to incorporate additional tests that are being performed by eCOGRA's
audit panel members including independent inspection authority PricewaterhouseCoopers.
One example of this change is that wagering activity, including wins, should
be distributed amongst an acceptable population of players. This test includes
PwC verifying beyond question that a significant sample of the winning players
does in fact exist, providing further assurance of data integrity.
Another noteworthy revision is that eCOGRA now requires all games and slots
to have a combined average theoretical / estimated statistical return to players
of at least (the minimum) 92%. This compares favourably to land-based jurisdictions,
such as New Jersey, that requires a return of 83% on slots.
Elsewhere new addendums have been added which detail the requirements to be
met when operators who have already been approved add new, or transferred foreign
language and foreign currency casinos. These stipulate that seal holding casinos
cannot simply add a new casino brand and legitimately display the eCOGRA seal
- such changes or additions must go through a comprehensive compliance review
by eCOGRA`s independent inspection contractor.
Beveridge urges that players and operators alike communicate with eCOGRA with
suggestions or problems, `We welcome a two way flow of ideas and suggestions,
which make the organisation stronger and more relevant,` he says.
`The release of this update on eGAP coincides with the next inspection cycle
for previously approved operators, and it is therefore timely,` says Beveridge.
`Keeping our regulations up to date and in line with industry developments demands
that we continually raise the bar for operators and software providers to comply
with our standards.`