eCOGRA is the acronym for e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance. It was established as a non-profit organization in 2002 for self-regulation of the online gaming industry. Though it was founded by Microgaming and 888.com it has retained an independent nature that is essential for its operations.

In simple terms the function of eCOGRA is to establish benchmark fair gaming practices. It then audits the operations of those online casinos that so desire against these practices. If the online casino meets the requirements set by eCOGRA then its seal of approval of “Safe & Fair” is granted to those casinos. Online players can comfortably play at eCOGRA approved casinos because they are assured that they will not be duped. eCOGRA also engages in dispute resolution between its certified online casinos and players.

The “Generally Accepted Practices” that eCOGRA judges online casinos by are grouped into three heads. Player Protection seeks that players get all the payments due to them in time. The online casino should have a clear and transparent way of accounting for the receipts from the players, crediting their winnings and bonuses and keeping track of the wagering requirements. The security of sensitive financial information like credit card numbers while it is transmitted over the Internet and while it is stored in the online casino’s servers should be ensured. Another important aspect of Player Protection is providing players with all the required information upfront. The terms and conditions for the cashing the bonuses need special mention.

Fair Gaming involves in assessing and assuring that the online casino is not cheating players by manipulating the software. The Random Number Generator that is responsible for dealing the cards or spinning the slots machines should actually perform acts that are random and do not depend on the wagers placed. Another aspect of Fair Gaming is to assess whether adequate steps have been taken to maintain server connectivity. Also assessed is whether online casinos have adequate back-up mechanisms and disaster recovery systems should things go wrong.

Responsible Conduct covers some wider issues. Online casinos have been targets for money laundering operations and the problems over the UIGEA in the United States stem from this. Hence online casinos have to ensure that they have controls in place that prevent money laundering. Responsible advertising is another aspect of Responsible Conduct. Online gambling is a competitive business and casinos may be tempted to make claims that they do not fulfill. The eCOGRA audit assesses whether the online casino is fulfilling all its claims or not.

Once an online casino has the eCOGRA seal of approval, players can be assured that the above-mentioned issues have been satisfactorily addressed. Such online casinos are less likely to give rise to disputes and provide a more congenial playing atmosphere. There are over 100 online casinos and over 20 online poker rooms that bear the eCOGRA seal of approval.