eCOGRA and Governments

In the never-ending effort to keep online gambling safe and reliable, eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) has established a mission unlike other “watch dog” organizations. Yet it also tries to complement the work of government agencies at the federal, state and local levels.

A case in point – The United States government, through the Government Accounting Office (GAO) devoted some time to analyzing the Internet gambling industry. Since the report was issued in 2002 it has provided guidelines for all government entities, and for the owners and operators of gaming companies.

Explosive Growth Requires Oversight

With any industry that experiences explosive growth and large profits for some companies, there is a need for both public and private oversight. According to several sources, including the GAO, eCOGRA has contributed to this effort as a “non-profit group that works to set high standards for Internet gambling sites and online gambling.”

The private organization has as its focus “fair play and protecting players” along with ensuring that casino companies are both reliable and fair. In addition, eCOGRA uses “independent directors” to oversee operations and provides an advocate office for issues of concern. Of course, one of the key elements of the group’s effort is review and testing of gambling software.

The GAO Report

When the GAO report came out more than seven years ago, gambling oversight groups such as eCOGRA, the Off Shore Gaming Association and the American Gaming Association were quite interested in the details. The report stated that various laws, regulations and guidelines set up at different government levels were part of a “complicated” network. Online-gambling businesses needed assistance to navigate this web, as did players who relied on the fairness and honesty of site operators.

The report entitled Internet Gambling: An Overview of the Issues said in part, "The Wire Act, which prohibits gambling businesses from using interstate or international telecommunications wires to knowingly transmit or receive bets, is the main federal statute used to prosecute such activity. Foreign countries and jurisdictions have taken a variety of approaches to regulating on-line gaming, including legalizing some forms, seeking effective regulatory approaches, and prohibiting it entirely."

According to information from eCOGRA, credit card companies have used several methods to allow U.S. players to participate in online gambling, including poker. This has helped fuel an industry that grew from $4 million a year in revenue to $10 billion or more.

Visitors to the eCOGRA site will find information specifically for casino operators and for players. In addition, the organization maintains a list of approved software and reliable portals. While the group’s findings don’t necessarily carry “legal” weight, the information has proven to be helpful to many in the online-gambling industry.