eCOGRA

As the world of online-poker and online casinos has exploded in the past 10 to 15 years, players have experienced occasional difficulties with money withdrawals, fair play and other concerns. Of course, no one can guarantee that online gambling will be perfectly safe but eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) has taken the lead in the fair-play and security effort.

Online gambling is regulated by a complex mixture of national laws, state laws and local laws. It’s difficult to understand all the rules and guidelines that apply if you participate in online poker and the Web site is licensed by a small foreign country that you’ve never visited. Fortunately, most of the recognized poker sites are reliable and safe for players from around the world. Many of the serious issues have been resolved in the last few years.

A 2002 report from the U.S. Government Accounting Office noted that there is a variety of methods for licensing and regulating online gaming. For example, it’s perfectly legal to participate in online gambling at nearly every site if you live outside the United States. But the number of online sites available to U.S. players is seriously limited by federal law in that country. Web site operators and gambling corporations put a lot of effort into offering online-gambling, including poker, as the industry grew to become a billion-dollar business.

This large amount of money can create problems and eCOGRA, a non-profit organization, continues to work for high standards in online gaming. Two key phrases found on the eCOGRA Web site are “fair play” and “protecting players.” This group keeps an eye on casino and poker room operators, with an emphasis on quality software and safe deposit/withdrawal methods. The organization even provides recommendations for the top sites based on quality of operation and security of financial transactions.

eCOGRA is under the supervision of independent directors who have constructed an “approved software” list and a “reputable portal” list. Established in 2002, the organization has conducted detailed reviews of nearly 200 sites in addition to inspecting and reviewing the software from nearly two dozen developers. Of the 800+ complaints and inquiries about approved sites, nearly 200 were found to be “invalid.” The remaining 600+ were split evenly between “in player’s favour” and “against player’s complaint.” A significant portion of the eCOGRA operating funds comes from members who are software developers and suppliers. Directors include a former state director of gaming enforcement, a chief inspector for gambling in Great Britain and several software-company executives. While no system of overseeing gambling is perfect, eCOGRA has made some giant strides in the last seven years.