ECOGRA Certification And Its Importance For Online Gamblers
Why eCOGRA Certification Means Casinos You Can Trust
On all the most reputable online casino websites you’ll see an icon for eCOGRA certification. You may be wondering what this means. Today we’ll answer that question in detail. Since the early 90s, online casinos have been around. And over the last couple of decades, they have really begun hitting their stride. Over the last 10 years or so there’s been a huge surge in the popularity of online casinos. Without a doubt, this can be attributed to advances in both internet and mobile technologies. Today it’s possible to find a premier casino gambling experience without ever leaving the comfort of your home.
Legal And Illegal Online Casinos
Yet it’s important to consider that not all online casinos play by the same rules. Unfortunately, far from it. You’ll find that many of the most popular brands like Bovada Casino will make considerable efforts to follow high self-regulation standards. Yet at the other end of the scale, there are still plenty of online casinos, in particular offshore cryptocurrency casinos, that set out with the primary intention of deceiving their customers. As a result, bad experiences spill into the mainstream. This in turn leads to a lot of scepticism towards the direction the iGaming business appears going.
Reputation Is Key
Because many online casinos are concerned about their reputation, thanks to the sheer amount of competition between them, then it’s no surprise that official regulatory bodies were appointed. On the whole, casinos are expected to oversee their own actions. Yet in spite of this, many governments have decided that external orders would still be necessary. This is to ensure that the games are fair and objective. Not only that, but also it’s important that the general administration and office operations of these online casinos maintain a strict level of responsibility towards their customers.
Because online gaming sites, sportsbooks, and even affiliate sites form such a huge network, it’s necessary to find an organisation that can oversee all of it. This brings us to eCOGRA certification. Today this organisation is regarded as the hallmark of quality in its own right
The Birth Of eCOGRA Certification
The birth of eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulations and Assurance) in 2003 was welcome news for every responsible online casino business. It meant that these organisations could now show a universally respected mark of approval which would satisfy all types of customers. From the very beginning, eCOGRA certification has made it clear that only the highest level of online casinos would receive their seal of approval. Over the last two decades, they have only intensified their criteria for both selection and evaluation. Technically, this ensures that only the best online casinos can qualify.
The Scope Of eCOGRA Certification
The first order of the day for any online casino to qualify for eCOGRA approval is that they must have a licence from a reputable gaming authority. Good examples of these include the Malta Gaming Authority and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. As far as UK gamblers go, these are both considered the gold standard. In order to receive a licence the online casino must maintain a commitment to fair and proper practises at all times. Furthermore, one of the licencing requirements is that eCOGRA is able to perform regular random audits to show complete transparency.
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What eCOGRA Certification Does
If for any reason a casino is found to be in breach of its licencing obligations, then the matter is going to be reported directly to the licencing authority. This is why you need to be careful about utilising non-licensed casinos. Obviously, if there’s a problem with them, then there are no authorities to complain to.
Based in the United Kingdom, the objectives of eCOGRA certification are as follows:
- Ensure a fair and transparent experience for all gamers
- Make sure casinos actively prevent money laundering and fraud
- Safeguard players’ private data and financial information
- Maximise the efficiency of withdrawals
- Ensure that vulnerable players have sufficient protection
- Oversee marketing standards and ensure honesty
- Check the RTP rates and RNGS of online games
- Provide a port of call for dissatisfied customers
eCOGRA Jurisdictions
As of writing, eCOGRA has given out around 500 official seals of approval to online casinos worldwide. Not only is the organisation recognised in the UK, but also around dozens of gaming authorities worldwide. In fact, the key markets in which eCOGRA certification now operates include the following countries; Alderney, Gibraltar, First Cagayan, Estonia, Denmark, Bulgaria, Spain, the Isle of Man, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Great Britain, Lithuania, Latvia, Italy, Romania, Portugal, Malta, Kahnawake Sweden and New Jersey. We strongly suggest that all online gamblers stick with a gaming brand that offers eCOGRA’s seal of approval.
Fraudulent Claims Of Certification
It’s relatively easy to identify an eCOGRA casino. For one thing, any online casino that gains an eCOGRA stamp of approval wants to show the fact to prospective gamblers. As a result, you will find the eCOGRA seal displayed prominently on their website’s splash page. Of course, with this being the age of the internet, it’s very easy for anyone to copy and paste the eCOGRA logo onto their own website. Because unscrupulous websites are going to be unscrupulous, it’s no surprise that you’ll find dozens of service providers with fake eCOGRA licences. Obviously, if you’re an offshore casino that just wants to grab the deposits from their gamblers. You really don’t care whose toes you step on. This means that the eCOGRA certification seal is probably not as genuine as you might want to believe.
Use Your Common Sense When Checking A Website
However, it’s very easy to check whether the licence is genuine or not. Probably the quickest way is to go to eCOGRA website itself and see if the casino is on its list. Other methods include taking notice of the quality and professionalism of the website itself. A good example would be to check if there’s an extensive library of quality jackpot games. Or the quality of writing when it comes to the website content. Consider whether the bonus offers are feasible or ridiculous. And also check if there is clear contact information. If any of these are subpar, then there’s a very good chance the casino doesn’t qualify and you should stay well away.
Consider Your Own Safety
Though you’re going to come across many casinos which appear to offer fantastic deals for gamblers, we suggest that you think long and hard before clicking to join and sending any funds to your casino account. You need to consider the safety of your funds. Also, many of these sites to win the jackpot require your personal and banking information. This is not something that you should take lightly. With so many top-notch casinos available, all boasting the eCOGRA certification seal, it’s foolish to take a chance on something without this.
Contact eCOGRA Directly
As a given, you should never join any casinos to win the jackpot without proper research. Your hard-earned cash, bank details or personal information could be utilised for unsavoury purposes unless you’re able to verify the status of the entity. If you are unsure of the casino you’re looking at, then there’s no harm in shooting an email off to eCOGRA itself. At the end of the day, gambling should be fun. Therefore you don’t want to be worrying in the back of your mind as to whether the games are fair. Or if you’ll actually receive any payouts. That’s why we always suggest that you stick with a regulated, licenced and approved casino like the best casino site to play, Bovada Casino.
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