Established in 2003, eCOGRA has provided a dispute-resolution service for players that casinos cannot simply disregard. It also makes it possible to publicly examine payout percentages for games at an eCOGRA-approved online casino.
- Provides a channel for player concerns
- Manages disputes between players and casinos
- Makes casino payout percentages public
Protecting Players
One of eCOGRA’s founding principles was to put players’ interests before those of casinos, a priority also linked to regulators such as the MGA and UKGC today.
When eCOGRA was established, the UKGC’s remote gambling licence was not yet in place. The MGA was little known and was not overseen by the EU government. It also struggled to gain credibility while many illegitimate licensing bodies were active.
eCOGRA was created in response to that climate. Its central role remains mediating between players and casinos: a player with an unresolved complaint can submit it to eCOGRA if the casino belongs to the organization.
A casino that repeatedly fails to meet eCOGRA’s terms and conditions may be removed from the organization’s approved website list. It must then take down the eCOGRA seal of approval.
The possibility of losing the eCOGRA seal gave players added influence. Casinos had reason to examine complaints that players brought to the organization.
Players can access the eCOGRA casino dispute form here.
Quarterly Random Number Generator (RNG) Reports
eCOGRA also tests casino systems, offering services designed to help online operators strengthen their credibility.
RNG and RTP Reviews
In an eCOGRA survey, 91% of players rated RNG fairness reports as an important factor when deciding whether to join an online casino. The organization offers online operators RNG and RTP review services.
- eCOGRA publishes monthly payout reviews covering all games, including table games, slot games and poker
- Each quarter, eCOGRA produces RNG reviews for blackjack, roulette, video poker, poker, bingo and skill games such as backgammon and mah-jong
Players can view these reports by selecting an online casino’s eCOGRA seal of approval.
Security Reviews and Jurisdiction Approvals
eCOGRA conducts information security assessments of software suppliers and online gaming operators. A casino preparing to meet a licensing authority’s security rules can ask the organization to assess its compliance.
For example, a casino seeking a UKGC or MGA licence could have eCOGRA identify areas where it falls short, giving the operator a chance to address them before pursuing a UKGC or MGA licence.
eCOGRA Before Government Licenses and eCOGRA Today
Once the UKGC and MGA licences were in place, many established gambling businesses—from casinos and sportsbooks to lotto and poker operators—sought eCOGRA certification. Seasoned players often favoured certified casinos, having little trust in the licensing authorities then available.
eCOGRA remains active, but its seal has lost some of its former influence. For many casino players, a licence from regulators such as the UKGC, MGA, SGA or DGA, all of which emerged over the past 10 years, is now sufficient evidence of trustworthiness. Casinos that display the eCOGRA seal are still popular, however.
Conclusion
Today, eCOGRA is a non-profit organization offering online casinos a route to approval and greater credibility within the industry. For players, it provides a way to raise concerns with large casino operators and publishes monthly and quarterly reports about games and payouts. Those reports do not prove that a casino cannot rig its games. Operators can also use eCOGRA’s work to update their systems and policies to align with requirements from authorities such as the UKGC, MGA and SGA.
